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v1

A reputation ^[Literally “name”] is to be chosen rather than ^[Literally “from”] great riches; favor is better than silver and gold. ^[Literally “from silver and from gold, favor is better”]

v2

Rich and poor have much in common; Yahweh is the maker of all of them.

v3

The clever sees danger and hides, but the simple go on and suffer.

v4

The reward of humility is the fear of Yahweh— wealth and honor and life.

v5

Thorns and snares are in the way of the perverse; he who guards himself ^[Or “soul,” or “life”] will keep away from them.

v6

Train the child concerning his way; ^[Literally “on the mouth of his way”] even when he is old, he will not stray from it.

v7

The rich will rule over the poor, and the borrower is a slave of the lender. ^[Literally “the borrower belonging to a man”]

v8

He who sows injustice will reap calamity, and the rod of his anger will fail.

v9

He who is generous ^[Literally “the generous of eye”] will be blessed, for he gives to the poor from his own bread.

v10

Drive out a scoffer and strife will go out; quarrel and abuse will cease.

v11

He who loves purity of heart and has__gracious speech, ^[Literally “grace of his lips”] his friend is the king.

v12

The eyes of Yahweh keep watch over knowledge, but he will overthrow the words of the faithless.

v13

A lazy person says “A lion in the street! In the middle of the highway, I shall be killed!“

v14

A deep pit is the mouth of an adulteress, ^[Literally “a strange woman”] he with whom Yahweh is angry will fall there.

v15

Folly is bound up in the heart ^[Or “mind”] of a boy; ^[Or “young man,” or “adolescent”] the rod of discipline will drive it ^[That is, folly] from him.

v16

He who oppresses the poor in order to enrich himself, or gives to the rich, will come to poverty. ^[Literally “only loss”]

v17

Incline your ear and hear the words of the wise; you shall apply your heart ^[Or “mind”] to my teaching.

v18

For it is pleasant if you guard them within you; ^[Literally “in your belly/womb”] together they will be ready upon your lips.

v19

In order for your trust to be in Yahweh, I have made them known to you today ^[Literally “the day”]—even ^[Or “only”] you.

v20

Have I not written for you thirty sayings with admonitions and knowledge?

v21

In order to show you what is right—sayings of truth— in order to return a true saying to him who sent you.

v22

Do not rob the poor because he is poor, and do not crush the afflicted at the gate;

v23

For Yahweh will plead their case and despoil those who despoil them of life. ^[Or “soul,” or “inner self”]

v24

Do not befriend an owner ^[Or “master”] of anger, ^[Literally “nostril”] and with a man of wrath you shall not associate;

v25

lest you learn his way and become entangled in a snare to yourself. ^[Or “soul,” or “inner self”]

v26

Do not be with those who give a pledge ^[Literally “strike a hand”] by becoming ^[Literally “in the becomings of”] surety.

v27

If there is nothing for you to pay, ^[Or “complete”] why will he take your bed from under you?

v28

Do not remove an ancient boundary marker which your ancestors ^[Or “fathers”] made.

v29

A man who is skillful in his work, you shall see: before kings, he will serve; he will not serve before the commoners.