¹⁵ Having lots of money protects the rich.
    But having no money destroys the poor.

²⁰ The poor are rejected, even by their neighbors.
    But rich people have many friends.

²³ Poor people beg for mercy.
    Rich people give rude answers.

19 It is better to be poor and honest
    than to be foolish and tell lies.

⁴ Wealthy people are always finding more friends.
    But the poor lose their friends.

⁷ A poor person’s relatives avoid him.
    Even his friends stay far away!
He runs after them, begging.
    But they are gone.

¹⁷ Being kind to the poor is like lending to the Lord.
    The Lord will reward you for what you have done.

²² People want others to be loyal.
    So it is better to be poor than to be a liar.

¹³ If you ignore the poor when they cry for help,
    you also will cry for help and not be answered.

² The rich and the poor are alike
    in that the Lord made them all.