Aa
1A good name is to be chosen over great wealth;
favor is better than silver and gold. Pr 10:7; 8:10; Ec 7:1
2The rich and the poor have this in common: Lit poor meet
the Lord made them both. Lit all Jb 31:13,15; Pr 29:13
3A sensible person sees danger and takes cover,
but the inexperienced keep going and are punished. Pr 14:16; 27:12; Is 26:20
4The result of humility is fear of the Lord,
along with wealth, honor, and life. Pr 15:33; 21:21; 29:23
5There are thorns and snares on the path of the crooked; Pr 7:23; 15:19
the one who guards himself stays far from them.
6Teach a youth about the way he should go; Eph 6:4
even when he is old he will not depart from it.
7The rich rule over the poor, Pr 18:23; Jms 2:6
and the borrower is a slave to the lender. Dt 28:12-13
8The one who sows injustice will reap disaster, Jb 4:8; Hs 10:13-14
and the rod of his fury will be destroyed.
9A generous person Lit Good of eye will be blessed, Pr 19:17; 2Co 9:6
for he shares his food with the poor. Lk 14:13-14
10Drive out a mocker, Gn 21:9-10 and conflict goes too;
then quarreling and dishonor will cease. Pr 26:20
11The one who loves a pure heart
and gracious lips — the king is his friend. Pr 16:13
12The Lord’s eyes keep watch over knowledge,
but He overthrows the words of the treacherous.
13The slacker says, “There’s a lion outside!
I’ll be killed in the public square! ” Pr 26:13
14The mouth of the forbidden woman is a deep pit;
a man cursed by the Lord will fall into it. Pr 2:16-19; 7:5,21,27; 23:27-28; Ec 7:26
15Foolishness is tangled up in the heart of a youth;
the rod of discipline will drive it away from him. Pr 13:24; 23:13-14; 29:15
16Oppressing the poor to enrich oneself,
and giving to the rich — both lead only to poverty. Pr 11:24; 22:7; 28:27
Words of the Wise
17Listen closely, Lit Stretch out your ear pay attention to the words of the wise, Pr 5:1
and apply your mind to my knowledge.
18For it is pleasing if you keep them within you
and if Or you; let them be, or you, so that they are constantly on your lips.
19I have instructed you today — even you —
so that your confidence may be in the Lord.
20Haven’t I written for you thirty sayings Text emended; one Hb tradition reads you previously ; alt Hb tradition reads you excellent things ; LXX, Syr, Vg read you three times
about counsel and knowledge,
21in order to teach you true and reliable words,
so that you may give a dependable report Lit give dependable words Lk 1:3-4
to those who sent you? Pr 10:26; 25:13
22Don’t rob a poor man because he is poor,
and don’t crush the oppressed Ex 23:6; Jb 31:16; Zch 7:10; Mal 3:5 at the gate, Ru 4:11; Pr 24:7; Zch 8:16
23for the Lord will take up their case 1Sm 25:39; Ps 12:5; 35:10; 68:5; 140:12; Pr 23:10-11; Is 3:13-15
and will plunder those who plunder them.
24Don’t make friends with an angry man, Lit with a master of anger
and don’t be a companion of a hot-tempered man, Pr 15:18; 19:19
25or you will learn his ways 1Co 15:33
and entangle yourself in a snare.
26Don’t be one of those who enter agreements, Lit who shakes hands
who put up security for loans. Pr 6:1-5; 11:15; 17:18
27If you have no money to pay,
even your bed will be taken from under you. Ex 22:26; Pr 20:16
28Don’t move an ancient boundary marker
that your fathers set up. Dt 19:14; 27:17; Jb 24:2; Pr 23:10; Hs 5:10
29Do 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. Gn 41:46; 1Kg 10:8; Pr 14:35