¹⁵ The wealth of the rich is their fortress;
    the poverty of the poor is their destruction.

⁸ The rich can pay a ransom for their lives,
    but the poor won’t even get threatened.

¹⁶ Better to have little, with fear for the Lord,
    than to have great treasure and inner turmoil.

⁸ Better to have little, with godliness,
    than to be rich and dishonest.

²⁷ Whoever gives to the poor will lack nothing,
    but those who close their eyes to poverty will be cursed.

⁷ The godly care about the rights of the poor;
    the wicked don’t care at all.

¹⁴ If a king judges the poor fairly,
    his throne will last forever.