Yahweh Is the Maker of All
A good name is to be chosen over great wealth,
Favor is better than silver and gold.
2 The rich and the poor meet together in this—
Yahweh is the Maker of them all.
3 A prudent man sees evil and hides,
But the simple pass on, and are punished.
4 The reward of humility—the fear of Yahweh—
Is riches, glory, and life.
5 Thorns and snares are in the way of the crooked;
He who keeps his soul will be far from them.
6 Train up a child according to his way,
Even when he is old he will not depart from it.
7 The rich rules over the poor,
And the borrower is the slave of the lender.
8 He who sows unrighteousness will reap iniquity,
And the rod of his fury will end.
9 He who is generous will be blessed,
For he gives from his food to the poor.
10 Drive out the scoffer, and strife will go out,
Even contention and disgrace will cease.
11 He who loves purity of heart
And grace on his lips, the king is his friend.
12 The eyes of Yahweh guard knowledge,
But He subverts the words of the treacherous one.
13 The sluggard says, “There is a lion outside;
I will be killed in the streets!”
14 The mouth of strange women is a deep pit;
He who is cursed of Yahweh will fall into it.
15 Folly is bound up in the heart of a child;
The rod of discipline will remove it far from him.
16 He who oppresses the poor to make more for himself
Or who gives to the rich will only come to lack.
17 Incline your ear and hear the words of the wise,
And set your heart on my knowledge;
18 For it will be pleasant if you keep them within you,
That they may be established on your lips.
19 So that your trust may be in Yahweh,
I have made you know today, even you.
20 Have I not written to you excellent things
Of counsels and knowledge,
21 To make you know the veracity of the words of truth
That you may respond with the words of truth to him who sent you?
22 Do not rob the poor because he is poor,
And do not crush the afflicted at the gate;
23 For Yahweh will plead their case
And rob the soul of those who rob them.
24 Do not befriend a man of anger;
And do not come along with a man of great wrath,
25 Lest you learn his ways
And take on a snare against your soul.
26 Do not be among those who strike hands in pledge,
Among those who become guarantors for debts.
27 If you have nothing with which to pay,
Why should he take your bed from under you?
28 Do not move the ancient boundary
Which your fathers made.
29 Do you see a man skilled in his work?
He will stand before kings;
He will not stand before obscure men.