Study Desk

A good name is to be chosen over great wealth; favor is better than silver and gold.^(a)

The rich and the poor have this in common:^[a] the Lord made them both.^[b](b)

A sensible person sees danger and takes cover, but the inexperienced keep going and are punished.^(c)

The result of humility is fear of the Lord , along with wealth, honor, and life.^(d)

There are thorns and snares on the path of the crooked;^(e) the one who guards himself stays far from them.

Teach a youth about the way he should go;^(f) even when he is old he will not depart from it.

The rich rule over the poor,^(g) and the borrower is a slave to the lender.^(h)

The one who sows injustice will reap disaster,⁽ⁱ⁾ and the rod of his fury will be destroyed.

A generous person^[c] will be blessed,^(j) for he shares his food with the poor.^(k)

Drive out a mocker,^(l) and conflict goes too; then quarreling and dishonor will cease.^(m)

The one who loves a pure heart and gracious lips—the king is his friend.⁽ⁿ⁾

The Lord 's eyes keep watch over knowledge, but He overthrows the words of the treacherous.

The slacker says, "There's a lion outside! I'll be killed in the public square!"^(o)

The mouth of the forbidden woman is a deep pit; a man cursed by the Lord will fall into it.^(p)

Foolishness is tangled up in the heart of a youth; the rod of discipline will drive it away from him.^(q)

Oppressing the poor to enrich oneself, and giving to the rich—both lead only to poverty.^(r)

Listen closely,^[d] pay attention to the words of the wise,^(s) and apply your mind to my knowledge.

For it is pleasing if you keep them within you and if^[e] they are constantly on your lips.

I have instructed you today—even you— so that your confidence may be in the Lord .

Haven't I written for you thirty sayings^[f] about counsel and knowledge,

in order to teach you true and reliable words, so that you may give a dependable report^[g](t) to those who sent you?^(u)

Don't rob a poor man because he is poor, and don't crush the oppressed^(v) at the gate,^(w)

for the Lord will take up their case^(x) and will plunder those who plunder them.

Don't make friends with an angry man,^[h] and don't be a companion of a hot-tempered man,^(y)

or you will learn his ways^(z) and entangle yourself in a snare.

Don't be one of those who enter agreements,^[i] who put up security for loans.^(aa)

If you have no money to pay, even your bed will be taken from under you.^(ab)

Don't move an ancient boundary marker that your fathers set up.^(ac)

Do you see a man skilled in his work? He will stand in the presence of kings. He will not stand in the presence of unknown men.^(ad)