"If thou art a man that entereth, sent by a noble to a noble, be exact
in the manner of him who sendeth thee; do the business for him as he
saith. Beware of making ill feeling by words that would set noble
against noble, in destroying justice; do not exaggerate it; but the
washing of the heart shall not be repeated in the speech of any man,
noble or commoner: that is abomination of the soul."
9. [Gain thy living at thy business; do not sponge on relations, nor
hunt legacies.]
"If thou plowest, labor steadily in the field, that God may make it
great in thine hand; let not thy mouth be filled at thy neighbor's
table. _It is a great thing to make disturbance of the silent._ Verily
he who possesseth prudence is as the possessor of goods: _he taketh like
a crocodile from the officials_. [?] Beg not as a poor man of him who is
without children, and make no boast of him. The father is important when
the mother that beareth is wanting, and another woman is added unto
her:[291] _a man may produce a god such that the tribe shall pray [to be
allowed] to follow him._"
10. [If unsuccessful, take work under a good master; be respectful to
those who have risen in the world.]
"If thou failest, follow a successful man; let all thy conduct be good
before God. When thou knowest that a little man hath advanced, let not
thine heart be proud towards him by reason of what thou knowest of him;
a man who hath advanced, be respectful to him in proportion to what hath
arrived to him; for behold, possessions do not come of themselves, it is
their [the gods'] law for those whom they love: verily he who hath
risen, he hath been prudent for himself, and it is God that maketh his
success; and he would punish him for it if he were indolent."