King James Version

1 A good name is chosen over great wealth, over silver and gold. 2 The rich and the poor meet; the maker of them all is the Lord. 3 The cunning saw evil and hid, and the fools passed by and were punished. 4 The reward of humility is the fear of the LORD: wealth, honor, and life. 5 Thorns and snares are on the path of the crooked; whoever guards his soul will stay far from them. 6 Train a child according to his way; even when he is old, he will not depart from it. 7 The rich will rule over the poor, and the borrower is a servant to the lender. 8 The one who sows iniquity will reap trouble, and the rod of his anger will fail. 9 A good eye will be blessed, for he has given of his bread to the poor. 10 Drive out the scorner, and contention will go out; and strife and shame will cease. 11 I love a pure heart; gracious are my lips; my friend is a king. 12 The eyes of the Lord preserve knowledge and He overturns the words of the treacherous. 13 The lazy one says, "There is a lion in the street; there is a lion in the open squares." 14 A deep pit, the mouth of foreign ones; the wrath of Yahweh will fall there. 15 Folly is bound up in the heart of a youth; the rod of discipline will drive it far from him. 16 The oppressor of the poor causes much to be lacking for him, but the one giving to the rich only leads to want. 17 Incline your ear and listen to the words of the wise, and set your heart to know my knowledge. 18 For it is pleasant when you guard in your belly; they will settle together upon your lips. 19 To be in the Lord your trust, I have made known to you today, you also. 20 Did I not write to you three days ago in counsel and knowledge? 21 To make known to you the words of truth, to return true sayings to your messengers. 22 Do not steal from the poor because he is poor, and do not oppress the needy at the gate. 23 For the LORD will contend with those who contend with you, and He will save your soul. 24 Do not be angry with the master, and do not approach a man of wrath. 25 Lest you learn his ways and take a snare for your soul. 26 Do not be among those who strike hands in pledge or among those who become guarantors for debts. 27 If you have nothing to pay, why should he take your bed from under you? 28 Do not move the ancient boundary that your ancestors set. 29 You have seen a man skilled in his work; he will stand before kings; he will not stand before obscure men.