16 One who oppresses the poor to increase his wealth

and one who gives gifts to the rich—both come to poverty.

17 Pay attention and turn your ear to the sayings of the wise;

apply your heart to what I teach,

18 for it is pleasing when you keep them in your heart

and have all of them ready on your lips.

19 So that your trust may be in the Lord,

I teach you today, even you.

20 Have I not written thirty sayings for you,

sayings of counsel and knowledge,

21 teaching you to be honest and to speak the truth,

so that you bring back truthful reports

to those you serve?

16 He that oppresseth the poor to increase his riches,

And he that giveth to the rich, shall surely come to want.

17 Bow down thine ear, and hear the words of the wise,

And apply thine heart unto my knowledge.

18 For it is a pleasant thing if thou keep them within thee;

They shall withal be fitted in thy lips.

19 That thy trust may be in the Lord,

I have made known to thee this day, even to thee.

20 Have not I written to thee excellent things

In counsels and knowledge,

21 That I might make thee know the certainty of the words of truth;

That thou mightest answer the words of truth to them that send unto thee?

16 A person who gets ahead by oppressing the poor

or by showering gifts on the rich will end in poverty.

17 Listen to the words of the wise;

apply your heart to my instruction.

18 For it is good to keep these sayings in your heart

and always ready on your lips.

19 I am teaching you today—yes, you—

so you will trust in the Lord.

20 I have written thirty sayings for you,

filled with advice and knowledge.

21 In this way, you may know the truth

and take an accurate report to those who sent you.

16 He who oppresses the poor to increase his riches,

And he who gives to the rich, will surely come to poverty.

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 That I may make you know the certainty of the words of truth,

That you may answer words of truth

To those who send to you?

16 Whoever gets rich by mistreating the poor,

and gives presents to the wealthy, will become poor.

17 Listen carefully to what wise people say;

pay attention to what I am teaching you.

18 It will be good to keep these things in mind

so that you are ready to repeat them.

19 I am teaching them to you now

so that you will put your trust in the Lord.

20 I have written thirty sayings for you,

which give knowledge and good advice.

21 I am teaching you true and reliable words

so that you can give true answers to anyone who asks.

16 He that oppresseth the poor to increase his gain,

And he that giveth to the rich, shall come only to want.

17 Incline thine ear, and hear the words of the wise,

And apply thy heart unto my knowledge.

18 For it is a pleasant thing if thou keep them within thee,

If they be established together upon thy lips.

19 That thy trust may be in Jehovah,

I have made them known to thee this day, even to thee.

20 Have not I written unto thee excellent things

Of counsels and knowledge,

21 To make thee know the certainty of the words of truth,

That thou mayest carry back words of truth to them that send thee?

16 He that oppresseth the poor, it is to enrich him; he that giveth to the rich, bringeth only to want.

17 Incline thine ear, and hear the words of the wise, and apply thy heart unto my knowledge. 18 For it is a pleasant thing if thou keep them within thee: they shall be together fitted on thy lips. 19 That thy confidence may be in Jehovah, I have made them known to thee this day, even to thee. 20 Have not I written to thee excellent things, in counsels and knowledge, 21 that I might make thee know the certainty of the words of truth; that thou mightest carry back words of truth to them that send thee?

16 Oppressing the poor for profit 

⸤or⸥ giving to the rich 

certainly leads to poverty. 

17 Open your ears, and hear the words of wise people, 

and set your mind on the knowledge I give you. 

18 It is pleasant if you keep them in mind 

⸤so that⸥ they will be on the tip of your tongue, 

19 so that your trust may be in the Lord. 

Today I have made them known to you, especially to you. 

20 Didn’t I write to you previously with advice and knowledge 

21 in order to teach you the words of truth 

so that you can give an accurate report to those who send you? 

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?

16 Oppressing the poor in order to enrich oneself,

and giving to the rich, will lead only to loss.

17 The words of the wise:

Incline your ear and hear my words,

and apply your mind to my teaching;

18 for it will be pleasant if you keep them within you,

if all of them are ready on your lips.

19 So that your trust may be in the Lord,

I have made them known to you today—yes, to you.

20 Have I not written for you thirty sayings

of admonition and knowledge,

21 to show you what is right and true,

so that you may give a true answer to those who sent you?

16 He who oppresses the poor in order to enrich himself,

or gives to the rich, will come to poverty.

17 Incline your ear and hear the words of the wise;

you shall apply your heart to my teaching.

18 For it is pleasant if you guard them within you;

together they will be ready upon your lips.

19 In order for your trust to be in Yahweh,

I have made them known to you today—even you.

20 Have I not written for you thirty sayings

with admonitions and knowledge?

21 In order to show you what is right—sayings of truth—

in order to return a true saying to him who sent you.

16 One person may beat poor people down in order to get rich.

Another person may give gifts to rich people. Both of them will become poor.

17 Pay attention and listen to the sayings of those who are wise.

Apply your heart to the sayings I teach.

18 It is pleasing when you keep them in your heart.

Have all of them ready on your lips.

19 You are the one I am teaching today.

I want you to trust in the Lord.

20 I have written 30 sayings for you.

They will give you knowledge and good advice.

21 I am teaching you words that are completely true.

Then you can give the right answers to the one who sent you.

16 He who oppresses the poor to make more for himself

Or who gives to the rich, will only come to poverty.

17 Incline 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,

That they may be ready on your lips.

19 So that your trust may be in the Lord,

I have taught you today, even you.

20 Have I not written to you excellent things

Of counsels and knowledge,

21 To make you know the certainty of the words of truth

That you may correctly answer him who sent you?