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

A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches, 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 the poor have this in common, 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 foresees 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.

By humility and the fear of the Lord Are 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 perverse; He who guards his soul 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 rules 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 sorrow, And the rod of his anger 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 generous eye will 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.

Cast out the scoffer, and contention will leave; Yes, strife and reproach 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 of heart And has grace on his lips, The king will be 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 preserve knowledge, But He overthrows the words of the faithless.

13 T he sluggard saith, There is a lion without: I shall be slain in the streets.

The lazy man 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 an immoral woman is a deep pit; He who is abhorred by the Lord will fall there.

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; The rod of correction 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 increase his riches, And he who gives to the rich, will surely come to poverty. Sayings of the Wise

17 I ncline thine ear, and hear the words of the wise, And apply thy heart unto my knowledge.

Incline your ear and hear the words of the wise, And apply your heart 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 is a pleasant thing if you keep them within you; Let them all be fixed upon your lips,

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 may be in the Lord; I have instructed you today, even you.

20 H ave not I written unto thee excellent things Of counsels and knowledge,

Have I not written to you excellent things Of 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?

That I may make you know the certainty of the words of truth, That you may answer words of truth To those who send to you?

22 R ob not the poor, because he is poor; Neither oppress the afflicted in the gate:

Do not rob the poor because he is poor, Nor 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 plunder the soul of those who plunder them.

24 M ake no friendship with a man that is given to anger; And with a wrathful man thou shalt not go:

Make no friendship with an angry man, And with a furious man do not go,

25 L est thou learn this ways, And get a snare to thy soul.

Lest you learn his ways And set a snare for your soul.

26 B e thou not one of them that strike hands, Or of them that are sureties for debts.

Do not be one of those who shakes hands in a pledge, One of those who is surety for 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 away your bed from under you?

28 R emove not the ancient landmark, Which thy fathers have set.

Do not remove the ancient landmark Which your fathers have set.

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 who excels in his work? He will stand before kings; He will not stand before unknown men.