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

favor is better than silver and gold. j

2 The rich and the poor have this in common: k

the Lord made them both. l m

3 A sensible person sees danger and takes cover,

but the inexperienced keep going and are punished. n

4 The result of humility is * fear of the Lord,

along with wealth, honor, and life. o

5 There are thorns and snares on the path of the crooked; p

the one who guards himself stays far from them.

6 Teach a youth about the way he should go; q

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

7 The rich rule over the poor, r

and the borrower is a slave to the lender. s

8 The one who sows injustice will reap disaster, t

and the rod of his fury will be destroyed.

9 A generous person u will be blessed, v

for he shares his food with the poor. w

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

then quarreling and dishonor will cease. y

11 The one who loves a pure heart

and gracious lips—the king is his friend. z

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!” a

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

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

15 Foolishness is tangled up in the heart of a youth;

the rod of discipline will drive it away from him. c

16 Oppressing the poor to enrich oneself,

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

Words of the Wise

17 Listen closely, e pay attention to the words of the wise, f

and apply your mind to my knowledge.

18 For it is pleasing if you keep them within you

and if g 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 h

about counsel and knowledge,

21 in order to teach you true and reliable words,

so that you may give a dependable report i j

to those who sent you? k

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

and don’t crush the oppressed l at the * gate, m

23 for the Lord will take up their case n

and will plunder those who plunder them.

24 Don’t make friends with an angry man, o

and don’t be a companion of a hot-tempered man, p

25 or you will learn his ways q

and entangle yourself in a snare.

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

who put up security for loans. s

27 If you have no money to pay,

even your bed will be taken from under you. t

28 Don’t move an ancient boundary marker,

that your fathers set up. u

29 Do you see a man skilled in his work?

He will stand in the presence of kings.

He will not stand in the presence of unknown men. v