1 A name is chosen rather than much wealth, Than silver and than gold -- good grace.

2 R ich and poor have met together, The Maker of them all Jehovah.

3 T he prudent hath seen the evil, and is hidden, And the simple have passed on, and are punished.

4 T he end of humility the fear of Jehovah, Riches, and honour, and life.

5 T horns -- snares in the way of the perverse, Whoso is keeping his soul is far from them.

6 G ive instruction to a youth about his way, Even when he is old he turneth not from it.

7 T he rich over the poor ruleth, And a servant the borrower to the lender.

8 W hoso is sowing perverseness reapeth sorrow, And the rod of his anger weareth out.

9 T he good of eye -- he is blessed, For he hath given of his bread to the poor.

10 C ast out a scorner -- and contention goeth out, And strife and shame cease.

11 W hoso is loving cleanness of heart, Grace his lips, a king his friend.

12 T he eyes of Jehovah have kept knowledge, And He overthroweth the words of the treacherous.

13 T he slothful hath said, `A lion without, In the midst of the broad places I am slain.'

14 A deep pit the mouth of strange women, The abhorred of Jehovah falleth there.

15 F olly is bound up in the heart of a youth, The rod of chastisement putteth it far from him.

16 H e is oppressing the poor to multiply to him, He is giving to the rich -- only to want.

17 I ncline thine ear, and hear words of the wise, And thy heart set to my knowledge,

18 F or they are pleasant when thou dost keep them in thy heart, They are prepared together for thy lips.

19 T hat thy trust may be in Jehovah, I caused thee to know to-day, even thou.

20 H ave I not written to thee three times With counsels and knowledge?

21 T o cause thee to know the certainty of sayings of truth, To return sayings of truth to those sending thee.

22 R ob not the poor because he poor, And bruise not the afflicted in the gate.

23 F or Jehovah pleadeth their cause, And hath spoiled the soul of their spoilers.

24 S hew not thyself friendly with an angry man, And with a man of fury go not in,

25 L est thou learn his paths, And have received a snare to thy soul.

26 B e not thou among those striking hands, Among sureties burdens.

27 I f thou hast nothing to pay, Why doth he take thy bed from under thee?

28 R emove not a border of olden times, That thy fathers have made.

29 H ast thou seen a man speedy in his business? Before kings he doth station himself, He stations not himself before obscure men!