1 'n Naam is verkiesliker as groot rykdom, guns beter as silwer en as goud.
2 Rykes en armes ontmoet mekaar, die HERE het hulle almal gemaak.
3 'n Skrander mens sien die onheil en verberg hom, maar die eenvoudiges gaan verder en word gestraf.
4 Die loon van nederigheid is die vrees van die HERE, is rykdom en eer en die lewe.
5 Dorings, vangnette lê op die pad van die verkeerde; hy wat sy siel wil bewaar, bly ver weg daarvandaan.
6 Oefen die seun volgens die eis van sy weg; dan sal hy, ook as hy oud word, daar nie van afwyk nie.
7 Die ryke heers oor die armes, en hy wat leen, is 'n slaaf van die man wat uitleen.
8 Wie onreg saai, sal onheil maai; en die stok van sy grimmigheid sal verdwyn.
9 Wie vriendelik is, hy word geseën, omdat hy van sy brood aan die arme gee.
10 Dryf die spotter weg, dan gaan die twis weg; en die stryery en die geskimp hou op.
11 Hy wat reinheid van hart liefhet, wie se lippe aangenaam is -- die koning is sy vriend.
12 Die oë van die HERE bewaar kennis; daarom verydel Hy die woorde van die ontroue.
13 Die luiaard sê: Daar is 'n leeu buitekant; ek kan in die middel van die strate gedood word!
14 Die mond van die vreemde vroue is 'n diep kuil; hy op wie die HERE vertoornd is, sal daarin val.
15 As die sotheid vassit in die hart van die seun, die tugroede sal dit daaruit verwyder.
16 Wie die arme verdruk, bevoordeel hom; hy wat aan die ryke gee, verarm hom net.
17 Gee gehoor en luister na die woorde van die wyse manne, en let op my kennis.
18 Want dit is lieflik as jy dit in jou binneste bewaar; mag hulle tesame gereed lê op jou lippe.
19 Dat jou vertroue op die HERE mag wees, daarom onderwys ek jou vandag, ja, vir jou.
20 Het ek jou nie kernagtige spreuke voorgeskrywe met raadgewinge en kennis,
21 om jou bekend te maak waarheid, betroubare woorde, sodat jy woorde van waarheid kan antwoord aan die wat jou stuur nie?
22 Beroof die arme nie, omdat hy arm is, en verbrysel die ellendige nie in die poort nie.
23 Want die HERE sal hulle saak verdedig en hulle berowers van die lewe berowe.
24 Verkeer nie met 'n driftige man nie, en met 'n opvlieënde man moet jy nie omgaan nie,
25 sodat jy nie gewend raak aan sy paaie en 'n strik vir jouself span nie.
26 Wees nie onder die wat 'n handslag gee, onder die wat vir skulde borg staan nie.
27 As jy nie het om te betaal nie, waarom sal hulle jou bed onder jou uit neem?
28 Die ou grenslyne wat jou vaders gemaak het, moet jy nie verlê nie.
29 Sien jy 'n man wat vaardig is in sy werk -- hy kan voor konings staan, hy hoef nie voor geringes te staan nie.
1 A good name is more to be desired than great wealth, and to be respected is better than silver and gold.
2 The man of wealth and the poor man come face to face: the Lord is the maker of them all.
3 The sharp man sees the evil and takes cover: the simple go straight on and get into trouble.
4 The reward of a gentle spirit and the fear of the Lord is wealth and honour and life.
5 Thorns and nets are in the way of the twisted: he who keeps watch over his soul will be far from them.
6 If a child is trained up in the right way, even when he is old he will not be turned away from it.
7 The man of wealth has rule over the poor, and he who gets into debt is a servant to his creditor.
8 By planting the seed of evil a man will get in the grain of sorrow, and the rod of his wrath will be broken.
9 He who is kind will have a blessing, for he gives of his bread to the poor.
10 Send away the man of pride, and argument will go out; truly fighting and shame will come to an end.
11 He whose heart is clean is dear to the Lord; for the grace of his lips the king will be his friend.
12 The eyes of the Lord keep knowledge, but by him the acts of the false man will be overturned.
13 The hater of work says, There is a lion outside: I will be put to death in the streets.
14 The mouth of strange women is a deep hole: he with whom the Lord is angry will go down into it.
15 Foolish ways are deep-seated in the heart of a child, but the rod of punishment will send them far from him.
16 He who is cruel to the poor for the purpose of increasing his profit, and he who gives to the man of wealth, will only come to be in need.
17 Let your ear be bent down for hearing my words, and let your heart give thought to knowledge.
18 For it is a delight to keep them in your heart, to have them ready on your lips.
19 So that your faith may be in the Lord, I have made them clear to you this day, even to you.
20 Have I not put in writing for you thirty sayings, with wise suggestions and knowledge,
21 To make you see how certain are true words, so that you may give a true answer to those who put questions to you?
22 Do not take away the property of the poor man because he is poor, or be cruel to the crushed ones when they come before the judge:
23 For the Lord will give support to their cause, and take the life of those who take their goods.
24 Do not be friends with a man who is given to wrath; do not go in the company of an angry man:
25 For fear of learning his ways and making a net ready for your soul.
26 Be not one of those who give their hands in an agreement, or of those who make themselves responsible for debts:
27 If you have nothing with which to make payment, he will take away your bed from under you.
28 Let not the old landmark be moved which your fathers have put in place.
29 Have you seen a man who is expert in his business? he will take his place before kings; his place will not be among low persons.