Yahweh Is the Maker of All
A agood 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 aMaker of them all.
3 A aprudent 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 aThorns and snares are in the way of the crooked;
He who keeps his soul will be far from them.
6 aTrain up a child according to his way,
Even when he is old he will not depart from it.
7 The arich rules over the poor,
And the borrower is the slave of the lender.
8 He who asows unrighteousness will reap iniquity,
And the brod of his fury will end.
9 He who is agenerous will be blessed,
For he bgives from his food to the poor.
10 aDrive out the scoffer, and strife will go out,
Even contention and disgrace will cease.
11 He who loves apurity of heart
And bgrace 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 asluggard says, “There is a lion outside;
I will be killed in the streets!”
14 The mouth of astrange women is a deep pit;
He who is bcursed of Yahweh will fall into it.
15 Folly is bound up in the heart of a child;
The arod of discipline will remove it far from him.
16 He awho oppresses the poor to make more for himself
Or who gives to the rich bwill only come to lack.
17 aIncline your ear and hear the words of the wise,
And set your heart on my knowledge;
18 For it will be apleasant if you keep them within you,
That they may be established on your lips.
19 So that your atrust may be in Yahweh,
I have made you know today, even you.
20 Have I not written to you aexcellent things
Of counsels and knowledge,
21 To make you aknow the veracity of the words of truth
That you may brespond with the words of truth to him who sent you?
22 aDo not rob the poor because he is poor,
And do not bcrush the afflicted at the gate;
23 For Yahweh will aplead 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 agreat wrath,
25 Lest you alearn his ways
And take on a snare against your soul.
26 Do not be among those who astrike hands in pledge,
Among those who become guarantors for debts.
27 If you have nothing with which to pay,
Why should he atake your bed from under you?
28 aDo not move the ancient boundary
Which your fathers made.
29 Do you see a man skilled in his work?
He will astand before kings;
He will not stand before obscure men.