1 A good name is to be chosen over great wealth;
favor is better than silver and gold. w
2 Rich and poor have this in common: Y
the LORD makes them all. x
3 A sensible person sees danger and takes cover,
but the inexperienced keep going and are punished. y
4 Humility, the fear of the LORD,
results in wealth, honor, and life. z
5 There are thorns and snares on the way of the crooked; a
the one who guards himself stays far from them.
6 Start a youth out on his way; b
even when he grows old he will not depart from it.
7 The rich rule over the poor, c
and the borrower is a slave to the lender. d
8 The one who sows injustice will reap disaster, e
and the rod of his fury will be destroyed.
9 A generous person Z will be blessed, f
for he shares his food with the poor. g
10 Drive out a mocker, h and conflict goes too;
then quarreling and dishonor will cease. i
11 The one who loves a pure heart
and gracious lips—the king is his friend. j
12 The LORD’S eyes keep watch over knowledge,
but he overthrows the words of the treacherous.
13 The slacker says, “There’s a lion outside!
I’ll be killed in the public square! ” k
14 The mouth of the forbidden woman is a deep pit;
a man cursed by the LORD will fall into it. l
15 Foolishness is bound to the heart of a youth;
a rod of discipline will separate it from him. m
16 Oppressing the poor to enrich oneself,
and giving to the rich—both lead only to poverty. n
Words of the Wise
17 Listen closely, A pay attention to the words of the wise, o
and apply your mind to my knowledge.
18 For it is pleasing if you keep them within you
and if they are B constantly on your lips.
19 I have instructed you today—even you—
so that your confidence may be in the LORD.
20 Haven’t I written for you thirty sayings C
about counsel and knowledge,
21 in order to teach you true and reliable words,
so that you may give a dependable report D,p
to those who sent you? q
22 Don’t rob a poor person because he is poor,
and don’t crush the oppressed r at the city gate, s
23 for the LORD will champion their cause t
and will plunder those who plunder them.
24 Don’t make friends with an angry person, E
and don’t be a companion of a hot-tempered one, u
25 or you will learn his ways v
and entangle yourself in a snare.
26 Don’t be one of those who enter agreements, F
who put up security for loans. w
27 If you have nothing with which to pay,
even your bed will be taken from under you. x
28 Don’t move an ancient boundary marker
that your fathers set up. y
29 Do you see a person skilled in his work?
He will stand in the presence of kings.
He will not stand in the presence of the unknown. z