1 A good name is to be chosen over great wealth;

favor is better than silver and gold.  *

2 Rich and poor have this in common:  *

the Lord makes them all.  *

3 A sensible person sees danger and takes cover,

but the inexperienced keep going and are punished.  *

4 Humility, the fear of the  Lord,

results in wealth, honor, and life.  *

5 There are thorns and snares on the way of the crooked;  *

the one who guards himself stays far from them.

6 Start a youth out on his way;  *

even when he grows old he will not depart from it.

7 The rich rule over the poor,  *

and the borrower is a slave to the lender.  *

8 The one who sows injustice will reap disaster,  *

and the rod of his fury will be destroyed.

9 A generous person  * will be blessed,  *

for he shares his food with the poor.  *

10 Drive out a mocker,  * and conflict goes too;

then quarreling and dishonor will cease.  *

11 The one who loves a pure heart

and gracious lips — the king is his friend.  *

12 The Lord’s eyes keep watch over knowledge,

but he overthrows the words of the treacherous.

13 The slacker says, "There’s a lion outside!

I’ll be killed in the public square! "  *

14 The mouth of the forbidden woman is a deep pit;

a man cursed by the  Lord will fall into it.  *

15 Foolishness is bound to the heart of a youth;

a rod of discipline will separate it from him.  *

16 Oppressing the poor to enrich oneself,

and giving to the rich — both lead only to poverty.  *

17 Listen closely,  * pay attention to the words of the wise,  *

and apply your mind to my knowledge.

18 For it is pleasing if you keep them within you

and if they are  * constantly on your lips.

19 I have instructed you today — even you —

so that your confidence may be in the  Lord.

20 Haven’t I written for you thirty sayings  *

about counsel and knowledge,

21 in order to teach you true and reliable words,

so that you may give a dependable report  *,*

to those who sent you?  *

22 Don’t rob a poor person because he is poor,

and don’t crush the oppressed  * at the city gate,  *

23 for the Lord will champion their cause  *

and will plunder those who plunder them.

24 Don’t make friends with an angry person,  *

and don’t be a companion of a hot-tempered one,  *

25 or you will learn his ways  *

and entangle yourself in a snare.

26 Don’t be one of those who enter agreements,  *

who put up security for loans.  *

27 If you have nothing with which to pay,

even your bed will be taken from under you.  *

28 Don’t move an ancient boundary marker

that your ancestors set up.  *

29 Do you see a person skilled in his work?

He will stand in the presence of kings.

He will not stand in the presence of the unknown.  *