Read the Bible

¹ A name is chosen rather than much wealth, || Than silver and than gold—good grace.

² Rich and poor have met together, || YHWH [is] the Maker of them all.

³ The prudent has seen the evil, and is hidden, || And the simple have passed on, and are punished.

⁴ The end of humility [is] the fear of YHWH, riches, and honor, and life.

⁵ Thorns [and] snares [are] in the way of the perverse, || Whoever is keeping his soul is far from them.

⁶ Give instruction to a youth about his way, || Even when he is old he does not turn from it.

⁷ The rich rules over the poor, || And a servant [is] the borrower to the lender.

⁸ Whoever is sowing perverseness reaps sorrow, || And the rod of his anger wears out.

⁹ The good of eye—he is blessed, || For he has given of his bread to the poor.

¹⁰ Cast out a scorner—and contention goes out, || And strife and shame cease.

¹¹ Whoever is loving cleanness of heart, || His lips [are] grace, || A king [is] his friend.

¹² The eyes of YHWH have kept knowledge, || And He overthrows the words of the treacherous.

¹³ The slothful has said, "A lion [is] outside, || I am slain in the midst of the broad places."

¹⁴ The mouth of strange women [is] a deep pit, || The abhorred of YHWH falls there.

¹⁵ Folly is bound up in the heart of a youth, || The rod of discipline puts it far from him.

¹⁶ He [who] is oppressing the poor to multiply his [riches], || Is giving to the rich—only to want.

¹⁷ Incline your ear, and hear words of the wise, || And set your heart to my knowledge,¹⁸ For they are pleasant when you keep them in your heart, || They are prepared together for your lips.¹⁹ That your trust may be in YHWH, || I caused you to know today, even you.²⁰ Have I not written to you three times || With counsels and knowledge?²¹ To cause you to know the certainty of sayings of truth, || To return sayings of truth to those sending you.

²² Do not rob the poor because he [is] poor, || And do not bruise the afflicted in the gate.²³ For YHWH pleads their cause, || And has spoiled the soul of their spoilers.

²⁴ Do not show yourself friendly with an angry man, || And do not go in with a man of fury,²⁵ Lest you learn his paths, || And have received a snare to your soul.

²⁶ Do not be among those striking hands, || Among sureties [for] burdens.²⁷ If you have nothing to pay, || Why does he take your bed from under you?

²⁸ Do not remove a border of ancient times, || That your fathers have made.

²⁹ Have you seen a man speedy in his business? He stations himself before kings, || He does not station himself before obscure men!