1 A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches, And loving favor rather than silver and gold.
A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches, and loving favor rather than silver and gold.
2 T he rich and the poor meet together: Jehovah is the maker of them all.
The rich and poor meet together; the Lord is the Maker of them all.
3 A prudent man seeth the evil, and hideth himself; But the simple pass on, and suffer for it.
A prudent man sees the evil and hides himself, but the simple pass on and are punished.
4 T he reward of humility and the fear of Jehovah Is riches, and honor, and life.
The reward of humility and the reverent and worshipful fear of the Lord is riches and honor and life.
5 T horns and snares are in the way of the perverse: He that keepeth his soul shall be far from them.
Thorns and snares are in the way of the obstinate and willful; he who guards himself will be far from them.
6 T rain up a child in the way he should go, And even when he is old he will not depart from it.
Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it.
7 T he rich ruleth over the poor; And the borrower is servant to the lender.
The rich rule over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender.
8 H e that soweth iniquity shall reap calamity; And the rod of his wrath shall fail.
He who sows iniquity will reap calamity and futility, and the rod of his wrath will fail.
9 H e that hath a bountiful eye shall be blessed; For he giveth of his bread to the poor.
He who has a bountiful eye shall be blessed, for he gives of his bread to the poor.
10 C ast out the scoffer, and contention will go out; Yea, strife and ignominy will cease.
Drive out the scoffer, and contention will go out; yes, strife and abuse will cease.
11 H e that loveth pureness of heart, For the grace of his lips the king will be his friend.
He 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.
12 T he eyes of Jehovah preserve him that hath knowledge; But he overthroweth the words of the treacherous man.
The eyes of the Lord keep guard over knowledge and him who has it, but He overthrows the words of the treacherous.
13 T he sluggard saith, There is a lion without: I shall be slain in the streets.
The sluggard says, There is a lion outside! I shall be slain in the streets!
14 T he mouth of strange women is a deep pit: He that is abhorred of Jehovah shall fall therein.
The 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.
15 F oolishness is bound up in the heart of a child; But the rod of correction shall drive it far from him.
Foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child, but the rod of discipline will drive it far from him.
16 H e that oppresseth the poor to increase his gain, And he that giveth to the rich, shall come only to want.
He who oppresses the poor to get gain for himself and he who gives to the rich—both will surely come to want.
17 I ncline thine ear, and hear the words of the wise, And apply thy heart unto my knowledge.
Listen (consent and submit) to the words of the wise, and apply your mind to my knowledge;
18 F or it is a pleasant thing if thou keep them within thee, If they be established together upon thy lips.
For it will be pleasant if you keep them in your mind; your lips will be accustomed to them.
19 T hat thy trust may be in Jehovah, I have made them known to thee this day, even to thee.
So 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.
20 H ave not I written unto thee excellent things Of counsels and knowledge,
Have I not written to you excellent things in counsels and knowledge,
21 T o make thee know the certainty of the words of truth, That thou mayest carry back words of truth to them that send thee?
To make you know the certainty of the words of truth, that you may give a true answer to those who sent you?
22 R ob not the poor, because he is poor; Neither oppress the afflicted in the gate:
Rob not the poor, neither oppress the afflicted at the gate,
23 F or Jehovah will plead their cause, And despoil of life those that despoil them.
For the Lord will plead their cause and deprive of life those who deprive.
24 M ake no friendship with a man that is given to anger; And with a wrathful man thou shalt not go:
Make no friendships with a man given to anger, and with a wrathful man do not associate,
25 L est thou learn this ways, And get a snare to thy soul.
Lest you learn his ways and get yourself into a snare.
26 B e thou not one of them that strike hands, Or of them that are sureties for debts.
Be not one of those who strike hands and pledge themselves, or of those who become security for another’s debts.
27 I f thou hast not wherewith to pay, Why should he take away thy bed from under thee?
If you have nothing with which to pay, why should he take your bed from under you?
28 R emove not the ancient landmark, Which thy fathers have set.
Remove not the ancient landmark which your fathers have set up.
29 S eest thou a man diligent in his business? he shall stand before kings; He shall not stand before mean men.
Do you see a man diligent and skillful in his business? He will stand before kings; he will not stand before obscure men.