Do not set your heart upon seeking riches,

For there is no one who can ignore Destiny and Fortune,

Do not set your thoughts on superficial matters:

For every man there is his appointed time.

Do not exert yourself to seek out excess

And your allotment will prosper for you;

If riches come to you by thievery

They will not spend the night with you;

As soon as day breaks they will not be in your household;

Although their places can be seen, they are not there.

When the earth opens up its mouth, it levels him and swallows him up,

They will plunge in the deep;

They will make for themselves a great hole which suits them.

And they will sink themselves in the underworld;

or they will make themselves wings like geese,

And fly up to the sly:

Do not be please with yourself (because of) riches acquired through robbery,

Neither be sorry about poverty.

As an officer who commands one who goes in front of him,

His company leaves him;