Read the Bible

¹ Rather than wealth, choose a good reputation,
    esteem over silver and gold.

² Rich and poor have this in common —
    Adonai made them both.

³ The clever see trouble coming and hide;
    the simple go on and pay the penalty.

⁴ The reward for humility is fear of Adonai,
    along with wealth, honor and life.

⁵ Thorns and snares beset the way of the stubborn;
    he who values his life keeps his distance from them.

⁶ Train a child in the way he [should] go;
    and, even when old, he will not swerve from it.

⁷ The rich rule the poor,
    and the borrower is slave to the lender.

⁸ He who sows injustice reaps trouble,
    and the rod of his angry outburst will fail.

⁹ He who is generous is blessed,
    because he shares his food with the poor.

¹⁰ Throw the scoffer out, and quarreling goes too;
    strife and insults cease.

¹¹ He who loves the pure-hearted and is gracious in speech
    will have the king as his friend.

¹² The eyes of Adonai protect [the man with] knowledge,
    but he overturns the plans of a traitor.

¹³ A lazy man says, "There's a lion outside!
    I'll be killed if I go out in the street!"
¹⁴ The mouth of an adulteress is a deep pit;
    the man with whom Adonai is angry falls into it.

¹⁵ Doing wrong is firmly tied to the heart of a child,
    but the rod of discipline will drive it far away from him.

¹⁶ Both oppressing the poor to enrich oneself
    and giving to the rich yield only loss.

¹⁷ Pay attention, and listen to the words of the wise;
    apply your heart to my knowledge;
¹⁸ for it is pleasant to keep them deep within you;
    have all of them ready on your lips.
¹⁹ I want your trust to be in Adonai;
    this is why I'm instructing you about them today.
²⁰ I have written you worthwhile things
    full of good counsel and knowledge,
²¹ so you will know that these sayings are certainly true
    and bring back true sayings to him who sent you.

²² Don't exploit the helpless, because they are helpless,
    and don't crush the poor in court,
²³ for Adonai will plead their case for them
    and withhold life from those who defraud them.

²⁴ Don't associate with an angry man;
    make no hot-tempered man your companion.
²⁵ If you do, you may learn his ways
    and find yourself caught in a trap.

²⁶ Don't be one of those who give pledges,
    guaranteeing loans made to others;
²⁷ for if you don't have the wherewithal to pay,
    they will take your bed away from underneath you.

²⁸ Don't move the ancient boundary stone
    set up by your ancestors.

²⁹ Do you see a man skilled at his work?
    He will serve kings, not obscure people.