Proverbs

¹A good name is to be chosen rather than great wealth,good favor more than silver or gold. ²The rich and the poor meet together;the Lord is the creator of them both. ³A shrewd person sees danger and hides himself,but the naive keep right on going and suffer for it. ⁴The reward for humility and fearing the Lordis riches and honor and life. ⁵Thorns and snares are in the path of the perverse,but the one who guards himself keeps far from them. ⁶Train a child in the way that he should go,and when he is old he will not turn from it. ⁷The rich rule over the poor,and the borrower is servant to the lender. ⁸The one who sows iniquity will reap trouble,and the rod of his fury will end. ⁹A generous person will be blessed,for he gives some of his food to the poor. ¹⁰Drive out the scorner and contention will leave;strife and insults will cease. ¹¹The one who loves a pure heartand whose speech is gracious – the king will be his friend. ¹²The eyes of the Lord guard knowledge,but he overthrows the words of the faithless person. ¹³The sluggard says, “There is a lion outside!I will be killed in the middle of the streets!” ¹⁴The mouth of an adulteress is like a deep pit;the one against whom the Lord is angry will fall into it. ¹⁵Folly is bound up in the heart of a child,but the rod of discipline will drive it far from him. ¹⁶The one who oppresses the poor to increase his own gainand the one who gives to the rich – both end up only in poverty.

The Sayings of the Wise

¹⁷Incline your ear and listen to the words of the wise,and apply your heart to my instruction. ¹⁸For it is pleasing if you keep these sayings within you,and they are ready on your lips. ¹⁹So that your confidence may be in the Lord, I am making them known to you today – even you. ²⁰Have I not written thirty sayings for you,sayings of counsel and knowledge, ²¹to show you true and reliable words,so that you may give accurate answers to those who sent you? ²²Do not exploit a poor person because he is poorand do not crush the needy in court, ²³for the Lord will plead their caseand will rob those who are robbing them. ²⁴Do not make friends with an angry person,and do not associate with a wrathful person, ²⁵lest you learn his waysand entangle yourself in a snare. ²⁶Do not be one who strikes hands in pledgeor who puts up security for debts. ²⁷If you do not have enough to pay,your bed will be taken right out from under you! ²⁸Do not move an ancient boundary stonewhich was put in place by your ancestors. ²⁹Do you see a person skilled in his work?He will take his position before kings;he will not take his position before obscure people.