1 A good name is to be more desired than great wealth, Favor is better than silver and gold.

A good name is to be more desired than great wealth, Favor is better than silver and gold.

2 T he rich and the poor have a common bond, The Lord is the maker of them all.

The rich and the poor have a common bond, The Lord is the maker of them all.

3 T he prudent sees the evil and hides himself, But the naive go on, and are punished for it.

The prudent sees the evil and hides himself, But the naive go on, and are punished for it.

4 T he reward of humility and the fear of the Lord Are riches, honor and life.

The reward of humility and the fear of the Lord Are riches, honor and life.

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

Thorns and snares are in the way of the perverse; He who guards himself will be far from them.

6 T rain up a child in the way he should go, Even 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 rules over the poor, And the borrower becomes the lender’s slave.

The rich rules over the poor, And the borrower becomes the lender’s slave.

8 H e who sows iniquity will reap vanity, And the rod of his fury will perish.

He who sows iniquity will reap vanity, And the rod of his fury will perish.

9 H e who is generous will be blessed, For he gives some of his food to the poor.

He who is generous will be blessed, For he gives some of his food to the poor.

10 D rive out the scoffer, and contention will go out, Even strife and dishonor will cease.

Drive out the scoffer, and contention will go out, Even strife and dishonor will cease.

11 H e who loves purity of heart And whose speech is gracious, the king is his friend.

He who loves purity of heart And whose speech is gracious, the king is his friend.

12 T he eyes of the Lord preserve knowledge, But He overthrows the words of the treacherous man.

The eyes of the Lord preserve knowledge, But He overthrows the words of the treacherous man.

13 T he sluggard says, “There is a lion outside; I will be killed in the streets!”

The sluggard says, “There is a lion outside; I will be killed in the streets!”

14 T he mouth of an adulteress is a deep pit; He who is cursed of the Lord will fall into it.

The mouth of an adulteress is a deep pit; He who is cursed of the Lord will fall into it.

15 F oolishness is bound up in the heart of a child; The rod of discipline will remove it far from him.

Foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child; The rod of discipline will remove it far from him.

16 H e who oppresses the poor to make more for himself Or who gives to the rich, will only come to poverty.

He who oppresses the poor to make more for himself Or who gives to the rich, will only come to poverty.

17 I ncline your ear and hear the words of the wise, And apply your mind to my knowledge;

Incline your ear and hear the words of the wise, And apply your mind to my knowledge;

18 F or it will be pleasant if you keep them within you, That they may be ready on your lips.

For it will be pleasant if you keep them within you, That they may be ready on your lips.

19 S o that your trust may be in the Lord, I have taught you today, even you.

So that your trust may be in the Lord, I have taught you today, even you.

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

Have I not written to you excellent things Of counsels and knowledge,

21 T o make you know the certainty of the words of truth That you may correctly answer him who sent you?

To make you know the certainty of the words of truth That you may correctly answer him who sent you?

22 D o not rob the poor because he is poor, Or crush the afflicted at the gate;

Do not rob the poor because he is poor, Or crush the afflicted at the gate;

23 F or the Lord will plead their case And take the life of those who rob them.

For the Lord will plead their case And take the life of those who rob them.

24 D o not associate with a man given to anger; Or go with a hot-tempered man,

Do not associate with a man given to anger; Or go with a hot-tempered man,

25 O r you will learn his ways And find a snare for yourself.

Or you will learn his ways And find a snare for yourself.

26 D o not be among those who give pledges, Among those who become guarantors for debts.

Do not be among those who give pledges, Among those who become guarantors for debts.

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

If you have nothing with which to pay, Why should he take your bed from under you?

28 D o not move the ancient boundary Which your fathers have set.

Do not move the ancient boundary Which your fathers have set.

29 D o you see a man skilled in his work? He will stand before kings; He will not stand before obscure men.

Do you see a man skilled in his work? He will stand before kings; He will not stand before obscure men.