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 *22:2 Lit meet togetherhave 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*22:4 Or reverence forthe 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 *22:6 Lit according to his wayin 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 *22:9 Lit has a good eyeis 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*22:11 Lit has grace on his lipswhose 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 *22:13 Lit idlelazy one says, "There is a lion outside;

I will be killed in the streets!"

14 The mouth of *22:14 Lit strange womanan adulteress is a deep pit;

He who is cursed of the Lord will fall *22:14 Lit thereinto 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 *22:16 Lit muchmore 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,

* 22:18 Lit They together So that they may be ready on your lips.

19 So that your trust may be in the Lord,

I have *22:19 Lit made you knowtaught you today, you indeed.

20 Have I not written to you *22:20 Or previousexcellent things

Of counsels and knowledge,

21 To make you know the *22:21 Lit truthcertainty of the words of truth,

So that you may *22:21 Lit return words of truthcorrectly 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 *22:23 Lit rob the soultake 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 *22:25 Lit takefind 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.