1 A good name is to be chosen instead of many riches. Favor is better than silver and gold.

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

2 T he rich and the poor meet together. The Lord is the maker of them all.

The rich and poor meet together; the Lord is the Maker of them all.

3 A wise man sees sin and hides himself, but the foolish go on, and are punished for it.

A prudent man sees the evil and hides himself, but the simple pass on and are punished.

4 T he reward for not having pride and having the fear of the Lord is riches, honor and life.

The reward of humility and the reverent and worshipful fear of the Lord is riches and honor and life.

5 T horns and traps are in the way of the sinful. He who watches himself will stay far from them.

Thorns and snares are in the way of the obstinate and willful; he who guards himself will be far from them.

6 B ring up a child by teaching him the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn away 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 rules over the poor. The man who uses something that belongs to someone else is ruled by the one who let him use it.

The rich rule over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender.

8 H e who plants sin will gather trouble, and the heavy stick of his anger will break.

He who sows iniquity will reap calamity and futility, and the rod of his wrath will fail.

9 H e who gives much will be honored, for he gives some of his food to the poor.

He who has a bountiful eye shall be blessed, for he gives of his bread to the poor.

10 S end away the man who laughs at the truth, and arguing, fighting and shame will stop.

Drive out the scoffer, and contention will go out; yes, strife and abuse will cease.

11 H e who loves a pure heart and is kind in his speaking has the king as his friend.

He who loves purity and the pure in heart and who is gracious in speech—because of the grace of his lips will he have the king for his friend.

12 T he eyes of the Lord keep watch over much learning, but He destroys the words of the man who is not faithful.

The eyes of the Lord keep guard over knowledge and him who has it, but He overthrows the words of the treacherous.

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

The sluggard says, There is a lion outside! I shall be slain in the streets!

14 T he mouth of a sinful woman is a deep hole. He with whom the Lord is angry will fall into it.

The mouth of a loose woman is a deep pit; he with whom the Lord is indignant and who is abhorrent to Him will fall into it.

15 A foolish way is held in the heart of a child, but the punishing stick will send it far from him.

Foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child, but the rod of discipline will drive it far from him.

16 H e who makes it hard for the poor by getting more for himself, or who gives to the rich, will become poor himself.

He who oppresses the poor to get gain for himself and he who gives to the rich—both will surely come to want.

17 T urn your ear and hear the words of the wise, and open your mind to what they teach.

Listen (consent and submit) to the words of the wise, and apply your mind to my knowledge;

18 F or it will be pleasing if you keep them in your heart, so they may be ready on your lips.

For it will be pleasant if you keep them in your mind; your lips will be accustomed to them.

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

So that your trust (belief, reliance, support, and confidence) may be in the Lord, I have made known these things to you today, even to you.

20 H ave I not written to you great things of wise teaching and much learning

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

21 t o show you that the words of truth are sure, so you may give a true answer to him who sent you?

To make you know the certainty of the words of truth, that you may give a true answer to those who sent you?

22 D o not rob the poor because he is poor, or crush those who suffer at the gate.

Rob not the poor, neither oppress the afflicted at the gate,

23 F or the Lord will stand by them and help them, and take the life of those who rob them.

For the Lord will plead their cause and deprive of life those who deprive.

24 D o not have anything to do with a man given to anger, or go with a man who has a bad temper.

Make no friendships with a man given to anger, and with a wrathful man do not associate,

25 O r you might learn his ways and get yourself into a trap.

Lest you learn his ways and get yourself into a snare.

26 D o not be among those who make promises and put themselves up as trust for what others owe.

Be not one of those who strike hands and pledge themselves, or of those who become security for another’s 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 take away the old land-mark which your fathers have set.

Remove not the ancient landmark which your fathers have set up.

29 D o you see a man who is good at his work? He will stand in front of kings. He will not stand in front of men who are not important.

Do you see a man diligent and skillful in his business? He will stand before kings; he will not stand before obscure men.