1 A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches, Loving favor rather than silver and gold. |
2 The rich and the poor have this in common, The LORD is the maker of them all. |
3 A prudent man foresees evil and hides himself, But the simple pass on and are punished. |
4 By humility and the fear of the LORD Are riches and honor and life. |
5 Thorns and snares are in the way of the perverse; He who guards his soul will be far from them. |
6 Train up a child in the way he should go, And when he is old he will not depart from it. |
7 The rich rules over the poor, And the borrower is servant to the lender. |
8 He who sows iniquity will reap sorrow, And the rod of his anger will fail. |
9 He who has a generous eye will be blessed, For he gives of his bread to the poor. |
10 Cast out the scoffer, and contention will leave; Yes, strife and reproach will cease. |
11 He who loves purity of heart And has grace on his lips, The king will be his friend. |
12 The eyes of the LORD preserve knowledge, But He overthrows the words of the faithless. |
13 The lazy man says, "There is a lion outside! I shall be slain in the streets!" |
14 The mouth of an immoral woman is a deep pit; He who is abhorred by the LORD will fall there. |
15 Foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child; The rod of correction will drive it far from him. |
16 He who oppresses the poor to increase his riches, And he who gives to the rich, will surely come to poverty. |
17 Incline your ear and hear the words of the wise, And apply your heart to my knowledge; |
18 For it is a pleasant thing if you keep them within you; Let them all be fixed upon your lips, |
19 So that your trust may be in the LORD; I have instructed you today, even you. |
20 Have I not written to you excellent things Of counsels and knowledge, |
21 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 Do not rob the poor because he is poor, Nor oppress the afflicted at the gate; |
23 For the LORD will plead their cause, And plunder the soul of those who plunder them. |
24 Make no friendship with an angry man, And with a furious man do not go, |
25 Lest you learn his ways And set a snare for your soul. |
26 Do not be one of those who shakes hands in a pledge, One of those who is surety for debts; |
27 If you have nothing with which to pay, Why should he take away your bed from under you? |
28 Do not remove the ancient landmark Which your fathers have set. |
29 Do you see a man who excels in his work? He will stand before kings; He will not stand before unknown men. |