22¹ A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches, and favor is better than silver or gold.

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

³ The clever see danger and hide; but the simple go on, and suffer for it.

⁴ The reward for humility and fear of the Lord is riches and honor and life.

⁵ Thorns and snares are in the way of the perverse; the cautious will keep far from them.

⁶ Train children in the right way, and when old, they will not stray.

⁷ The rich rule over the poor, and the borrower is the slave of the lender.

⁸ Whoever sows injustice will reap calamity, and the rod of anger will fail.

⁹ Those who are generous are blessed, for they share their bread with the poor.

¹⁰ Drive out a scoffer, and strife goes out; quarreling and abuse will cease.

¹¹ Those who love a pure heart and are gracious in speech will have the king as a friend.

¹² The eyes of the Lord keep watch over knowledge, but he overthrows the words of the faithless.

¹³ The lazy person says, "There is a lion outside! I shall be killed in the streets!"

¹⁴ The mouth of a loose woman is a deep pit; he with whom the Lord is angry falls into it.

¹⁵ Folly is bound up in the heart of a boy, but the rod of discipline drives it far away.

¹⁶ Oppressing the poor in order to enrich oneself, and giving to the rich, will lead only to loss.

Precepts and Warnings

¹⁷ The words of the wise: Incline your ear and hear my words, and apply your mind to my teaching; ¹⁸ for it will be pleasant if you keep them within you, if all of them are ready on your lips. ¹⁹ So that your trust may be in the Lord, I have made them known to you today-yes, to you. ²⁰ Have I not written for you thirty sayings of admonition and knowledge, ²¹ to show you what is right and true, so that you may give a true answer to those who sent you?

²² Do not rob the poor because they are poor, or crush the afflicted at the gate; ²³ for the Lord pleads their cause and despoils of life those who despoil them.

²⁴ Make no friends with those given to anger, and do not associate with hotheads, ²⁵ or you may learn their ways and entangle yourself in a snare.

²⁶ Do not be one of those who give pledges, who become surety for debts. ²⁷ If you have nothing with which to pay, why should your bed be taken from under you?

²⁸ Do not remove the ancient landmark that your ancestors set up.

²⁹ Do you see those who are skillful in their work? They will serve kings; they will not serve common people.

Exhortations to Obedience

3¹ My child, do not forget my teaching, but let your heart keep my commandments; ² for length of days and years of life and abundant welfare they will give you. ³ Do not let loyalty and faithfulness forsake you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart. ⁴ So you will find favor and good repute in the sight of God and of people. ⁵ Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own insight. ⁶ In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.

⁷ Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord, and turn away from evil. ⁸ It will be a healing for your flesh and a refreshment for your body. ⁹ Honor the Lord with your substance and with the first fruits of all your produce; ¹⁰ then your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will be bursting with wine. ¹¹ My child, do not despise the Lord's discipline or be weary of his reproof, ¹² for the Lord reproves the one he loves, as a father the son in whom he delights.

¹³ Happy are those who find wisdom, and those who get understanding, ¹⁴ for her income is better than silver, and her revenue better than gold. ¹⁵ She is more precious than jewels, and nothing you desire can compare with her. ¹⁶ Long life is in her right hand; in her left hand are riches and honor. ¹⁷ Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace. ¹⁸ She is a tree of life to those who lay hold of her; those who hold her fast are called happy. ¹⁹ The Lord by wisdom founded the earth; by understanding he established the heavens; ²⁰ by his knowledge the deeps broke open, and the clouds drop down the dew.

²¹ My child, do not let these escape from your sight: keep sound wisdom and prudence, ²² and they will be life for your soul and adornment for your neck. ²³ Then you will walk on your way securely and your foot will not stumble. ²⁴ If you sit down, you will not be afraid; when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet. ²⁵ Do not be afraid of sudden panic, or of the storm that strikes the wicked; ²⁶ for the Lord will be your confidence and will keep your foot from being caught.

²⁷ Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to do it. ²⁸ Do not say to your neighbor, "Go, and come again, tomorrow I will give it"-when you have it with you. ²⁹ Do not plan harm against your neighbor who lives trustingly beside you. ³⁰ Do not quarrel with anyone without cause, when no harm has been done to you. ³¹ Do not envy the violent and do not choose any of their ways; ³² for the perverse are an abomination to the Lord, but the upright are in his confidence. ³³ The Lord's curse is on the house of the wicked, but he blesses the abode of the righteous. ³⁴ Toward the scorners he is scornful, but to the humble he shows favor. ³⁵ The wise will inherit honor, but stubborn fools, disgrace.