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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

12 The eyes of Yahweh watch over knowledge;
but he frustrates the words of the unfaithful.

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

14 The mouth of an adulteress is a deep pit:
he who is under Yahweh’s wrath will fall into it.

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

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

Precepts and Warnings

17 Turn your ear, and listen to the words of the wise.
Apply your heart to my teaching. 18 For it is a pleasant thing if you keep them within you,
if all of them are ready on your lips. 19 That your trust may be in Yahweh,
I teach you today, even you. 20 Haven’t I written to you thirty excellent things
of counsel and knowledge, 21 To teach you truth, reliable words,
to give sound answers to the ones who sent you?

22 Don’t exploit the poor, because he is poor;
and don’t crush the needy in court; 23 for Yahweh will plead their case,
and plunder the life of those who plunder them.

24 Don’t befriend a hot-tempered man,
and don’t associate with one who harbors anger: 25 lest you learn his ways,
and ensnare your soul.

26 Don’t you be one of those who strike hands,
of those who are collateral for debts. 27 If you don’t have means to pay,
why should he take away your bed from under you?

28 Don’t move the ancient boundary stone,
which your fathers have set up.

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

Exhortations to Obedience

31 My son, don’t forget my teaching;
but let your heart keep my commandments: 2 for length of days, and years of life,
and peace, will they add to you. 3 Don’t let kindness and truth forsake you.
Bind them around your neck.
Write them on the tablet of your heart. 4 So you will find favor,
and good understanding in the sight of God and man. 5 Trust in Yahweh with all your heart,
and don’t lean on your own understanding. 6 In all your ways acknowledge him,
and he will make your paths straight.

7 Don’t be wise in your own eyes.
Fear Yahweh, and depart from evil. 8 It will be health to your body,
and nourishment to your bones. 9 Honor Yahweh with your substance,
with the first fruits of all your increase: 10 so your barns will be filled with plenty,
and your vats will overflow with new wine. 11 My son, don’t despise Yahweh’s discipline,
neither be weary of his reproof: 12 for whom Yahweh loves, he reproves;
even as a father reproves the son in whom he delights.

13 Happy is the man who finds wisdom,
the man who gets understanding. 14 For her good profit is better than getting silver,
and her return is better than fine gold. 15 She is more precious than rubies.
None of the things you can desire are to be compared to her. 16 Length of days is in her right hand.
In her left hand are riches and honor. 17 Her ways are ways of pleasantness.
All her paths are peace. 18 She is a tree of life to those who lay hold of her.
Happy is everyone who retains her. 19 By wisdom Yahweh founded the earth.
By understanding, he established the heavens. 20 By his knowledge, the depths were broken up,
and the skies drop down the dew.

21 My son, let them not depart from your eyes.
Keep sound wisdom and discretion: 22 so they will be life to your soul,
and grace for your neck. 23 Then you shall walk in your way securely.
Your foot won’t stumble. 24 When you lie down, you will not be afraid.
Yes, you will lie down, and your sleep will be sweet. 25 Don’t be afraid of sudden fear,
neither of the desolation of the wicked, when it comes: 26 for Yahweh will be your confidence,
and will keep your foot from being taken.

27 Don’t withhold good from those to whom it is due,
when it is in the power of your hand to do it. 28 Don’t say to your neighbor, “Go, and come again;
tomorrow I will give it to you,”
when you have it by you. 29 Don’t devise evil against your neighbor,
seeing he dwells securely by you. 30 Don’t strive with a man without cause,
if he has done you no harm. 31 Don’t envy the man of violence.
Choose none of his ways. 32 For the perverse is an abomination to Yahweh,
but his friendship is with the upright. 33 Yahweh’s curse is in the house of the wicked,
but he blesses the habitation of the righteous. 34 Surely he mocks the mockers,
but he gives grace to the humble. 35 The wise will inherit glory,
but shame will be the promotion of fools.