2 zWhat is too heavy for thee ado not lifta,

bAnd with one that is richer than thyselfb cassociate notc.

HA What association can djar and kettled have in common

ddWhendd, if the one smite, the other is smashede?

3 The rich man fif he perpetrateth a wrongf gplumeth himselfg,

While if a wrong is perpetrated upon a poor man hhe must implore favourh.

4 iIf thou art useful to himi he maketh a slave of thee,

jBut if thou be brought lowj khe is sparing of theek.

5 kkIf thou possessest anythingkk lhe will live with theel,

And will impoverish thee without a pang.

6 mHath he need of theem? nthen he will deceive theen,

oAnd will smile upon theeo and raise thy hopes.

G(S) pHe will speak thee fairp,

7 qAnd shame thee with his hospitalityq.

HA rSo long as it profiteth he will cajole thee,

Twice (or) thrice he will … theer;

HA sAnd thens he will see thee tand pass thee byt,

And wag his head at thee.

8 Take care uthat thou be not overbearingu,

vAnd that thou be not crushed by senseless follyv.

(b) vv. 9–13.

9 Doth a noble wdraw nearw? xkeep at a distancex—

yAnd so much the morey zwill he cause thee to approachz.

10 aDo not thyself draw neara, lest thou be put at a distance;

And keep not (too) far away, lest b[thou be forgotten]b.

11 cVenture notc dto be freed with him,

And mistrust his much conversation.

eFor fby his conversation at largef ghe is testing theeg,

hAnd when he smileth at thee he is probing theeh e.

12 iA ruthless one maketh peace,

While plotting against the life of manyi.

HA 13 Take heed jand be waryj,

kAnd go not about with men of violencekl.

(h) 13:15–20. Like consorteth with like: what common bond can there be between rich and poor?

(= 2 + 3 + 1 distichs).