Aa
On Life and Conduct
1A good name is to be more desired than great wealth;
Favor is better than silver and gold.
2The rich and the poor Lit meet togetherhave a common bond,
The Lord is the Maker of them all.
3A prudent person sees evil and hides himself,
But the naive proceed, and pay the penalty.
4The reward of humility and Or reverence forthe fear of the Lord
Are riches, honor, and life.
5Thorns and snares are in the way of the perverse;
One who guards himself will be far from them.
6Train up a child Lit according to his wayin the way he should go,
Even when he grows older he will not abandon it.
7The rich rules over the poor,
And the borrower becomes the lender’s slave.
8One who sows injustice will reap disaster,
And the rod of his fury will perish.
9One who Lit has a good eyeis generous will be blessed,
Because he gives some of his food to the poor.
10Drive out the scoffer, and strife will leave,
Even quarreling and dishonor will cease.
11One who loves purity of heart
And Lit has grace on his lipswhose speech is gracious, the king is his friend.
12The eyes of the Lord protect knowledge,
But He overthrows the words of the treacherous person.
13The Lit idlelazy one says, “There is a lion outside;
I will be killed in the streets!”
14The mouth of Lit strange womanan adulteress is a deep pit;
He who is cursed of the Lord will fall Lit thereinto it.
15Foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child;
The rod of discipline will remove it far from him.
16One who oppresses the poor to make Lit muchmore for himself,
Or gives to the rich, will only come to poverty.
17Extend your ear and hear the words of the wise,
And apply your mind to my knowledge;
18For it will be pleasant if you keep them within you,
Lit They together So that they may be ready on your lips.
19So that your trust may be in the Lord,
I have Lit made you knowtaught you today, you indeed.
20Have I not written to you Or previousexcellent things
Of counsels and knowledge,
21To make you know the Lit truthcertainty of the words of truth,
So that you may Lit return words of truthcorrectly answer him who sent you?
22Do not rob the poor because he is poor,
Nor crush the needy at the gate;
23For the Lord will plead their case
And Lit rob the soultake the life of those who rob them.
24Do not make friends with a person given to anger,
Or go with a hot-tempered person,
25Or you will learn his ways
And Lit takefind a snare for yourself.
26Do not be among those who shake hands,
Among those who become guarantors for debts.
27If you have nothing with which to repay,
Why should he take your bed from under you?
28Do not move the ancient boundary
Which your fathers have set.
29Do you see a person skilled in his work?
He will stand before kings;
He will not stand before obscure people.