Online Bible

Yahweh Is the Maker of All

A ^agood name is to be chosen over great wealth,Favor is better than silver and gold.2 The rich and the poor meet together in this—Yahweh is the ^aMaker of them all.3 A ^aprudent man sees evil and hides,But the simple pass on, and are punished.4 The reward of humility—the ¹fear of Yahweh—Is riches, glory, and life.5 ^aThorns and snares are in the way of the crooked;He who keeps his soul will be far from them.6 ¹^aTrain up a child ²according to his way,Even when he is old he will not ³depart from it.7 The ^arich rules over the poor,And the borrower is the slave of the lender.8 He who ^asows unrighteousness will reap iniquity,And the ^brod of his fury will end.9 He who ¹is ^agenerous will be blessed,For he ^bgives from his food to the poor.10 ^aDrive out the scoffer, and strife will go out,Even contention and disgrace will cease.11 He who loves ^apurity of heartAnd ^bgrace on his lips, the king is his friend.12 The eyes of Yahweh guard knowledge,But He subverts the words of the treacherous one.13 The ^asluggard says, “There is a lion outside;I will be killed in the streets!”14 The mouth of ^astrange women is a deep pit;He who is ^bcursed of Yahweh will fall ¹into it.15 Folly is bound up in the heart of a child;The ^arod of discipline will remove it far from him.16 He ^awho oppresses the poor to make ¹more for himselfOr who gives to the rich ^bwill only come to lack.

17 ^aIncline your ear and hear the words of the wise,And set your heart on my knowledge;18 For it will be ^apleasant if you keep them within you,¹That they may be established on your lips.19 So that your ^atrust may be in Yahweh,I have made you know today, even you.20 Have I not written to you ¹^aexcellent thingsOf counsels and knowledge,21 To make you ^aknow the veracity of the words of truthThat you may ¹^brespond with the words of truth to him who sent you?

22 ^aDo not rob the poor because he is poor,And do not ^bcrush the afflicted at the gate;23 For Yahweh will ^aplead their caseAnd rob the soul of those who rob them.

24 Do not befriend a man of anger;And do not come along with a man of ^agreat wrath,25 Lest you ^alearn his waysAnd take on a snare against your soul.

26 Do not be among those who ^astrike ¹hands in pledge,Among those who become guarantors for debts.27 If you have nothing with which to pay,Why should he ^atake your bed from under you?

28 ^aDo not move the ancient boundaryWhich your fathers made.

29 Do you see a man skilled in his work?He will ^astand before kings;He will not stand before obscure men.

On Life and Conduct

A ^agood name is to be more desired than great wealth;Favor is better than silver and gold.2 The rich and the poor ¹have a common bond,The LORD is the ^aMaker of them all.3 A ^aprudent person sees evil and hides himself,But the naive proceed, and pay the penalty.4 The reward of humility and ¹the fear of the LORDAre riches, honor, and life.5 ^aThorns and snares are in the way of the perverse;One who guards himself will be far from them.6 ^aTrain up a child ¹in the way he should go,Even when he grows older he will not abandon it.7 The ^arich rules over the poor,And the borrower becomes the lender’s slave.8 One who ^asows injustice will reap disaster,And the ^brod of his fury will perish.9 One who ¹is ^agenerous will be blessed,Because he ^bgives some of his food to the poor.10 ^aDrive out the scoffer, and strife will leave,Even quarreling and dishonor will cease.11 One who loves ^apurity of heartAnd ¹whose speech is ^bgracious, the king is his friend.12 The eyes of the LORD protect knowledge,But He overthrows the words of the treacherous person.13 The ¹^alazy one says, “There is a lion outside;I will be killed in the streets!”14 The mouth of ¹^aan adulteress is a deep pit;He who is ^bcursed of the LORD will fall ²into it.15 Foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child;The ^arod of discipline will remove it far from him.16 One ^awho oppresses the poor to make ¹more for himself,Or gives to the rich, ^bwill only come to poverty.

17 ^aExtend your ear and hear the words of the wise,And apply your mind to my knowledge;18 For it will be ^apleasant if you keep them within you,¹So that they may be ready on your lips.19 So that your ^atrust may be in the LORD,I have ¹taught you today, you indeed.20 Have I not written to you ¹^aexcellent thingsOf counsels and knowledge,21 To make you ^aknow the ¹certainty of the words of truth,So that you may ²^bcorrectly answer him who sent you?

22 ^aDo not rob the poor because he is poor,Nor ^bcrush the needy at the gate;23 For the LORD will ^aplead their caseAnd ¹take the life of those who rob them.

24 Do not make friends with a person given to anger,Or go with a ^ahot-tempered person,25 Or you will ^alearn his waysAnd ¹find a snare for yourself.

26 Do not be among those who ^ashake hands,Among those who become guarantors for debts.27 If you have nothing with which to repay,Why should he ^atake your bed from under you?

28 ^aDo not move the ancient boundaryWhich your fathers have set.

29 Do you see a person skilled in his work?He will ^astand before kings;He will not stand before obscure people.