¹⁴ Do not stray onto the path of wicked people.
Do not walk in the way of evil people.
¹⁵ Avoid it.
Do not walk near it.
Turn away from it,
and keep on walking.
¹⁶ Wicked people cannot sleep
unless they do wrong,
and they are robbed of their sleep
unless they make someone stumble.
¹⁷ They eat food obtained through wrongdoing
and drink wine obtained through violence.

²⁰ Whoever walks with wise people will be wise,
but whoever associates with fools will suffer.

²⁸ A devious person spreads quarrels.
A gossip separates the closest of friends.

¹² Better to meet a bear robbed of its cubs
than a fool ⌞carried away⌟ with his stupidity.

¹⁷ A friend always loves,
and a brother is born to share trouble.

²⁴ Friends can destroy one another,^[a]
but a loving friend can stick closer than family.

⁴ Wealth adds many friends,
but a poor person is separated from his friend.

⁶ Many try to win the kindness of a generous person,
and everyone is a friend to a person who gives gifts.
⁷ The entire family of a poor person hates him.
How much more do his friends keep their distance from him!
When he chases them with words, they are gone.