A Good Name

1A name to be chosen is greater than wealth;

favor is better than silver and gold.

2The rich and the poor meet together;

the maker of them all is YHWH.

3A prudent one sees evil and hides himself,

and the simple ones pass on and they are fined.

4The result of humility and the fear of YHWH,

is wealth and honor and life.

5Thorns and snares are in the way of the crooked;

one guarding his soul will be far from them.

Train up a child about the opening of his way,

and when he has grown old, he will not turn aside from it.

7A rich one rules over the poor,

and one borrowing is a servant to the man lending.

8The one sowing injustice will reap trouble,

and the rod of his anger will come to an end.†

9The one good of eye†—he will be blessed,

for he gives from his bread to the lowly one.

10Drive out the one mocking, and quarreling will go out,

and strife and shame will cease.

11One loving a pure heart, with favor on his lips,

the king is his friend.

12The eyes of YHWH guard knowledge,

and He twists the words of a treacherous one.

13A lazy one says, “A lion is outside!

In the midst of the open areas I will be killed!”

14The mouth of strange women is a deep pit;

the abhorred of YHWH will fall there.

15Foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child;

the rod of discipline drives it far from him.

16The one oppressing the poor, to increase for himself, giving to a rich one,

surely is unto poverty.

Thirty Sayings of the Wise

Saying 1

17Incline your ear and hear the words of the wise ones,

and set your heart to my knowledge;

18for it is pleasant when you guard them in your belly;

they are established together upon your lips.

19For your trust to be in YHWH,

I have caused you to know this day—even you.

20Have I not written to you thirty sayings†

of counsels and knowledge,

21to make you know the truth of the words of faithfulness,

to return words of faithfulness to those sending you?

Saying 2

22You must not rob a poor one because he is poor,

and do not oppress an afflicted one at the gate.

23For YHWH will fight their fight,

and will rob the soul of those robbing them.

Saying 3

24Do not make friends with an owner of anger,

and with a man of rage do not go in,

25lest you learn his ways

and receive a snare for your soul.

Saying 4

26Do not be among those striking hands

in the pledging for loans.

27If there is nothing unto you to repay,

why should he take your bed from under you?

Saying 5

28Do not remove a boundary of old,

which your fathers have made.

Saying 6

29Do you see a man quick in his work?

Before the face of kings he will stand;

he will not stand before the face of obscure ones.