When thou sittest to eat with a ruler, Consider diligently him that is before thee;
Seest thou a man diligent in his business? he shall stand before kings; He shall not stand before mean men.
And put a knife to thy throat, If thou be a man given to appetite.
These are they who are hidden rocks in your love-feasts when they feast with you, shepherds that without fear feed themselves; clouds without water, carried along by winds; autumn trees without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the roots;