1 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 have this in common, The Lord is the maker of them all.

3 A prudent man foresees evil and hides himself, But the simple pass on and are punished.

4 B y 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 who guards his soul will be far from them.

6 T rain up a child in the way he should go, And when he is old he will not depart from it.

7 T he rich rules over the poor, And the borrower is servant to the lender.

8 H e who sows iniquity will reap sorrow, And the rod of his anger will fail.

9 H e 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 leave; Yes, strife and reproach will cease.

11 H e who loves purity of heart And has grace on his lips, The king will be his friend.

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

13 T he lazy man says, “ There is a lion outside! I shall be slain in the streets!”

14 T he 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; The rod of correction will drive it far from him.

16 H e 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 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 you keep them within you; Let them all be fixed upon your lips,

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

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

21 T hat 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 D o not rob the poor because he is poor, Nor oppress the afflicted at the gate;

23 F or the Lord will plead their cause, And plunder the soul of those who plunder them.

24 M ake no friendship with an angry man, And with a furious man do not go,

25 L est you learn his ways And set a snare for your soul.

26 D o not be one of those who shakes hands in a pledge, One of those who is surety for debts;

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

28 D o not remove the ancient landmark Which your fathers have set.

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