Allthe brothersof a poormanhatehim; Howmuchmoredo his friendsabandonhim! He pursues[them with] words,[but] they are gone.
My lovedones and my friendsstandalooffrom my plague;And my kinsmenstandafaroff.
Those who seekmy lifelaysnares[for me]; And those who seekto injureme have threateneddestruction,And they devisetreacheryalldaylong.
You have removedloverand friendfarfrom me; My acquaintancesare [in] darkness.
You have removedmy acquaintancesfarfrom me; You have mademe an objectof loathingto them; I am shutup and cannotgoout.
The richman'swealthis his fortress,The ruinof the pooris their poverty.
The pooris hatedevenby his neighbor,But those who lovethe richare many.
The poormanutterssupplications,But the richmananswersroughly.
Wealthaddsmanyfriends,But a poormanis separatedfrom his friend.
He who shutshis earto the cryof the poorWill alsocryhimselfand not be answered.
Do not forsakeyour own friendor your father'sfriend,And do not goto your brother'shousein the dayof your calamity;Betteris a neighborwho is nearthana brotherfaraway.
But you have dishonoredthe poor man.Is it not the richwho oppressyou and personallydragyou into court?
