Wild asses are the prey of lions in the wilderness; so poor men are pasture for the rich. Lowliness is an abomination to a proud man; so a poor man is an abomination to the rich. * * * * * A rich man when he is shaken is held up of his friends; but one of low degree being down is thrust away also by his friends. When a rich man is fallen, there are many helpers; he speaketh things not to be spoken, and men justify him: a man of low degree falleth, and men rebuke him withal; he uttereth wisdom, and no place is allowed him. A rich man speaketh, and all keep silence; and what he saith they extol to the clouds: a poor man speaketh, and they say, Who is this? and if he stumble, they will help to overthrow him. * * * * * Riches are good that have no sin; and poverty is evil in the mouth of the ungodly. The heart of a man changeth his countenance, whether it be for good or for evil. A cheerful countenance is a token of a heart that is in prosperity; and the finding out of parables is a weariness of thinking. =14= Blessed is the man that hath not slipped with his mouth, and is not pricked with sorrow for sins. Blessed is he whose soul doth not condemn him, and who is not fallen from his hope. * * * * * Riches are not comely for a niggard; and what should an envious man do with money? He that gathereth by taking from his own soul gathereth for others; and others shall revel in his goods. He that is evil to himself, to whom will he be good? and he shall not rejoice in his possessions. There is none more evil than he that envieth himself; and this is a recompense of his wickedness. Even if he doeth good, he doeth it in forgetfulness; and at the last he sheweth forth his wickedness. Evil is he that envieth with his eye, turning away the face, and despising the souls of men. A covetous man’s eye is not satisfied with his portion; and wicked injustice drieth up his soul. An evil eye is grudging of bread, and he is miserly at his table. * * * * * My son, according as thou hast, do well unto thyself, and bring offerings unto the Lord worthily. Remember that death will not tarry, and that the covenant of the grave is not shewed unto thee. Do well unto thy friend before thou die; and according to thy ability stretch out thy hand and give to him. Defraud not thyself of a good day; and let not the portion of a good desire pass thee by. Shalt thou not leave thy labours unto another? and thy toils to be divided by lot? Give, and take, and beguile thy soul; for there is no seeking of luxury in the grave. All flesh waxeth old as a garment; for the covenant from the beginning is, Thou shalt die the death. As of the leaves flourishing on a thick tree, some it sheddeth, and some it maketh to grow; so also of the generations of flesh and blood, one cometh to an end, and another is born.