23 If you sit down to eat with a ruler,
    notice the food that is in front of you.
² Control yourself
    if you have a big appetite.
³ Don’t be greedy for his fine foods.
    He might use that rich food to trick you.

⁶ Don’t eat the food of a selfish person.
    Don’t be greedy for his fine foods.
⁷ A selfish person is always worrying
    about how much the food costs.
He tells you, “Eat and drink.”
    But he doesn’t really mean it.
⁸ So you will feel like throwing up the little bit you have eaten.
    And you will have wasted your kind words.

⁹ Don’t speak to a foolish person.
    He will only ignore your wise words.

⁶ Don’t send a message by a foolish person.
    That would be like cutting off your feet or drinking poison.

¹⁰ Someone might employ a foolish person or anyone just passing by.
    That employer is like an archer who shoots at anything he sees.

²⁴ A person who hates you may fool you with his words.
    But in his mind he is planning evil.
²⁵ His words are kind, but don’t believe him.
    His mind is full of evil thoughts.
²⁶ He hides his hate with lies.
    But his evil will be plain to everyone.

²⁷ Whoever digs a deep trap for others will fall into it himself.
    Whoever tries to roll a boulder over others will be crushed by it.

²⁸ A liar hates the people he hurts.
    And false praise can ruin others.

⁶ The slap of a friend can be trusted to help you.
    But the kisses of an enemy are nothing but lies.

⁵ Anyone who gives false praise to his neighbor
    is setting a trap for him.