1 A good name is more desirable than great riches, and loving favor is better than silver and gold.

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

2 T he rich and the poor have this in common: Yahweh is the maker of them all.

The rich and poor meet together: the Lord is the maker of them all.

3 A prudent man sees danger, and hides himself; but the simple pass on, and suffer for it.

A prudent man foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself: but the simple pass on, and are punished.

4 T he result of humility and the fear of Yahweh is wealth, honor, and life.

By humility and the fear of the Lord are riches, and honour, and life.

5 T horns and snares are in the path of the wicked: whoever guards his soul stays from them.

Thorns and snares are in the way of the froward: he that doth keep his soul shall 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.

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 rule over the poor. The borrower is servant to the lender.

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

8 H e who sows wickedness reaps trouble, and the rod of his fury will be destroyed.

He that soweth iniquity shall reap vanity: and the rod of his anger shall fail.

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

He that hath a bountiful eye shall be blessed; for he giveth of his bread to the poor.

10 D rive out the mocker, and strife will go out; yes, quarrels and insults will stop.

Cast out the scorner, and contention shall go out; yea, strife and reproach shall cease.

11 H e who loves purity of heart and speaks gracefully is the king’s friend.

He that loveth pureness of heart, for the grace of his lips the king shall be his friend.

12 Y ahweh’s eyes watch over knowledge; but he frustrates the words of the unfaithful.

The eyes of the Lord preserve knowledge, and he overthroweth the words of the transgressor.

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

The slothful man saith, There is a lion without, I shall be slain in the streets.

14 T he mouth of an adulteress is a deep pit: he who is under Yahweh’s wrath will fall into it.

The mouth of strange women is a deep pit: he that is abhorred of the Lord shall fall therein.

15 F olly is bound up in the heart of a child: the rod of discipline drives it far from him.

Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child; but the rod of correction shall drive it far from him.

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

He that oppresseth the poor to increase his riches, and he that giveth to the rich, shall surely come to want.

17 T urn your ear, and listen to the words of the wise. Apply your heart to my teaching.

Bow down thine ear, and hear the words of the wise, and apply thine heart unto my knowledge.

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

For it is a pleasant thing if thou keep them within thee; they shall withal be fitted in thy lips.

19 T hat your trust may be in Yahweh, I teach you today, even you.

That thy trust may be in the Lord, I have made known to thee this day, even to thee.

20 H aven’t I written to you thirty excellent things of counsel and knowledge,

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

21 T o teach you truth, reliable words, to give sound answers to the ones who sent you?

that I might make thee know the certainty of the words of truth; that thou mightest answer the words of truth to them that send unto thee?

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

Rob not the poor, because he is poor: neither oppress the afflicted in the gate:

23 f or Yahweh will plead their case, and plunder the life of those who plunder them.

for the Lord will plead their cause, and spoil the soul of those that spoiled them.

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

Make no friendship with an angry man; and with a furious man thou shalt not go:

25 l est you learn his ways, and ensnare your soul.

lest thou learn his ways, and get a snare to thy soul.

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

Be not thou one of them that strike hands, or of them that are sureties for debts.

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

If thou hast nothing to pay, why should he take away thy bed from under thee?

28 D on’t move the ancient boundary stone, which your fathers have set up.

Remove not the ancient landmark, which thy fathers have set.

29 D o you see a man skilled in his work? He will serve kings. He won’t serve obscure men.

Seest thou a man diligent in his business? he shall stand before kings; he shall not stand before mean men.