Proverbs

¹ or locked yourself into a deal with a stranger,

² and now find yourself shivering out in the cold,

³ You're in that man's clutches! Go, put on a long face; act desperate.

⁴ there's no time to lose.

⁵ fly like a bird from the trapper!

⁶ Watch it closely; let it teach you a thing or two.

⁷ Nobody has to tell it what to do.

⁸ at harvest it stockpiles provisions.

⁹ How long before you get out of bed?

¹⁰ sit back, take it easy—do you know what comes next?

¹¹ poverty your permanent houseguest!

¹² talk out of both sides of their mouths.

¹³ they cross their fingers behind their backs.

¹⁴ always stirring up trouble.

¹⁵ a total smash-up, their lives ruined beyond repair.

¹⁶ and one more that he loathes with a passion:

¹⁷ a tongue that lies, hands that murder the innocent,

¹⁸ feet that race down a wicked track,

¹⁹ a troublemaker in the family.

²⁰ don't wander off from your mother's teachings.

²¹ wear them like a scarf around your neck.

²² whenever you rest, they'll guard you; when you wake up, they'll tell you what's next.

²³ good teaching is a light, moral discipline is a life path.

²⁴ from the seductive talk of some temptress.

²⁵ nor be taken in by her bedroom eyes.

²⁶ but a wanton woman may well eat you alive.

²⁷ and not burn your pants?

²⁸ and not get blisters?

²⁹ Touch her and you'll pay for it. No excuses.

³⁰ for a thief to steal;

³¹ even if he has to put his whole house in hock.

³² soul-destroying, self-destructive;

³³ and a reputation ruined for good.

³⁴ wild for revenge, he won't make allowances.

³⁵ neither bribes nor reason will satisfy him.