1 A good name is to be chosen instead of many riches. Favor is better 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. The Lord is the maker of them all.

The rich and the poor have this in common: Yahweh 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 danger, and hides himself; but the simple pass on, and suffer for it.

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

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

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

He who has a generous eye will be blessed; for he shares his food with the poor.

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

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

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

He who loves purity of heart and speaks gracefully is the king’s 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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

For it is a pleasant thing if you keep them within you, if all of them are ready on your lips.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

for Yahweh will plead their case, and plunder the life of those who plunder them.

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

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

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

lest you learn his ways, and ensnare your soul.

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

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

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

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

28 D o not take away the old land-mark which your fathers have set.

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