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

A name is chosen rather than much wealth, Than silver and than gold -- good grace.

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

Rich and poor have met together, The Maker of them all Jehovah.

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

The prudent hath seen the evil, and is hidden, And the simple have passed 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 end of humility the fear of Jehovah, Riches, and honour, and life.

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

Thorns -- snares in the way of the perverse, Whoso is keeping his soul is 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.

Give instruction to a youth about his way, Even when he is old he turneth not 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 over the poor ruleth, And a servant the borrower to the lender.

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

Whoso is sowing perverseness reapeth sorrow, And the rod of his anger weareth out.

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

The good of eye -- he is blessed, For he hath given of his bread to the poor.

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

Cast out a scorner -- and contention goeth out, And strife and shame cease.

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

Whoso is loving cleanness of heart, Grace his lips, a king 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 Jehovah have kept knowledge, And He overthroweth the words of the treacherous.

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

The slothful hath said, `A lion without, In the midst of the broad places I am slain.'

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

A deep pit the mouth of strange women, The abhorred of Jehovah falleth there.

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 youth, The rod of chastisement putteth 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 is oppressing the poor to multiply to him, He is giving to the rich -- only to want.

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

Incline thine ear, and hear words of the wise, And thy heart set 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 they are pleasant when thou dost keep them in thy heart, They are prepared together for thy lips.

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

That thy trust may be in Jehovah, I caused thee to know to-day, even thou.

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

Have I not written to thee three times With 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 cause thee to know the certainty of sayings of truth, To return sayings of truth to those sending thee.

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

Rob not the poor because he poor, And bruise not the afflicted in the gate.

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

For Jehovah pleadeth their cause, And hath spoiled the soul of their spoilers.

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

Shew not thyself friendly with an angry man, And with a man of fury go not in,

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

Lest thou learn his paths, And have received a snare to thy soul.

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

Be not thou among those striking hands, Among sureties burdens.

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

If thou hast nothing to pay, Why doth he take thy bed from under thee?

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

Remove not a border of olden times, That thy fathers have made.

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.

Hast thou seen a man speedy in his business? Before kings he doth station himself, He stations not himself before obscure men!