<p class="poetry">Let them be for yourself<n id="1" /> alone,p> <p class="poetry">and not for strangers with you.<n id="2" />p>

<p class="poetry">Have I not written thirty sayings<n id="1" /> for you,p> <p class="poetry">sayings<n id="2" /> of counsel and knowledge,p>

<p class="poetry">for they will provide<n id="1" /> a long and full life,<n id="2" />p> <p class="poetry">and they will add well-being<n id="3" /> to you.p>

<p class="poetry">Listen, my child,<n id="1" /> and accept my words,p> <p class="poetry">so that<n id="2" /> the years of your life will be many.<n id="3" />p>

<p class="poetry">Go to the ant, you sluggard;<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">observe its ways and be wise!p>

<p class="poetry">For because<n id="1" /> of me your days will be many,p> <p class="poetry">and years will be added<n id="2" /> to your life.p>

<p class="poetry">If you are wise, you are wise to your own advantage,<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">but if you are a mocker,<n id="2" /> you alone must<n id="3" /> bear it.<n id="4" />p>

<p class="poetry">Leave the presence of a foolish person,<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">or<n id="2" /> you will not understand<n id="3" /> wise counsel.<n id="4" />p>

<p class="poetry">Do not say,<n id="1" /> &#8220;I will pay back<n id="2" /> evil!&#8221;p> <p class="poetry">Wait<n id="3" /> for the <sc>Lord,sc> so that he may vindicate you.<n id="4" />p>

<p class="poetry">If you do not have enough to pay,p> <p class="poetry">your bed<n id="1" /> will be taken<n id="2" /> right out from under you!<n id="3" />p>

<p class="poetry">for with guidance you wage your war,p> <p class="poetry">and with numerous advisers there is victory.<n id="1" />p>

<p class="poetry">Do not say to your neighbor, &#8220;Go! Return tomorrowp> <p class="poetry">and I will give it,&#8221; when<n id="1" /> you have it with you at the time.<n id="2" />p>

<p class="poetry">Establish your work outside and get your fields ready;p> <p class="poetry">afterward build<n id="1" /> your house.<n id="2" />p>

<p class="poetry">for it is better for him<n id="1" /> to say to you, &#8220;Come up here,&#8221;<n id="2" />p> <p class="poetry">than to put you lower<n id="3" /> before a prince,p> <p class="poetry">whom your eyes have seen.<n id="4" />p>

<p class="poetry">for you will heap coals of fire on his head,<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">and the <sc>Lordsc> will reward you.<n id="2" />p>

<p class="poetry">then, my child, do this in order to deliver yourself,<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">because you have fallen into your neighbor&#8217;s power:<n id="2" />p> <p class="poetry">go, humble yourself,<n id="3" />p> <p class="poetry">and appeal firmly<n id="4" /> to your neighbor.p>

<p class="poetry">for he is<n id="1" /> like someone calculating the cost<n id="2" /> in his mind.<n id="3" />p> <p class="poetry">&#8220;Eat and drink,&#8221; he says to you,p> <p class="poetry">but his heart is not with you;p>