Read the Bible

¹ A good reputation and respect
    are worth much more
    than silver and gold.
² The rich and the poor
are all created
    by the Lord.
³ When you see trouble coming,
    don't be stupid
    and walk right into it—
    be smart and hide.

⁴ Respect and serve the Lord!
    Your reward will be wealth,
    a long life, and honor.
⁵ Crooks walk down a road
full of thorny traps.
    Stay away from there!
⁶ Teach your children
    right from wrong,
    and when they are grown
    they will still do right.
⁷ The poor are ruled by the rich,
    and those who borrow
    are slaves of moneylenders.
⁸ Troublemakers get in trouble,
    and their terrible anger
    will get them nowhere.

⁹ The Lord blesses everyone
    who freely gives food
    to the poor.
¹⁰ Arguments and fights
    will come to an end,
    if you chase away those
    who insult others.
¹¹ The king is the friend of all
who are sincere
    and speak with kindness.

¹² The Lord watches over everyone
    who shows good sense,
    but he frustrates the plans
    of deceitful liars.
¹³ Don't be so lazy that you say,
    "If I go to work,
    a lion will eat me!"
¹⁴ The words of a bad woman
    are like a deep pit;
    if you make the Lord angry,
    you will fall right in.
¹⁵ All children are foolish,
    but firm correction
    will make them change.
¹⁶ Cheat the poor to make profit
or give gifts to the rich—
    either way you lose.

¹⁷ Here are some sayings
    of people with wisdom,
    so listen carefully
    as I teach.
¹⁸ You will be glad
that you know these sayings
    and can recite them.
¹⁹ I am teaching them today,
    so that you
    may trust the Lord.
²⁰ I have written thirty sayings
    filled with sound advice.
²¹ You can trust them completely
    to give you the right words
    for those in charge of you.

²² Don't take advantage
of the poor
    or cheat them in court.
²³ The Lord is their defender,
    and what you do to them,
    he will do to you.

²⁴ Don't make friends with anyone
    who has a bad temper.
²⁵ You might turn out like them
    and get caught in a trap.

²⁶ Don't guarantee to pay
    someone else's debt.
²⁷ If you don't have the money,
    you might lose your bed.

²⁸ Don't move a boundary marker^[a]
    set up by your ancestors.

²⁹ If you do your job well,
    you will work for a ruler
    and never be a slave.