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

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

2 R ich and poor have met together, The Maker of them all Jehovah.

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

3 T he prudent hath seen the evil, and is hidden, And the simple have passed on, and are punished.

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

4 T he end of humility the fear of Jehovah, Riches, and honour, and life.

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

5 T horns -- snares in the way of the perverse, Whoso is keeping his soul is 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 G ive instruction to a youth about his way, Even when he is old he turneth not 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 over the poor ruleth, And a servant the borrower to the lender.

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

8 W hoso is sowing perverseness reapeth sorrow, And the rod of his anger weareth out.

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

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

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

10 C ast out a scorner -- and contention goeth out, And strife and shame cease.

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

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

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

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

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

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 F olly is bound up in the heart of a youth, The rod of chastisement putteth 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 is oppressing the poor to multiply to him, He is giving to the rich -- only to want.

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

17 I ncline thine ear, and hear words of the wise, And thy heart set to my knowledge,

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

18 F or they are pleasant when thou dost keep them in thy heart, They are prepared together for thy lips.

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

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

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 thee three times With counsels and knowledge?

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

21 T o cause thee to know the certainty of sayings of truth, To return sayings of truth to those sending thee.

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

22 R ob not the poor because he poor, And bruise not the afflicted in the gate.

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

23 F or Jehovah pleadeth their cause, And hath spoiled the soul of their spoilers.

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

24 S hew not thyself friendly with an angry man, And with a man of fury go not in,

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

25 L est thou learn his paths, And have received a snare to thy soul.

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

26 B e not thou among those striking hands, Among sureties burdens.

Be not one of those who strike hands and pledge themselves, or of those who become security for another’s debts.

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

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

28 R emove not a border of olden times, That thy fathers have made.

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

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

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