1 A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches, and loving favor rather than silver and gold.

¶ A good reputation is rather to be chosen than great riches and good grace rather than silver and gold.

2 T he rich and poor meet together; the Lord is the Maker of them all.

¶ The rich and poor meet together; the LORD is the maker of them all.

3 A prudent man sees the evil and hides himself, but the simple pass on and are punished.

¶ A prudent man foresees the evil and hides himself, but the simple pass on and receive hurt.

4 T he reward of humility and the reverent and worshipful fear of the Lord is riches and honor and life.

¶ Riches and honour and life are the remuneration of humility and of the fear of the LORD.

5 T horns and snares are in the way of the obstinate and willful; he who guards himself will be far from them.

¶ Thorns and snares are in the way of the perverse; he that keeps his soul shall be far from them.

6 T rain up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it.

¶ Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old, he will not depart from it.

7 T he rich rule over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender.

¶ The rich rules over the poor, and the borrower is slave to the lender.

8 H e who sows iniquity will reap calamity and futility, and the rod of his wrath will fail.

¶ He that sows iniquity shall reap iniquity, and the rod of his anger shall fail.

9 H e who has a bountiful eye shall be blessed, for he gives of his bread to the poor.

¶ He that has a merciful eye shall be blessed, for he gives of his bread to the destitute.

10 D rive out the scoffer, and contention will go out; yes, strife and abuse will cease.

¶ Cast out the scorner, and contention shall go out; strife and reproach shall cease.

11 H e who loves purity and the pure in heart and who is gracious in speech—because of the grace of his lips will he have the king for his friend.

¶ He that loves pureness of heart, for the grace of his lips the king shall be his friend.

12 T he eyes of the Lord keep guard over knowledge and him who has it, but He overthrows the words of the treacherous.

¶ The eyes of the LORD preserve knowledge, and he overthrows the words of the transgressor.

13 T he sluggard says, There is a lion outside! I shall be slain in the streets!

¶ The slothful man says, There is a lion without, I shall be slain in the streets.

14 T he mouth of a loose woman is a deep pit; he with whom the Lord is indignant and who is abhorrent to Him will fall into it.

¶ The mouth of strange women is a deep pit; he that is abhorred of the LORD shall fall therein.

15 F oolishness is bound up in the heart of a child, but the rod of discipline will drive it far from him.

¶ Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child, but the rod of correction shall drive it far from him.

16 H e who oppresses the poor to get gain for himself and he who gives to the rich—both will surely come to want.

¶ He that oppresses the poor to increase his riches and who gives to the rich shall surely come to want.

17 L isten (consent and submit) to the words of the wise, and apply your mind to my knowledge;

¶ Bow down thine ear and hear the words of the wise, and apply thine heart unto my wisdom.

18 F or it will be pleasant if you keep them in your mind; your lips will be accustomed to them.

For it is a delightful thing if thou keep them within thee; they shall be ordered together in thy lips.

19 S o that your trust (belief, reliance, support, and confidence) may be in the Lord, I have made known these things to you today, even to you.

That thy trust may be in the LORD, I have made known to thee this day, even to thee.

20 H ave I not written to you excellent things in counsels and knowledge,

Have I not written unto thee three times in counsels and knowledge,

21 T o make you know the certainty of the words of truth, that you may give a true answer to those who sent you?

that I might make thee know the certainty of the words of truth, that thou mightest answer the words of truth to those that send unto thee?

22 R ob not the poor, neither oppress the afflicted at the gate,

¶ Rob not the poor, because he is poor: neither destroy the destitute in judgment:

23 F or the Lord will plead their cause and deprive of life those who deprive.

For the LORD will judge their cause and spoil the soul of those that spoiled them.

24 M ake no friendships with a man given to anger, and with a wrathful man do not associate,

¶ Do not meddle with an angry man, and with a furious man thou shalt not go:

25 L est you learn his ways and get yourself into a snare.

Lest thou learn his ways and get a snare to thy soul.

26 B e not one of those who strike hands and pledge themselves, or of those who become security for another’s debts.

¶ Be not thou one of them that strike hands or of them that are sureties for debts.

27 I f you have nothing with which to pay, why should he take your bed from under you?

If thou hast nothing to pay, why should they take away thy bed from under thee?

28 R emove not the ancient landmark which your fathers have set up.

¶ Remove not the ancient landmark, which thy fathers have set.

29 D o you see a man diligent and skillful in his business? He will stand before kings; he will not stand before obscure men.

¶ Seest thou a man diligent in his work? He shall stand before kings; he shall not stand before obscure men.