1A name is to be chosen rather than great riches; than silver and gold, good favor.
2The rich and the poor meet together; the maker of them all is YHWH.
3A prudent man sees evil and hides himself, but the simple pass on and are punished.
4The reward of humility, the fear of YHWH, is riches and honor and life (chai).
5Thorns and snares are in the way of the perverse; he who keeps his soul (nephesh) stays far from them.
6Train up a youth according to his way, and even when he grows old he will not depart from it.
7The rich rules over the poor, and the borrower is a servant to the man (ish) who lends.
8He who sows injustice reaps iniquity, and the rod of his wrath will fail.
9He who is good of eye will be blessed, for he gives of his bread to the poor.
10Drive out the scorner, and contention goes out, and judgment (din) and shame cease.
11He who loves purity of heart, the grace of his lips, the king is his friend.
12The eyes of YHWH guard knowledge, but he overturns the words of the treacherous.
13The sluggard says, "There is a lion outside; I will be murdered in the midst of the streets."
14A deep pit is the mouth of strange women; he who is abhorred of YHWH falls there.
15Folly is bound up in the heart of a youth; the rod of discipline drives it far from him.
16He who oppresses the poor to increase for himself, and he who gives to the rich, only come to want.
17Incline your ear and hear the words of the wise, and set your heart to my knowledge.
18For it is pleasant if you keep them within your belly; they will be established together on your lips.
19That your trust may be in YHWH, I have made it known to you today, even to you.
20Have I not written to you excellent things of counsels and knowledge,
21to make you know the certainty of the sayings of truth, to bring back words of truth to those who send you?
22Do not rob the poor because he is poor, and do not crush the afflicted in the gate,
23For YHWH will plead their cause and despoil of soul (nephesh) those who despoil them.
24Do not befriend a master of anger, and with a man (ish) of fury do not go,
25lest you learn his paths and take a snare to your soul (nephesh).
26Do not be among those who strike hands, among those who become surety for debts.
27If you have nothing to pay, why should he take your bed from under you?
28Do not move the ancient boundary which your fathers made.
29Have you seen a man (ish) skilled in his work? Before kings he will stand; he will not stand before obscure men.