1A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches, and loving favour rather than silver and gold. ¹⁶³

2The rich and poor meet together: the LORD is the maker of them all.

3A prudent man foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself: but the simple pass on, and are punished.

4By humility and the fear of the LORD are riches, and honour, and life. ¹⁶⁴

5Thorns and snares are in the way of the froward: he that doth keep his soul shall be far from them.

6Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it. ¹⁶⁵¹⁶⁶

7The rich ruleth over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender. ¹⁶⁷

8He that soweth iniquity shall reap vanity: and the rod of his anger shall fail. ¹⁶⁸

9He that hath a bountiful eye shall be blessed; for he giveth of his bread to the poor. ¹⁶⁹

10Cast out the scorner, and contention shall go out; yea, strife and reproach shall cease.

11He that loveth pureness of heart, for the grace of his lips the king shall be his friend. ¹⁷⁰

12The eyes of the LORD preserve knowledge, and he overthroweth the words of the transgressor. ¹⁷¹

13The slothful man saith, There is a lion without, I shall be slain in the streets.

14The mouth of strange women is a deep pit: he that is abhorred of the LORD shall fall therein.

15Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child; but the rod of correction shall drive it far from him.

16He that oppresseth the poor to increase his riches, and he that giveth to the rich, shall surely come to want.

17Bow down thine ear, and hear the words of the wise, and apply thine heart unto my knowledge.

18For it is a pleasant thing if thou keep them within thee; they shall withal be fitted in thy lips. ¹⁷²

19That thy trust may be in the LORD, I have made known to thee this day, even to thee. ¹⁷³

20Have not I written to thee excellent things in counsels and knowledge,

21That 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? ¹⁷⁴

22Rob not the poor, because he is poor: neither oppress the afflicted in the gate:

23For the LORD will plead their cause, and spoil the soul of those that spoiled them.

24Make no friendship with an angry man; and with a furious man thou shalt not go:

25Lest thou learn his ways, and get a snare to thy soul.

26Be not thou one of them that strike hands, or of them that are sureties for debts.

27If thou hast nothing to pay, why should he take away thy bed from under thee?

28Remove not the ancient landmark, which thy fathers have set. ¹⁷⁵

29Seest thou a man diligent in his business? he shall stand before kings; he shall not stand before mean men. ¹⁷⁶