¹⁵ ·Having lots of money protects the rich [^LThe wealth of the rich is their strong city],
but having no money ·destroys [is the ruin of] the poor.

²⁰ The poor are ·rejected [hated], even by their neighbors,
but the rich have many friends [^Cperhaps an ironic reference to fair-weather friends].

¹¹ Rich people trust their wealth like a strong city.
They think it is like the high walls.

²³ The poor beg for mercy,
but the rich give ·rude [harsh] answers.

² The rich and the poor ·are alike [have a common bond]
in that the Lord made them all.

⁷ The rich rule over the poor,
and borrowers are ·servants [slaves] to lenders.

¹⁶ Whoever gets rich by ·mistreating [oppressing] the poor,
and gives presents to the wealthy, will become poor.

⁶ It is better to be poor and ·innocent [walk blamelessly]
than to be rich and ·wicked [^Lbe on crooked paths].

¹¹ Rich people may ·think they are wise [^Lbe wise in their own eyes],
but the poor with understanding will ·prove them wrong [see through them].