• Yahweh Is the Maker of All

  • 1 A good name is to be chosen over great wealth, Favor is better than silver and gold.
  • 2 The rich and the poor meet together in this— Yahweh is the Maker of them all.
  • 3 A prudent man sees evil and hides, But the simple pass on, and are punished.
  • 4 The reward of humility—the fear of Yahweh— Is riches, glory, and life.
  • 5 Thorns and snares are in the way of the crooked; He who keeps his soul will be far from them.
  • 6 Train up a child according to his way, Even when he is old he will not depart from it.
  • 7 The rich rules over the poor, And the borrower is the slave of the lender.
  • 8 He who sows unrighteousness will reap iniquity, And the rod of his fury will end.
  • 9 He who is generous will be blessed, For he gives from his food to the poor.
  • 10 Drive out the scoffer, and strife will go out, Even contention and disgrace will cease.
  • 11 He who loves purity of heart And grace on his lips, the king is his friend.
  • 12 The eyes of Yahweh guard knowledge, But He subverts the words of the treacherous one.
  • 13 The sluggard says, “There is a lion outside; I will be killed in the streets!”
  • 14 The mouth of strange women is a deep pit; He who is cursed of Yahweh will fall into it.
  • 15 Folly 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 lack.
  • 17 Incline your ear and hear the words of the wise, And set your heart on my knowledge;
  • 18 For it will be pleasant if you keep them within you, That they may be established on your lips.
  • 19 So that your trust may be in Yahweh, I have made you know today, even you.
  • 20 Have I not written to you excellent things Of counsels and knowledge,
  • 21 To make you know the veracity of the words of truth That you may respond with the words of truth to him who sent you?
  • 22 Do not rob the poor because he is poor, And do not crush the afflicted at the gate;
  • 23 For Yahweh will plead their case And rob the soul of those who rob them.
  • 24 Do not befriend a man of anger; And do not come along with a man of great wrath,
  • 25 Lest you learn his ways And take on a snare against your soul.
  • 26 Do not be among those who strike hands in pledge, 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 made.
  • 29 Do you see a man skilled in his work? He will stand before kings; He will not stand before obscure men.