1A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches , And loving favor rather than silver and gold . 2The rich and the poor meet together : Jehovah is the maker of them all . 3A prudent man seeth the evil , and hideth himself; But the simple pass on , and suffer for it . 4The reward of humility and the fear of Jehovah Is riches , and honor , and life . 5Thorns and snares are in the way of the perverse : He that keepeth his soul shall be far from them . 6Train up a child in the way he should go , And even when he is old he will not depart from it .
The Consequences of Actions
7The rich ruleth over the poor ; And the borrower is servant to the lender . 8He that soweth iniquity shall reap calamity; And the rod of his wrath shall fail . 9He that hath a bountiful eye shall be blessed ; For he giveth of his bread to the poor . 10Cast out the scoffer, and contention will go out ; Yea, strife and ignominy will cease . 11He that loveth pureness of heart , For the grace of his lips the king will be his friend . 12The eyes of Jehovah preserve him that hath knowledge ; But he overthroweth the words of the treacherous man . 13The sluggard 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 Jehovah shall fall therein . 15Foolishness is bound up 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 gain , And he that giveth to the rich , shall come only to want .
The Importance of Discipline and Instruction
17Incline thine ear , and hear the words of the wise , And apply thy heart unto my knowledge . 18For it is a pleasant thing if thou keep them within thee, If they be established together upon thy lips . 19That thy trust may be in Jehovah , I have made them known to thee this day , even to thee. 20Have not I written unto thee excellent things Of counsels and knowledge , 21To make thee know the certainty of the words of truth , That thou mayest carry back words of truth to them that send thee ?
Warnings Against Greed and Oppression
22Rob not the poor , because he is poor ; Neither oppress the afflicted in the gate : 23For Jehovah will plead their cause , And despoil of life those that despoil them . 24Make no friendship with a man that is given to anger ; And with a wrathful man thou shalt not go : 25Lest thou learn his ways, And get a snare to thy soul . 26Be thou not one of them that strike hands , Or of them that are sureties for debts . 27If thou hast not wherewith 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 .