22 If you have to choose between a good reputation and great wealth, choose a good reputation.

² The rich and the poor have this in common: the Lord made them both.

³ Sensible people will see trouble coming and avoid it, but an unthinking person will walk right into it and regret it later.

⁴ Obey the Lord, be humble, and you will get riches, honor, and a long life.

⁵ If you love your life, stay away from the traps that catch the wicked along the way.

^6 (A)Teach children how they should live, and they will remember it all their life.

⁷ Poor people are slaves of the rich. Borrow money and you are the lender's slave.

⁸ If you plant the seeds of injustice, disaster will spring up, and your oppression of others will end.

⁹ Be generous and share your food with the poor. You will be blessed for it.

¹⁰ Get rid of a conceited person, and then there will be no more arguments, quarreling, or name-calling.

¹¹ If you love purity of heart and graciousness of speech, the king will be your friend.

¹² The Lord sees to it that truth is kept safe by disproving the words of liars.

¹³ Lazy people stay at home; they say a lion might get them if they go outside.

¹⁴ Adultery is a trap—it catches those with whom the Lord is angry.

¹⁵ Children just naturally do silly, careless things, but a good spanking will teach them how to behave.

¹⁶ If you make gifts to rich people or oppress the poor to get rich, you will become poor yourself.

The Thirty Wise Sayings

¹⁷ Listen, and I will teach you what the wise have said. Study their teachings, ¹⁸ and you will be glad if you remember them and can quote them. ¹⁹ I want you to put your trust in the Lord; that is why I am going to tell them to you now. ²⁰ I have written down thirty sayings for you. They contain knowledge and good advice, ²¹ and will teach you what the truth really is. Then when you are sent to find it out, you will bring back the right answer.

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²² Don't take advantage of the poor just because you can; don't take advantage of those who stand helpless in court. ²³ The Lord will argue their case for them and threaten the life of anyone who threatens theirs.

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²⁴ Don't make friends with people who have hot, violent tempers. ²⁵ You might learn their habits and not be able to change.

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²⁶ Don't promise to be responsible for someone else's debts. ²⁷ If you should be unable to pay, they will take away even your bed.

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²⁸ Never move an old property line that your ancestors established.

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²⁹ Show me someone who does a good job, and I will show you someone who is better than most and worthy of the company of kings.