⁹ Some people have success
in bad circumstances,
    and there’s a windfall that results
    in loss.
¹⁰ There’s a gift that won’t profit you,
    and there’s a gift that will bring
    twice the return.
¹¹ There are losses suffered
for the sake of one’s reputation,
    and there are people who have raised
    their heads from humiliation.
¹² There are those who buy a lot for a little,
    and they pay for it seven times over.
¹³ Wise people make themselves
dearly loved by means of words,
    but fools pour out gifts.
¹⁴ Gifts from senseless people
won’t profit you,
    because they look for a lot
    rather than a little in return.
¹⁵ They will give a little and reproach a lot,
    and they will open their mouths
    like a town crier.
    Today they will lend
    and tomorrow ask for it back;
    such people are hateful.
¹⁶ Fools say, “I don’t have a friend,
    and there’s no gratitude
    for my good deeds.”
    Those who eat the bread of such people
    have mean tongues.
¹⁷ How many will ridicule them,
and how often?

¹⁸ A slip on the pavement is preferable
to a slip of the tongue;
    so the downfall of evil people
    will come quickly.
¹⁹ A disagreeable person, an untimely story—
    it will always be
    in the mouth of the uneducated.
²⁰ Proverbs told by fools will be rejected,
    because they’ll never tell them
    at their proper time.

²¹ Some are prevented from sinning
because of poverty,
    and their conscience won’t be pained
    when they rest.
²² Some destroy their life through shame,
    and they destroy it
    because of foolish appearances.
²³ Some promise a favor to a friend
out of shame,
    and they create an enemy for no reason.

²⁴ A lie is a bad blemish on a person;
    ignorant people tell them incessantly.
²⁵ A thief is preferable to someone
who continuously lies,
    but both will inherit destruction.
²⁶ The character of liars is dishonorable;
    their shame is continuously
    with them.