1A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches, and favor is better than silver or gold. (Ec 7:1)2The rich and the poor meet together; the Lord is the Maker of them all. (Job 31:15; Pr 14:31; Pr 29:13)3The prudent sees danger and hides himself, but the simple go on and suffer for it. (Pr 14:16; Pr 27:12)4The reward for humility and fear of the Lord is riches and honor and life.[1] (Pr 21:20)5Thorns and snares are in the way of the crooked; whoever guards his soul will keep far from them. (Pr 15:19; Pr 21:23; 1Jo 5:18)6Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it. (Eph 6:4; 2Ti 3:15)7The rich rules over the poor, and the borrower is the slave of the lender. (Jas 2:6)8Whoever sows injustice will reap calamity, and the rod of his fury will fail. (Job 4:8; Isa 14:6; Isa 30:31; Ho 10:13)9Whoever has a bountiful[2] eye will be blessed, for he shares his bread with the poor. (Pr 19:17; Lu 14:13; 2Co 9:6)10Drive out a scoffer, and strife will go out, and quarreling and abuse will cease. (Ge 21:9; Pr 26:20)11He who loves purity of heart, and whose speech is gracious, will have the king as his friend. (Ps 101:6; Pr 14:35; Pr 16:13; Ec 10:12)12The eyes of the Lord keep watch over knowledge, but he overthrows the words of the traitor. (Pr 11:3; Pr 21:12)13The sluggard says, “There is a lion outside! I shall be killed in the streets!” (Pr 26:13)14The mouth of forbidden[3] women is a deep pit; he with whom the Lord is angry will fall into it. (Pr 2:16; Pr 23:27; Ec 7:26)15Folly is bound up in the heart of a child, but the rod of discipline drives it far from him. (Pr 13:24)16Whoever oppresses the poor to increase his own wealth, or gives to the rich, will only come to poverty. (Pr 28:22)
Words of the Wise
17Incline your ear, and hear the words of the wise, and apply your heart to my knowledge, (Pr 1:6; Pr 5:1; Pr 23:12; Pr 24:23)18for it will be pleasant if you keep them within you, if all of them are ready on your lips.19That your trust may be in the Lord, I have made them known to you today, even to you.20Have I not written for you thirty sayings of counsel and knowledge, (Pr 8:6)21to make you know what is right and true, that you may give a true answer to those who sent you? (Lu 1:3)22Do not rob the poor, because he is poor, or crush the afflicted at the gate, (Ex 23:6; Job 5:4; Job 31:21; Zec 7:10; Mal 3:5)23for the Lord will plead their cause and rob of life those who rob them. (1Sa 25:39; Ps 12:5; Ps 35:10; Ps 68:5; Ps 140:12; Pr 23:11; Jer 51:36)24Make no friendship with a man given to anger, nor go with a wrathful man,25lest you learn his ways and entangle yourself in a snare.26Be not one of those who give pledges, who put up security for debts. (Job 17:3)27If you have nothing with which to pay, why should your bed be taken from under you? (Ex 22:26; Pr 20:16)28Do not move the ancient landmark that your fathers have set. (De 19:14; De 27:17; Job 24:2; Pr 23:10; Ho 5:10)29Do you see a man skillful in his work? He will stand before kings; he will not stand before obscure men. (Ge 41:46; 1Ki 10:8)