“God will magnify the name of the man who exalteth His Souls, who singeth His praises, and boweth before Him, who offereth incense, and doeth homage [to Him] in his work.

“Enter not into the presence of the drunkard, even if his acquaintance be an honour to thee.

“Beware of the woman in the street who is not known in her native town.  Follow her not, nor any woman who is like her.  Do not make her acquaintance.  She is like 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.