1 A name is rather to be chosen than great riches; loving favour 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; Jehovah is the maker of them all.

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

3 A prudent seeth the evil, and hideth 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 the fear of Jehovah is riches, and honour, and life.

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

5 T horns snares are in the way of the perverse: he that keepeth his soul holdeth himself 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 the child according to the tenor of his way, 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 ruleth 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 that soweth unrighteousness shall reap iniquity, and the rod of his wrath shall have an end.

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

9 H e that hath a bountiful eye shall be blessed, for he giveth 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 C ast out the scorner, and contention will depart, and strife and ignominy shall cease.

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

11 H e that loveth pureness of heart, upon whose lips is grace, the king is 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 Jehovah preserve knowledge; but he overthroweth the words of the unfaithful.

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

13 T he sluggard saith, There is a lion without, I shall be killed in the streets!

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

14 T he mouth of strange women is a deep ditch: he with whom Jehovah is displeased shall fall therein.

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

15 F olly is bound in the heart of a child; the rod of correction shall 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 that oppresseth the poor, it is to enrich him; he that giveth to the rich, only to want.

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

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

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

18 F or it is a pleasant thing if thou keep them within thee: they shall be together fitted on thy lips.

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

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

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

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

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

21 t hat I might make thee know the certainty of the words of truth; that thou mightest carry back words of truth to them that send thee?

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, because he is poor, neither oppress the afflicted in the gate;

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

23 f or Jehovah will plead their cause, and despoil the soul of those that despoil them.

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

24 M ake no friendship with an angry man, and go not with a furious man;

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

25 l est thou learn his paths, and get a snare to thy soul.

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

26 B e not of them that strike hands, of them that are sureties for debts:

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

27 i f thou hast nothing to pay, why should he take away thy bed from under thee?

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

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

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

29 H ast thou seen a man diligent in his work? He shall stand before kings; he shall not stand before the mean.

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