e a deep stream the windings of which are
unknown.

"Go not with common men, lest thy name be made to stink."

"When an inquiry is held, and thou art present, multiply not speech;
thou wilt do better if thou holdest thy peace. Act not the part of the
chatterer.

"The sanctuary of God abhorreth noisy demonstrations. Pray thou with a
loving heart, and let thy words be hidden (or secret). Do this, and He
will do thy business for thee. He will hearken unto thy words, and He
will receive thy offering.

"Place water before thy father and thy mother who rest in their
tombs.... Forget not to do this when thou art outside thy house, and as
thou doest for them so shall thy son do for thee."

"Frequent not the house where men drink beer, for the words that fall
from thy mouth will be repeated, and it is a bad thing for thee not to
know what thou didst really say. Thou wilt fall down, thy bones may be
broken, and there will be no one to give thee a hand [to help thee]. Thy
boon companions who are drinking with thee will say, 'Throw this drunken
man out of the door.' When thy friends come to look for thee, they will
find thee lying on the ground as helpless as a babe.

"When the messenger of [death] cometh to carry thee away, let him find
thee prepared. Alas, thou wilt have no opportunity for speech, for
verily his terror will be before thee. Say not, 'Thou art carrying me
off in my youth.' Thou knowest not when thy death will take place. Death
cometh, and he seizeth the babe at the breast of his mother, as well as
the man who hath arrived at a ripe old age. Observe this, for I speak
unto thee good advice which thou shalt meditate upon in thy heart. Do
these things, and thou wilt be a good man, and evils of all kinds shall
remove themselves from thee."

"Remain not seated whilst another is standing, especially if he be an
old man, even though thy social position (or rank) be higher than his.

"The man who uttereth ill-natured words must not expect to receive
good-natured deeds.

"If thou journeyest on a road [made by] thy hands each day, thou wilt
arrive at the place where thou wouldst be.

"What ought people to talk about every day? Administrators of high rank
should discuss the laws, women should talk about their husbands, and
every man should speak about his own affairs.

"Never speak an ill-natured word to any visitor; a word dropped some day
when thou art gossiping may overturn thy house.

"If thou art well-verse