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].

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

19 It is better to be poor and ·honest [^Lwalking in innocence]
than to be foolish and ·tell lies [^Lhave crooked lips].

⁴ Wealthy people are always finding more friends,
but the poor lose all theirs.

⁷ Poor people’s relatives ·avoid [^Lhate] them;
    ·even [^Lhow much more do] their friends stay far away.
They run after them, begging,
    but they are gone.

¹⁷ Being ·kind [gracious; generous] to the poor is like lending to the Lord;
he will ·reward you for what you have done [fully repay you].

²² People ·want [desire] others to be loyal,
so it is better to be poor than to be a liar.

¹³ Whoever ·ignores [^Lcloses their ears to] the poor when they cry for help
will also ·cry for help [call out] and not be answered.

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