• On Life and Conduct

  • 1 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 A prudent person sees evil and hides himself, But the naive proceed, and pay the penalty.
  • 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; One who guards himself will be far from them.
  • 6 Train up a child in the way he should go, Even when he grows older he will not abandon it.
  • 7 The rich rules over the poor, And the borrower becomes the lender’s slave.
  • 8 One who sows injustice will reap disaster, And the rod of his fury will perish.
  • 9 One who is generous will be blessed, Because he gives some of his food to the poor.
  • 10 Drive out the scoffer, and strife will leave, Even quarreling and dishonor will cease.
  • 11 One who loves purity of heart And whose speech is gracious, the king is his friend.
  • 12 The eyes of the Lord protect knowledge, But He overthrows the words of the treacherous person.
  • 13 The lazy one 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 One who oppresses the poor to make more for himself, Or gives to the rich, will only come to poverty.
  • 17 Extend 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, So that they may be ready on your lips.
  • 19 So that your trust may be in the Lord, I have taught you today, you indeed.
  • 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, So that you may correctly answer him who sent you?
  • 22 Do not rob the poor because he is poor, Nor crush the needy at the gate;
  • 23 For the Lord will plead their case And take the life of those who rob them.
  • 24 Do not make friends with a person given to anger, Or go with a hot-tempered person,
  • 25 Or you will learn his ways And find a snare for yourself.
  • 26 Do not be among those who shake hands, Among those who become guarantors for debts.
  • 27 If you have nothing with which to repay, 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 person skilled in his work? He will stand before kings; He will not stand before obscure people.