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

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

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

The rich and the poor have this in common, 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 foresees 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.

By humility and the fear of the Lord Are 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 perverse; He who guards his soul 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 rules 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 sorrow, And the rod of his anger 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 generous eye will 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.

Cast out the scoffer, and contention will leave; Yes, strife and reproach will cease.

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

He who loves purity of heart And has grace on his lips, The king will be 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 faithless.

13 T he slothful hath said, `A lion without, In the midst of the broad places I am slain.'

The lazy man 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 an immoral woman is a deep pit; He who is abhorred by the Lord will fall there.

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 correction 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 increase his riches, And he who gives to the rich, will surely come to poverty. Sayings of the Wise

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 heart 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 is a pleasant thing if you keep them within you; Let them all be fixed upon 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 instructed 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.

That I may make you know the certainty of the words of truth, That you may answer words of truth To those who send to 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, Nor 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 plunder the soul of those who plunder them.

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

Make no friendship with an angry man, And with a furious man do not go,

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

Lest you learn his ways And set a snare for your soul.

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

Do not be one of those who shakes hands in a pledge, One of those who is surety 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 away your bed from under you?

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

Do not remove the ancient landmark 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 who excels in his work? He will stand before kings; He will not stand before unknown men.