A Good Name More Desirable than Riches
1A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches, and loving favour rather than silver and gold.
2The rich and poor meet together: the LORD is the maker of them all.
3A prudent man foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself: but the simple pass on, and are punished.
4By humility and the fear of the LORD are riches, and honour, and life.
5Thorns and snares are in the way of the froward: he that doth keep his soul shall be far from them.
6Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.
7The rich ruleth over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender.
8He that soweth iniquity shall reap vanity: and the rod of his anger shall fail.
9He that hath a bountiful eye shall be blessed; for he giveth of his bread to the poor.
10Cast out the scorner, and contention shall go out; yea, strife and reproach shall cease.
11He that loveth pureness of heart, for the grace of his lips the king shall be his friend.
12The eyes of the LORD preserve knowledge, and he overthroweth the words of the transgressor.
13The slothful man saith, There is a lion without, I shall be slain in the streets.
14The mouth of strange women is a deep pit: he that is abhorred of the LORD shall fall therein.
15Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child; but the rod of correction shall drive it far from him.
16He that oppresseth the poor to increase his riches, and he that giveth to the rich, shall surely come to want.
17Bow down thine ear, and hear the words of the wise, and apply thine heart unto my knowledge.
18For it is a pleasant thing if thou keep them within thee; they shall withal be fitted in thy lips.
19That thy trust may be in the LORD, I have made known to thee this day, even to thee.
20Have not I written to thee excellent things in counsels and knowledge,
21That 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?
22Rob not the poor, because he is poor: neither oppress the afflicted in the gate:
23For the LORD will plead their cause, and spoil the soul of those that spoiled them.
24Make no friendship with an angry man; and with a furious man thou shalt not go:
25Lest thou learn his ways, and get a snare to thy soul.
26Be not thou one of them that strike hands, or of them that are sureties for debts.
27If thou hast nothing to pay, why should he take away thy bed from under thee?
28Remove not the ancient landmark, which thy fathers have set.
29Seest thou a man diligent in his business? he shall stand before kings; he shall not stand before mean men.
King James Bible
Text courtesy of BibleProtector.com.
A Good Name
1 A good name is more desirable than great riches, and loving favor is better than silver and gold.
2 The rich and the poor have this in common: Yahweh is the maker of them all.
3 A prudent man sees danger, and hides himself; but the simple pass on, and suffer for it.
4 The result of humility and the fear of Yahweh is wealth, honor, and life.
5 Thorns and snares are in the path of the wicked: whoever guards his soul stays from them.
6 Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it.
7 The rich rule over the poor. The borrower is servant to the lender.
8 He who sows wickedness reaps trouble, and the rod of his fury will be destroyed.
9 He who has a generous eye will be blessed; for he shares his food with the poor.
10 Drive out the mocker, and strife will go out; yes, quarrels and insults will stop.
11 He who loves purity of heart and speaks gracefully is the king’s friend.
12 The eyes of Yahweh watch over knowledge; but he frustrates the words of the unfaithful.
13 The sluggard says, “There is a lion outside! I will be killed in the streets!”
14 The mouth of an adulteress is a deep pit: he who is under Yahweh’s wrath will fall into it.
15 Folly is bound up in the heart of a child: the rod of discipline drives it far from him.
16 Whoever oppresses the poor for his own increase and whoever gives to the rich, both come to poverty.
Thirty Sayings of the Wise
Saying 1
17 Turn your ear, and listen to the words of the wise. Apply your heart to my teaching.
18 For it is a pleasant thing if you keep them within you, if all of them are ready on your lips.
19 That your trust may be in Yahweh, I teach you today, even you.
20 Haven’t I written to you thirty excellent things of counsel and knowledge,
21 To teach you truth, reliable words, to give sound answers to the ones who sent you?
Saying 2
22 Don’t exploit the poor, because he is poor; and don’t crush the needy in court;
23 for Yahweh will plead their case, and plunder the life of those who plunder them.
Saying 3
24 Don’t befriend a hot-tempered man, and don’t associate with one who harbors anger:
25 lest you learn his ways, and ensnare your soul.
Saying 4
26 Don’t you be one of those who strike hands, of those who are collateral for debts.
27 If you don’t have means to pay, why should he take away your bed from under you?
Saying 5
28 Don’t move the ancient boundary stone, which your fathers have set up.
Saying 6
29 Do you see a man skilled in his work? He will serve kings. He won’t serve obscure men.
A Good Name
1 A good name is more desirable than great riches;
favor is better than silver and gold.
2 The rich and the poor have this in common:
The LORD is Maker of them all.
3 The prudent see danger and take cover,
but the simple keep going and suffer the consequences.
4 The rewards of humility and the fear of the LORD
are wealth and honor and life.
5 Thorns and snares lie on the path of the perverse;
he who guards his soul stays far from them.
6 Train up a child in the way he should go,
and when he is old he will not depart from it.
7 The rich rule over the poor,
and the borrower is slave to the lender.
8 He who sows injustice will reap disaster,
and the rod of his fury will be destroyed. a
9 A generous man b will be blessed,
for he shares his bread with the poor.
10 Drive out the mocker, and conflict will depart;
even quarreling and insults will cease.
11 He who loves a pure heart and gracious lips
will have the king for a friend.
12 The LORD’s eyes keep watch over knowledge,
but He frustrates the words of the faithless.
13 The slacker says, “There is a lion outside!
I will be slain in the streets!”
14 The mouth of an adulteress is a deep pit;
he who is under the wrath of the LORD will fall into it.
15 Foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child,
but the rod of discipline drives it far from him.
16 Oppressing the poor to enrich oneself or giving gifts to the rich
will surely lead to poverty.
Thirty Sayings of the Wise
Saying 1
17 Incline your ear and hear the words of the wise—
apply your mind to my knowledge—
18 for it is pleasing when you keep them within you
and they are constantly on your lips.
19 So that your trust may be in the LORD,
I instruct you today—yes, you.
20 Have I not written for you thirty sayings c
about counsel and knowledge,
21 to show you true and reliable words,
that you may soundly answer those who sent you?
Saying 2
22 Do not rob a poor man because he is poor,
and do not crush the afflicted at the gate,
23 for the LORD will take up their case
and will plunder those who rob them.
Saying 3
24 Do not make friends with an angry man,
and do not associate with a hot-tempered man,
25 or you may learn his ways
and entangle yourself in a snare.
Saying 4
26 Do not be one who gives pledges,
who puts up security for debts.
27 If you have nothing with which to pay,
why should your bed be taken from under you?
Saying 5
28 Do not move an ancient boundary stone
which your fathers have placed.
Saying 6
29 Do you see a man skilled in his work?
He will be stationed in the presence of kings;
he will not stand before obscure men.
Footnotes:
8 a LXX includes God blesses a cheerful and generous man, but foolish works will come to an end ; see also 2 Corinthians 9:7.
9 b Literally He whose eye is good
20 c Or written for you excellent sayings or written for you three times
A Good Name More Desirable than Riches
1A name is chosen rather than much wealth, Than silver and than gold -- good grace.
2Rich and poor have met together, The Maker of them all is Jehovah.
3The prudent hath seen the evil, and is hidden, And the simple have passed on, and are punished.
4The end of humility is the fear of Jehovah, Riches, and honour, and life.
5Thorns -- snares are in the way of the perverse, Whoso is keeping his soul is far from them.
6Give instruction to a youth about his way, Even when he is old he turneth not from it.
7The rich over the poor ruleth, And a servant is the borrower to the lender.
8Whoso is sowing perverseness reapeth sorrow, And the rod of his anger weareth out.
9The good of eye -- he is blessed, For he hath given of his bread to the poor.
10Cast out a scorner -- and contention goeth out, And strife and shame cease.
11Whoso is loving cleanness of heart, Grace are his lips, a king is his friend.
12The eyes of Jehovah have kept knowledge, And He overthroweth the words of the treacherous.
13The slothful hath said, 'A lion is without, In the midst of the broad places I am slain.'
14A deep pit is the mouth of strange women, The abhorred of Jehovah falleth there.
15Folly is bound up in the heart of a youth, The rod of chastisement putteth it far from him.
16He is oppressing the poor to multiply to him, He is giving to the rich -- only to want.
17Incline thine ear, and hear words of the wise, And thy heart set to my knowledge,
18For they are pleasant when thou dost keep them in thy heart, They are prepared together for thy lips.
19That thy trust may be in Jehovah, I caused thee to know to-day, even thou.
20Have I not written to thee three times With counsels and knowledge?
21To cause thee to know the certainty of sayings of truth, To return sayings of truth to those sending thee.
22Rob not the poor because he is poor, And bruise not the afflicted in the gate.
23For Jehovah pleadeth their cause, And hath spoiled the soul of their spoilers.
24Shew not thyself friendly with an angry man, And with a man of fury go not in,
25Lest thou learn his paths, And have received a snare to thy soul.
26Be not thou among those striking hands, Among sureties for burdens.
27If thou hast nothing to pay, Why doth he take thy bed from under thee?
28Remove not a border of olden times, That thy fathers have made.
29Hast thou seen a man speedy in his business? Before kings he doth station himself, He stations not himself before obscure men!
