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

A good name is to be more desired than great wealth, Favor is better than silver and gold.

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

The rich and the poor have a common bond, 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.

The prudent sees the evil and hides himself, But the naive go on, and are punished for it.

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

The reward of humility and the fear of the Lord Are riches, 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 perverse; 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, Even 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 rules over the poor, And the borrower becomes the lender’s slave.

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

He who sows iniquity will reap vanity, And the rod of his fury will perish.

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

He who is generous will be blessed, For he gives some of his food 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, Even strife and dishonor will cease.

11 W hoso is loving cleanness of heart, Grace his lips, a king his friend.

He who loves purity of heart And whose speech is gracious, the king is his friend.

12 T he eyes of Jehovah have kept knowledge, And He overthroweth the words of the treacherous.

The eyes of the Lord preserve knowledge, But He overthrows the words of the treacherous man.

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 will be killed in the streets!”

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

The mouth of an adulteress is a deep pit; He who is cursed of the Lord 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; The rod of discipline will remove 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 make more for himself Or who gives to the rich, will only come to poverty.

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

Incline your ear and hear 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 within you, That they may be ready on your lips.

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

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

20 H ave I not written to thee three times With counsels and knowledge?

Have I not written to you excellent things Of 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 correctly answer him who sent you?

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

Do not rob the poor because he is poor, Or crush 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 case And take the life of those who rob them.

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

Do not associate with a man given to anger; Or go with a hot-tempered man,

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

Or you will learn his ways And find a snare for yourself.

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

Do not be among those who give pledges, Among those who become guarantors for 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.

Do not move the ancient boundary Which your fathers have set.

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 skilled in his work? He will stand before kings; He will not stand before obscure men.