A agood name is to be chosen rather than great riches,
Loving favor rather than silver and gold.
2 The arich and the poor have this in common,
The bLord is the maker of them all.
3 A prudent man foresees evil and hides himself,
But the simple pass on and are apunished.
4 By humility and the fear of the Lord
Are riches and honor and life.
5 Thorns and snares are in the way of the perverse;
He who guards his soul will be far from them.
6 aTrain up a child in the way he should go,
And when he is old he will not depart from it.
7 The arich rules over the poor,
And the borrower is servant to the lender.
8 He who sows iniquity will reap asorrow,
And the rod of his anger will fail.
9 aHe who has a generous eye will be bblessed,
For he gives of his bread to the poor.
10 aCast out the scoffer, and contention will leave;
Yes, strife and reproach will cease.
11 aHe who loves purity of heart
And has grace on his lips,
The king will be his friend.
12 The eyes of the Lord preserve knowledge,
But He overthrows the words of the faithless.
13 aThe lazy man says, “There is a lion outside!
I shall be slain in the streets!”
14 aThe mouth of an immoral woman is a deep pit;
bHe who is abhorred by the Lord will fall there.
15 Foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child;
aThe rod of correction will drive it far from him.
16 He who oppresses the poor to increase his riches,
And he who gives to the rich, will surely come to poverty.
Sayings of the Wise
17 Incline your ear and hear the words of the wise,
And apply your heart to my knowledge;
18 For it is a pleasant thing if you keep them within you;
Let them all be fixed upon your lips,
19 So that your trust may be in the Lord;
I have instructed you today, even you.
20 Have I not written to you excellent things
Of counsels and knowledge,
21 aThat I may make you know the certainty of the words of truth,
bThat you may answer words of truth
To those who send to you?
22 Do not rob the apoor because he is poor,
Nor oppress the afflicted at the gate;
23 aFor the Lord will plead their cause,
And plunder the soul of those who plunder them.
24 Make no friendship with an angry man,
And with a afurious man do not go,
25 Lest you learn his ways
And set a snare for your soul.
26 aDo not be one of those who shakes hands in a pledge,
One of those who is surety for debts;
27 If you have nothing with which to pay,
Why should he take away your bed from under you?
28 aDo not remove the ancient landmark
Which your fathers have set.
29 Do you see a man who excels in his work?
He will stand before kings;
He will not stand before unknown men.
The Holy Bible, New King James Version, Copyright © 1982 Thomas Nelson.
All rights reserved.