Deceitful Friends

1Someone who claims

to be your friend

may not be telling the truth.

2The sorrow when a close friend

becomes an enemy

is almost like mourning

for a friend who has died.

3Why do people's thoughts

lead them to do wrong

and spread deceit everywhere?

4Some friends are happy for you

when everything is fine,

but when you have trouble

they turn against you.

5Another friend seems to help

only for a free meal,

but when you both go off to war,

he gives you protection.

6Never forget your friends,

and if you are successful,

share your wealth with them.

7When people claim to offer

advice that is good for you,

it may really be good

for them.

8Before you do what they say,

see if they are looking out

for themselves

and putting you at risk

9with their advice,

while they can safely watch

what happens to you.

10If someone is jealous

or suspicious of you,

don't ask them for advice

or tell them your plans.

11If a man has two wives,

don't ask one about the other.

Take care who you ask

for advice.

A coward can't tell you

how to fight in battle,

and a store owner won't tell

how much something

is really worth.

Can someone with a grudge

show you how to be grateful,

or someone mean

tell you how to be kind?

Don't bother asking

a lazy person

if work needs to be done.

And don't ask someone

who gets paid by the hour

how long a job should take.

12If you need advice, ask someone

who obeys God's commands

and thinks like you--

someone who will be sad

if you fail.

13And trust your own judgment--

you care more about yourself

than anyone else does.

14Thinking for yourself

will often tell you more

than if you had seven lookouts

in a high tower.

15But the most important thing

is to pray that God Most High

will show you what to do.

16Before you begin a project,

talk with others

and get their advice.

17Everything starts as an idea,

18whether it helps or harms,

or brings life or death,

and how people talk

determines what they do.

19Some people can give

excellent advice to others

but show no wisdom

in their own lives.

20And some who can speak well

will be hated and starve,

21because they speak

without wisdom from the Lord,

and they offend others.

22If you see that certain people

make wise choices themselves,

you can depend on the advice

they give to you.

23The wise teach their wisdom

to God's people

so their wisdom will live on.

24The wise are admired and praised

by everyone they meet.

25Life is short for each of us,

but Israel will last forever,

26honoring the memory of those

who shared their wisdom.

Eating

27Take notice, students,

what foods make you feel sick,

and stay away from them.

28After all, no one likes

every kind of food.

29Control any desire to overeat

or to have lots of fancy food

at every meal.

30You will get sick

if you eat too much.

31Be careful!

Many have died young

from overeating.