1
|
A name is chosen rather than much wealth, Than silver and than gold—good grace. |
2
|
Rich and poor have met together, The Maker of them all [is] Jehovah. |
3
|
The prudent hath seen the evil, and is hidden, And the simple have passed on, and are punished. |
4
|
The end of humility [is] the fear of Jehovah, Riches, and honour, and life. |
5
|
Thorns—snares [are] in the way of the perverse, Whoso is keeping his soul is far from them. |
6
|
Give instruction to a youth about his way, Even when he is old he turneth not from it. |
7
|
The rich over the poor ruleth, And a servant [is] the borrower to the lender. |
8
|
Whoso is sowing perverseness reapeth sorrow, And the rod of his anger weareth out. |
9
|
The good of eye—he is blessed, For he hath given of his bread to the poor. |
10
|
Cast out a scorner—and contention goeth out, And strife and shame cease. |
11
|
Whoso is loving cleanness of heart, Grace [are] his lips, a king [is] his friend. |
12
|
The eyes of Jehovah have kept knowledge, And He overthroweth the words of the treacherous. |
13
|
The slothful hath said, 'A lion [is] without, In the midst of the broad places I am slain.' |
14
|
A deep pit [is] the mouth of strange women, The abhorred of Jehovah falleth there. |
15
|
Folly is bound up in the heart of a youth, The rod of chastisement putteth it far from him. |
16
|
He is oppressing the poor to multiply to him, He is giving to the rich—only to want. |
17
|
Incline thine ear, and hear words of the wise, And thy heart set to my knowledge, |
18
|
For they are pleasant when thou dost keep them in thy heart, They are prepared together for thy lips. |
19
|
That thy trust may be in Jehovah, I caused thee to know to-day, even thou. |
20
|
Have I not written to thee three times With counsels and knowledge? |
21
|
To cause thee to know the certainty of sayings of truth, To return sayings of truth to those sending thee. |
22
|
Rob not the poor because he [is] poor, And bruise not the afflicted in the gate. |
23
|
For Jehovah pleadeth their cause, And hath spoiled the soul of their spoilers. |
24
|
Shew not thyself friendly with an angry man, And with a man of fury go not in, |
25
|
Lest thou learn his paths, And have received a snare to thy soul. |
26
|
Be not thou among those striking hands, Among sureties [for] burdens. |
27
|
If thou hast nothing to pay, Why doth he take thy bed from under thee? |
28
|
Remove not a border of olden times, That thy fathers have made. |
29
|
Hast thou seen a man speedy in his business? Before kings he doth station himself, He stations not himself before obscure men! |