[1] A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches, and favor is
better than silver or gold. [2] The rich and the poor meet together; the
LORD is the maker of them all. [3] A prudent man sees danger and hides
himself; but the simple go on, and suffer for it. [4] The reward for
humility and fear of the LORD is riches and honor and life. [5] Thorns and
snares are in the way of the perverse; he who guards himself will keep 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 the slave of the lender. [8] He who sows injustice will reap
calamity, and the rod of his fury will fail. [9] He who has a bountiful eye
will be blessed, for he shares his bread with the poor. [10] Drive out a
scoffer, and strife will go out, and quarreling and abuse will cease. [11]
He who loves purity of heart, and whose speech is gracious, will have the
king as his friend. [12] The eyes of the LORD keep watch over knowledge,
but he overthrows the words of the faithless. [13] The sluggard says,
"There is a lion outside! I shall be slain in the streets!" [14] The mouth
of a loose woman is a deep pit; he with whom the LORD is angry will fall
into it. [15] Folly is bound up in the heart of a child, but the rod of
discipline drives it far from him. [16] He who oppresses the poor to
increase his own wealth, or gives to the rich, will only come to want. [17]
Incline your ear, and hear the words of the wise, and apply your mind to my
knowledge; [18] for it will be pleasant if you keep them within you, if all
of them are ready on your lips. [19] That your trust may be in the LORD, I
have made them known to you today, even to you. [20] Have I not written for
you thirty sayings of admonition and knowledge, [21] to show you what is
right and true, that you may give a true answer to those who sent you? [22]
Do not rob the poor, because he is poor, or crush the afflicted at the
gate; [23] for the LORD will plead their cause and despoil of life those
who despoil them. [24] Make no friendship with a man given to anger, nor go
with a wrathful man, [25] lest you learn his ways and entangle yourself in
a snare. [26] Be not one of those who give pledges, who become surety for
debts. [27] If you have nothing with which to pay, why should your bed be
taken from under you? [28] Remove not the ancient landmark which your
fathers have set. [29] Do you see a man skilful in his work? he will stand
before kings; he will not stand before obscure men.
