A Good Name More Desirable than Riches

1A good name is better than great riches: and good favour is above silver and gold.

2The rich and poor have met one another: the Lord is the maker of them both.

3The prudent man saw the evil, and hid himself: the simple passed on, and suffered loss.

4The fruit of humility is the fear of the Lord, riches and glory and life.

5Arms and swords are in the way of the perverse: but he that keepeth his own soul departeth far from them.

6It is a proverb: A young man according to his way, even when he is old he will not depart from it.

7The rich ruleth over the poor: and the borrower is servant to him that lendeth.

8He that soweth iniquity shall reap evils, and with the rod of his anger he shall be consumed.

9He that is inclined to mercy shall be blessed: for of his bread he hath given to the poor. He that maketh presents shall purchase victory and honour: but he carrieth away the souls of the receivers.

10Cast out the scoffer, and contention shall go out with him, and quarrels and reproaches shall cease.

11He that loveth cleanness of heart, for the grace of his lips shall have the king for his friend.

12The eyes of the Lord preserve knowledge: and the words of the unjust are overthrown.

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

14The mouth of a strange woman is a deep pit: he whom the Lord is angry with, shall fall into it.

15Folly is bound up in the heart of a child, and the rod of correction shall drive it away.

16He that oppresseth the poor, to in- crease his own riches, shall himself give to one that is richer, and shall be in need.

17Incline thy ear, and hear the words of the wise: and apply thy heart to my doctrine :

18Which shall be beautiful for thee, if thou keep it in thy bowels, and it shall flow in thy lips:

19That thy trust may be in the Lord, wherefore I have also shewn it to thee this day.

20Behold I have described it to thee three manner of ways, in thoughts and knowledge :

21That I might shew thee the certainty, and the words of truth, to answer out of these to them that sent thee.

22Do no violence to the poor, because he is poor: and do not oppress the needy in the gate:

23Because the Lord will judge his cause, and will afflict them that have afflicted his soul.

24Be not a friend to an angry man, and do not walk with a furious man:

25Lest perhaps thou learn his ways, and take scandal to thy soul.

26Be not with them that fasten down their hands, and that offer themselves sureties for debts:

27For if thou have not wherewith to restore, what cause is there, that he should take the covering from thy bed?

28Pass not beyond the ancient bounds which thy fathers have set.

29Hast thou seen a man swift in his work? he shall stand before kings, and shall not be before those that are obscure.