1A good name is to be chosen over great wealth;

favor is better than silver and gold.a

2The rich and the poor have this in common:b

the LORD made them both.c, d

3A sensible person sees danger and takes cover,

but the inexperienced keep going and are punished.e

4The result of humility is •fear of the LORD,

along with wealth, honor, and life.f

5There are thorns and snares on the path of the crooked;g

the one who guards himself stays far from them.

6Teach a youth about the way he should go;h

even when he is old he will not depart from it.

7The rich rule over the poor,i

and the borrower is a slave to the lender.j

8The one who sows injustice will reap disaster,k

and the rod of his fury will be destroyed.

9A generous personl will be blessed,m

for he shares his food with the poor.n

10Drive out a mocker,o and conflict goes too;

then quarreling and dishonor will cease.p

11The one who loves a pure heart

and gracious lips — the king is his friend.q

12The LORD’s eyes keep watch over knowledge,

but He overthrows the words of the treacherous.

13The slacker says, “There’s a lion outside!

I’ll be killed in the public square! ”r

14The mouth of the forbidden woman is a deep pit;

a man cursed by the LORD will fall into it.s

15Foolishness is tangled up in the heart of a youth;

the rod of discipline will drive it away from him.t

16Oppressing the poor to enrich oneself,

and giving to the rich — both lead only to poverty.u

Words of the Wise

17Listen closely,v pay attention to the words of the wise,w

and apply your mind to my knowledge.

18For it is pleasing if you keep them within you

and ifx they are constantly on your lips.

19I have instructed you today — even you —

so that your confidence may be in the LORD.

20Haven’t I written for you thirty sayingsy

about counsel and knowledge,

21in order to teach you true and reliable words,

so that you may give a dependable reportz, aa

to those who sent you?ab

22Don’t rob a poor man because he is poor,

and don’t crush the oppressedac at the •gate,ad

23for the LORD will take up their caseae

and will plunder those who plunder them.

24Don’t make friends with an angry man,af

and don’t be a companion of a hot-tempered man,ag

25or you will learn his waysah

and entangle yourself in a snare.

26Don’t be one of those who enter agreements,ai

who put up security for loans.aj

27If you have no money to pay,

even your bed will be taken from under you.ak

28Don’t move an ancient boundary marker

that your fathers set up.al

29Do you see a man skilled in his work?

He will stand in the presence of kings.

He will not stand in the presence of unknown men.am