221 A good name is to be more desired than great wealth , Favor is better than silver and gold .

2 The rich and the poor have a common bond , The Lord is the maker of them all .

3 The prudent sees the evil and hides himself, But the naive go on, and are punished for it.

4 The reward of humility and the fear of the Lord Are riches , honor and life .

5 Thorns and snares are in the way of the perverse ; He who guards himself will be far from them.

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

7 The rich rules over the poor , And the borrower becomes the lender's slave .

8 He who sows iniquity will reap vanity , And the rod of his fury will perish .

9 He who is generous e will be blessed , For he gives some of his food to the poor .

10 Drive out the scoffer , and contention will go out, Even strife and dishonor will cease .

11 He who loves purity of heart And whose speech is gracious , the king is his friend .

12 The eyes of the Lord preserve knowledge , But He overthrows the words of the treacherous man.

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 cursed of the Lord will fall into it.

15 Foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child ; The rod of discipline will remove it far from him.

16 He who oppresses the poor to make more for himself Or who gives to the rich , will only come to poverty .

Precepts and Warnings

17 Incline your ear and hear the words of the wise , And apply your mind to my knowledge ; 18 For it will be pleasant if you keep them within you, That they may be ready on your lips . 19 So that your trust may be in the Lord , I have taught you today , even you. 20 Have I not written to you excellent things Of counsels and knowledge , 21 To make you know the certainty of the words of truth That you may correctly answer him who sent you?

22 Do not rob the poor because he is poor , Or crush the afflicted at the gate ; 23 For the Lord will plead their case And take the life of those who rob them.

24 Do not associate with a man given to anger ; Or go with a hot-tempered man , 25 Or you will learn his ways And find a snare for yourself .

26 Do not be among those who give e pledges e , Among those who become guarantors for debts . 27 If you have nothing with which to pay , Why should he take your bed from under you?

28 Do not move the ancient boundary Which your fathers have set .

29 Do you see a man skilled in his work ? He will stand before kings ; He will not stand before obscure men .

Exhortations to Obedience

31 My son , do not forget my teaching , But let your heart keep my commandments ; 2 For length of days and years of life And peace they will add to you. 3 Do not let kindness and truth leave 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 man . 5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart And do not lean on your own understanding . 6 In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He will make your paths straight .

7 Do not be wise in your own eyes ; Fear the Lord and turn away from evil . 8 It will be healing to your body And refreshment to your bones . 9 Honor the Lord from your wealth And from the first of all your produce ; 10 So your barns will be filled with plenty And your vats will overflow with new wine . 11 My son , do not reject the discipline of the Lord Or loathe His reproof , 12 For whom the Lord loves He reproves , Even as a father corrects the son in whom he delights .

13 How blessed is the man who finds wisdom And the man who gains understanding . 14 For her profit is better than the profit of silver And her gain better than fine gold . 15 She is more precious than jewels ; And nothing e you desire compares with her. 16 Long life is in her right hand ; In her left hand are riches and honor . 17 Her ways are pleasant ways And all her paths are peace . 18 She is a tree of life to those who take hold of her, And happy are all who hold her fast . 19 The Lord by wisdom founded the earth , By understanding He established the heavens . 20 By His knowledge the deeps were broken up And the skies drip with dew .

21 My son , let them not vanish from your sight ; Keep sound wisdom and discretion , 22 So they will be life to your soul And adornment to your neck . 23 Then you will walk in your way securely And your foot will not stumble . 24 When you lie down , you will not be afraid ; When you lie down , your sleep will be sweet . 25 Do not be afraid of sudden fear Nor of the onslaught of the wicked when it comes ; 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 back , And tomorrow I will give it," When you have it with you. 29 Do not devise harm against your neighbor , While he lives securely beside you. 30 Do not contend with a man without cause , If he has done you no harm . 31 Do not envy a man of violence And do not choose any of his ways . 32 For the devious are an abomination to the Lord ; But He is intimate with the upright . 33 The curse of the Lord is on the house of the wicked , But He blesses the dwelling of the righteous . 34 Though He scoffs at the scoffers , Yet He gives grace to the afflicted . 35 The wise will inherit honor , But fools display dishonor .