1 A name is rather to be chosen than great riches; loving favour rather than silver and gold.

2 T he rich and poor meet together; Jehovah is the maker of them all.

3 A prudent seeth the evil, and hideth himself; but the simple pass on, and are punished.

4 T he reward of humility the fear of Jehovah is riches, and honour, and life.

5 T horns snares are in the way of the perverse: he that keepeth his soul holdeth himself far from them.

6 T rain up the child according to the tenor of his way, and when he is old he will not depart from it.

7 T he rich ruleth over the poor; and the borrower is servant to the lender.

8 H e that soweth unrighteousness shall reap iniquity, and the rod of his wrath shall have an end.

9 H e that hath a bountiful eye shall be blessed, for he giveth of his bread to the poor.

10 C ast out the scorner, and contention will depart, and strife and ignominy shall cease.

11 H e that loveth pureness of heart, upon whose lips is grace, the king is his friend.

12 T he eyes of Jehovah preserve knowledge; but he overthroweth the words of the unfaithful.

13 T he sluggard saith, There is a lion without, I shall be killed in the streets!

14 T he mouth of strange women is a deep ditch: he with whom Jehovah is displeased shall fall therein.

15 F olly is bound in the heart of a child; the rod of correction shall drive it far from him.

16 H e that oppresseth the poor, it is to enrich him; he that giveth to the rich, only to want.

17 I ncline thine ear, and hear the words of the wise, and apply thy heart unto my knowledge.

18 F or it is a pleasant thing if thou keep them within thee: they shall be together fitted on thy lips.

19 T hat thy confidence may be in Jehovah, I have made known to thee this day, even to thee.

20 H ave not I written to thee excellent things, in counsels and knowledge,

21 t hat I might make thee know the certainty of the words of truth; that thou mightest carry back words of truth to them that send thee?

22 R ob not the poor, because he is poor, neither oppress the afflicted in the gate;

23 f or Jehovah will plead their cause, and despoil the soul of those that despoil them.

24 M ake no friendship with an angry man, and go not with a furious man;

25 l est thou learn his paths, and get a snare to thy soul.

26 B e not of them that strike hands, of them that are sureties for debts:

27 i f thou hast nothing to pay, why should he take away thy bed from under thee?

28 R emove not the ancient landmark which thy fathers have set.

29 H ast thou seen a man diligent in his work? He shall stand before kings; he shall not stand before the mean.