Add parallel Print Page Options

22 A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches, and loving favor rather than silver and gold.

The rich and poor meet together; the Lord is the maker of them all.

A prudent man foreseeth the evil and hideth himself, but the simple pass by and are punished.

With humility and the fear of the Lord come riches and honor and life.

Thorns and snares are in the path of the froward; he that doth keep his soul shall stay far from them.

Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it.

The rich ruleth over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender.

He that soweth iniquity shall reap vanity, and the rod of his anger shall fail.

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

10 Cast out the scorner, and contention shall go away; yea, strife and reproach shall cease.

11 He that loveth pureness of heart: for the grace of his lips the king shall be his friend.

12 The eyes of the Lord preserve knowledge, and He overthroweth the words of the transgressor.

13 The slothful man saith, “There is a lion without! I shall be slain in the streets!”

14 The mouth of a strange woman is a deep pit; he that is abhorred by the Lord shall fall therein.

15 Foolishness is bound into the heart of a child, but the rod of correction shall drive it far from him.

16 He that oppresseth the poor to increase his riches, and he that giveth to the rich, shall surely come to want.

17 Bow down thine ear and hear the words of the wise, and apply thine heart unto my knowledge.

18 For it is a pleasant thing if thou keep them within thee, that they may indeed be ready upon thy lips.

19 That thy trust may be in the Lord, I have made it known to thee this day, even to thee!

20 Have I not written to thee excellent things of counsel and knowledge,

21 that I might make thee know the certainty of the words of truth, that thou mightest answer the words of truth to them that send unto thee?

22 Rob not the poor because he is poor, neither oppress the afflicted at the gate;

23 for the Lord will plead their cause, and despoil the soul of those that despoiled them.

24 Make no friendship with an angry man, and with a furious man thou shalt not go,

25 lest thou learn his ways and get a snare for thy soul.

26 Be not thou one of them that strike hands or of them that are sureties for debts;

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

28 Remove not the ancient landmark which thy fathers have set.

29 Seest thou a man diligent in his business? He shall stand before kings; he shall not stand before men of low estate.

22 A good name is more desirable than great riches;
    to be esteemed is better than silver or gold.(A)

Rich and poor have this in common:
    The Lord is the Maker of them all.(B)

The prudent see danger and take refuge,(C)
    but the simple keep going and pay the penalty.(D)

Humility is the fear of the Lord;
    its wages are riches and honor(E) and life.(F)

In the paths of the wicked are snares and pitfalls,(G)
    but those who would preserve their life stay far from them.

Start(H) children off on the way they should go,(I)
    and even when they are old they will not turn from it.(J)

The rich rule over the poor,
    and the borrower is slave to the lender.

Whoever sows injustice reaps calamity,(K)
    and the rod they wield in fury will be broken.(L)

The generous will themselves be blessed,(M)
    for they share their food with the poor.(N)

10 Drive out the mocker, and out goes strife;
    quarrels and insults are ended.(O)

11 One who loves a pure heart and who speaks with grace
    will have the king for a friend.(P)

12 The eyes of the Lord keep watch over knowledge,
    but he frustrates the words of the unfaithful.

13 The sluggard says, “There’s a lion outside!(Q)
    I’ll be killed in the public square!”

14 The mouth of an adulterous woman is a deep pit;(R)
    a man who is under the Lord’s wrath falls into it.(S)

15 Folly is bound up in the heart of a child,
    but the rod of discipline will drive it far away.(T)

16 One who oppresses the poor to increase his wealth
    and one who gives gifts to the rich—both come to poverty.

Thirty Sayings of the Wise

Saying 1

17 Pay attention(U) and turn your ear to the sayings of the wise;(V)
    apply your heart to what I teach,(W)
18 for it is pleasing when you keep them in your heart
    and have all of them ready on your lips.
19 So that your trust may be in the Lord,
    I teach you today, even you.
20 Have I not written thirty sayings for you,
    sayings of counsel and knowledge,
21 teaching you to be honest and to speak the truth,(X)
    so that you bring back truthful reports
    to those you serve?

Saying 2

22 Do not exploit the poor(Y) because they are poor
    and do not crush the needy in court,(Z)
23 for the Lord will take up their case(AA)
    and will exact life for life.(AB)

Saying 3

24 Do not make friends with a hot-tempered person,
    do not associate with one easily angered,
25 or you may learn their ways
    and get yourself ensnared.(AC)

Saying 4

26 Do not be one who shakes hands in pledge(AD)
    or puts up security for debts;
27 if you lack the means to pay,
    your very bed will be snatched from under you.(AE)

Saying 5

28 Do not move an ancient boundary stone(AF)
    set up by your ancestors.

Saying 6

29 Do you see someone skilled(AG) in their work?
    They will serve(AH) before kings;(AI)
    they will not serve before officials of low rank.