Proverbs

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

2Rich and poor have met together, The Maker of them all [is] Jehovah.

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

4The end of humility [is] the fear of Jehovah, Riches, and honour, and life.

5Thorns — snares [are] in the way of the perverse, Whoso is keeping his soul is far from them.

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

7The rich over the poor ruleth, And a servant [is] the borrower to the lender.

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

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

10Cast out a scorner — and contention goeth out, And strife and shame cease.

11Whoso is loving cleanness of heart, Grace [are] his lips, a king [is] his friend.

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

13The slothful hath said, 'A lion [is] without, In the midst of the broad places I am slain.'

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

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

16He is oppressing the poor to multiply to him, He is giving to the rich — only to want.

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

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

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

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

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

22Rob not the poor because he [is] poor, And bruise not the afflicted in the gate.

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

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

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

26Be not thou among those striking hands, Among sureties [for] burdens.

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

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

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

1A good name is more desirable than great riches,and loving favor is better than silver and gold.

2The rich and the poor have this in common:The LORD is the maker of them all.

3A prudent man sees danger and hides himself;but the simple pass on, and suffer for it.

4The result of humility and the fear of the LORDis wealth, honor, and life.

5Thorns and snares are in the path of the wicked;whoever guards his soul stays far from them.

6Train up a child in the way he should go,and when he is old he will not depart from it.

7The rich rule over the poor.The borrower is servant to the lender.

8He who sows wickedness reaps trouble,and the rod of his fury will be destroyed.

9He who has a generous eye will be blessed,for he shares his food with the poor.

10Drive out the mocker, and strife will go out;yes, quarrels and insults will stop.

11He who loves purity of heart and speaks gracefullyis the king’s friend.

12The LORD’s eyes watch over knowledge,but he frustrates the words of the unfaithful.

13The sluggard says, “There is a lion outside!I will be killed in the streets!”

14The mouth of an adulteress is a deep pit.He who is under the LORD’s wrath will fall into it.

15Folly is bound up in the heart of a child;the rod of discipline drives it far from him.

16Whoever oppresses the poor for his own increase and whoever gives to the rich,both come to poverty.

17Turn your ear, and listen to the words of the wise.Apply your heart to my teaching.

18For it is a pleasant thing if you keep them within you,if all of them are ready on your lips.

19I teach you today, even you,so that your trust may be in the LORD.

20Haven’t I written to you thirty excellent thingsof counsel and knowledge,

21To teach you truth, reliable words,to give sound answers to the ones who sent you?

22Don’t exploit the poor because he is poor;and don’t crush the needy in court;

23for the LORD will plead their case,and plunder the life of those who plunder them.

24Don’t befriend a hot-tempered man.Don’t associate with one who harbors anger,

25lest you learn his waysand ensnare your soul.

26Don’t you be one of those who strike hands,of those who are collateral for debts.

27If you don’t have means to pay,why should he take away your bed from under you?

28Don’t move the ancient boundary stonewhich your fathers have set up.

29Do you see a man skilled in his work?He will serve kings. He won’t serve obscure men.