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

A good name is more desirable than great riches, and loving favor is better 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: Yahweh 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 danger, and hides himself; but the simple pass on, and suffer for it.

4 T he reward of humility and the fear of Jehovah Is riches, and honor, and life.

The result of humility and the fear of Yahweh is wealth, 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 path of the wicked: whoever guards his soul stays 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. 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 wickedness reaps trouble, and the rod of his fury will be destroyed.

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 shares his food with the poor.

10 C ast out the scoffer, and contention will go out; Yea, strife and ignominy will cease.

Drive out the mocker, and strife will go out; yes, quarrels and insults will stop.

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 speaks gracefully is the king’s friend.

12 T he eyes of Jehovah preserve him that hath knowledge; But he overthroweth the words of the treacherous man.

Yahweh’s eyes watch over knowledge; but he frustrates the words of the unfaithful.

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 will be killed 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 adulteress is a deep pit: he who is under Yahweh’s wrath 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.

Folly is bound up in the heart of a child: the rod of discipline drives 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.

Whoever oppresses the poor for his own increase and whoever gives to the rich, both come to poverty.

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

Turn your ear, and listen to the words of the wise. Apply your heart to my teaching.

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, if all of them are ready on your lips.

19 T hat thy trust may be in Jehovah, I have made them known to thee this day, even to thee.

That your trust may be in Yahweh, I teach you today, even you.

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

Haven’t I written to you thirty excellent things of counsel 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 teach you truth, reliable words, to give sound answers to the ones who sent you?

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

Don’t exploit the poor, because he is poor; and don’t crush the needy in court;

23 F or Jehovah will plead their cause, And despoil of life those that despoil them.

for Yahweh will plead their case, and plunder the life 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:

Don’t befriend a hot-tempered man, and don’t associate with one who harbors anger:

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

lest you learn his ways, and ensnare your soul.

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

Don’t you be one of those who strike hands, of those who are collateral for debts.

27 I f thou hast not wherewith to pay, Why should he take away thy bed from under thee?

If you don’t have means to pay, why should he take away your bed from under you?

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

Don’t move the ancient boundary stone, 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 skilled in his work? He will serve kings. He won’t serve obscure men.