12 My son, don't sleep with any woman except your wife and don't marry a foreigner. Some of our ancestors were prophets, so keep our family line pure and choose a woman from our own tribe. Remember that our ancestors Noah, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob all married their own relatives. God blessed their families with children and gave the land of Israel to their descendants.
13 Have love in your heart for the people of your own nation. Don't be proud and think you are too good to marry an Israelite woman. Pride like that will confuse and destroy you, just as laziness will make you poor and starving.
14 Don't ever fail to pay your hired workers at the end of the day. Serve God, and you will be rewarded. Have self-control in everything you do.
15 Don't treat others in ways that you would not want to be treated. Don't be a heavy drinker or ever get drunk.
16 Provide food and clothes for the poor. Give your extra money to those in need, and do it cheerfully!
17 Honor the memory of good people, but not of the wicked.
18 Show respect for the wise and never reject good advice.