Solomonic proverbs
A good name is more desirable than great riches; to be esteemed is better than silver or gold. Rich and poor have this in common: the Lord is the Maker of them all. The prudent see danger and take refuge, but the simple keep going and pay the penalty. Humility is the fear of the Lord; its wages are riches and honour and life. In the paths of the wicked are snares and pitfalls, but those who would preserve their life stay far from them. Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it. The rich rule over the poor, and the borrower is slave to the lender. Whoever sows injustice reaps calamity, and the rod they wield in fury will be broken. The generous will themselves be blessed, for they share their food with the poor. Drive out the mocker, and out goes strife; quarrels and insults are ended. One who loves a pure heart and who speaks with grace will have the king for a friend. The eyes of the Lord keep watch over knowledge, but he frustrates the words of the unfaithful. The sluggard says, There's a lion outside. I'll be killed in the public square. The mouth of an adulterous woman is a deep pit; a man who is under the Lord's wrath falls into it. Folly is bound up in the heart of a child, but the rod of discipline will drive it far away. One who oppresses the poor to increase his wealth and one who gives gifts to the rich — both come to poverty.
A good name is more desirable than great riches; to be esteemed is better than silver or gold.
A GOOD name is rather to be chosen than great riches, and loving favour rather than silver and gold.
Rich and poor have this in common: the Lord is the Maker of them all.
The rich and poor meet together: the LORD is the maker of them all.
The prudent see danger and take refuge, but the simple keep going and pay the penalty.
A prudent man foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself: but the simple pass on, and are punished.
Humility is the fear of the Lord; its wages are riches and honour and life.
By humility and the fear of the LORD are riches, and honour, and life.
In the paths of the wicked are snares and pitfalls, but those who would preserve their life stay far from them.
Thorns and snares are in the way of the froward: he that doth keep his soul shall be far from them.
Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it.
Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.
The rich rule over the poor, and the borrower is slave to the lender.
The rich ruleth over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender.
Whoever sows injustice reaps calamity, and the rod they wield in fury will be broken.
He that soweth iniquity shall reap vanity: and the rod of his anger shall fail.
The generous will themselves be blessed, for they share their food with the poor.
He that hath a bountiful eye shall be blessed; for he giveth of his bread to the poor.
Drive out the mocker, and out goes strife; quarrels and insults are ended.
Cast out the scorner, and contention shall go out; yea, strife and reproach shall cease.
One who loves a pure heart and who speaks with grace will have the king for a friend.
He that loveth pureness of heart, for the grace of his lips the king shall be his friend.
The eyes of the Lord keep watch over knowledge, but he frustrates the words of the unfaithful.
The eyes of the LORD preserve knowledge, and he overthroweth the words of the transgressor.
The sluggard says, There's a lion outside. I'll be killed in the public square.
The slothful man saith, There is a lion without, I shall be slain in the streets.
The mouth of an adulterous woman is a deep pit; a man who is under the Lord's wrath falls into it.
The mouth of strange women is a deep pit: he that is abhorred of the LORD shall fall therein.
Folly is bound up in the heart of a child, but the rod of discipline will drive it far away.
Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child; but the rod of correction shall drive it far from him.
One who oppresses the poor to increase his wealth and one who gives gifts to the rich — both come to poverty.
He that oppresseth the poor to increase his riches, and he that giveth to the rich, shall surely come to want.
Thirty sayings of the wise
Pay attention and turn your ear to the sayings of the wise; apply your heart to what I teach, for it is pleasing when you keep them in your heart and have all of them ready on your lips. So that your trust may be in the Lord, I teach you today, even you. Have I not written thirty sayings for you, sayings of counsel and knowledge, teaching you to be honest and to speak the truth, so that you bring back truthful reports to those you serve? Do not exploit the poor because they are poor and do not crush the needy in court, for the Lord will take up their case and will exact life for life from those who exploit them. Do not make friends with a hot-tempered person, do not associate with one easily angered, or you may learn their ways and get yourself ensnared. Do not be one who shakes hands in pledge or puts up security for debts; if you lack the means to pay, your very bed will be snatched from under you. Do not move an ancient boundary stone set up by your ancestors. Do you see someone skilled in their work? They will serve before kings; they will not serve before officials of low rank.
Pay attention and turn your ear to the sayings of the wise; apply your heart to what I teach,
Bow down thine ear, and hear the words of the wise, and apply thine heart unto my knowledge.
for it is pleasing when you keep them in your heart and have all of them ready on your lips.
For it is a pleasant thing if thou keep them within thee; they shall withal be fitted in thy lips.
So that your trust may be in the Lord, I teach you today, even you.
That thy trust may be in the LORD, I have made known to thee this day, even to thee.
Have I not written thirty sayings for you, sayings of counsel and knowledge,
Have not I written to thee excellent things in counsels and knowledge,
teaching you to be honest and to speak the truth, so that you bring back truthful reports to those you serve?
That I might make thee know the certainty of the words of truth; that thou mightest answer the words of truth to them that send unto thee?
Do not exploit the poor because they are poor and do not crush the needy in court,
Rob not the poor, because he is poor: neither oppress the afflicted in the gate:
for the Lord will take up their case and will exact life for life from those who exploit them.
For the LORD will plead their cause, and spoil the soul of those that spoiled them.
Do not make friends with a hot-tempered person, do not associate with one easily angered,
Make no friendship with an angry man; and with a furious man thou shalt not go:
or you may learn their ways and get yourself ensnared.
Lest thou learn his ways, and get a snare to thy soul.
Do not be one who shakes hands in pledge or puts up security for debts;
Be not thou one of them that strike hands, or of them that are sureties for debts.
if you lack the means to pay, your very bed will be snatched from under you.
If thou hast nothing to pay, why should he take away thy bed from under thee?
Do not move an ancient boundary stone set up by your ancestors.
Remove not the ancient landmark, which thy fathers have set.
Do you see someone skilled in their work? They will serve before kings; they will not serve before officials of low rank.
Seest thou a man diligent in his business? he shall stand before kings; he shall not stand before mean men.