Home and Hospitality

21 The necessities of life are water, bread, and clothing,

and also a house to assure privacy.

22 Better is the life of the poor under their own crude roof

than sumptuous food in the house of others.

23 Be content with little or much,

and you will hear no reproach for being a guest.d

24 It is a miserable life to go from house to house;

as a guest you should not open your mouth;

25 you will play the host and provide drink without being thanked,

and besides this you will hear rude words like these:

26 “Come here, stranger, prepare the table;

let me eat what you have there.”

27 “Be off, stranger, for an honored guest is here;

my brother has come for a visit, and I need the guest-room.”

28 It is hard for a sensible person to bear

scolding about lodginge and the insults of the moneylender.