²⁸ Don’t move an ancient boundary marker
that your ancestors set up.^(A)

²⁹ Do you see a person skilled in his work?
He will stand in the presence of kings.
He will not stand in the presence of the unknown.^(B)

23 When you sit down to dine with a ruler,
consider carefully what^[a] is before you,
² and put a knife to your throat
if you have a big^[b] appetite;
³ don’t desire his choice food,^(A)
for that food is deceptive.

⁴ Don’t wear yourself out to get rich;^(B)
because you know better, stop!
⁵ As soon as your eyes fly to it, it disappears,^(C)
for it makes wings for itself
and flies like an eagle to the sky.

⁶ Don’t eat a stingy person’s bread,^[c](D)
and don’t desire his choice food,^(E)
7 for it’s like someone calculating inwardly.^[d](F)
“Eat and drink,” he says to you,
but his heart is not with you.^(G)
8 You will vomit the little you’ve eaten
and waste your pleasant words.

⁹ Don’t speak to^[e] a fool,
for he will despise the insight of your words.^(H)