^9-10 Honor the Lord by giving him the first part of all your income, and he will fill your barns with wheat and barley and overflow your wine vats with the finest wines.

¹⁵ The rich man’s wealth is his only strength. The poor man’s poverty is his only^[a] curse.

⁴ Your riches won’t help you on Judgment Day; only righteousness counts then.

²⁸ Trust in your money and down you go! Trust in God and flourish as a tree!

⁸ Being kidnapped and held for ransom never worries the poor man!

^20-21 Even his own neighbors despise the poor man, while the rich have many “friends.” But to despise the poor is to sin. Blessed are those who help them.

²⁴ Wise men are praised for their wisdom; fools are despised for their folly.

¹⁶ Better a little with reverence for God than great treasure and trouble with it.

¹⁷ It is better to eat soup with someone you love than steak with someone you hate.

⁵ Mocking the poor is mocking the God who made them. He will punish those who rejoice at others’ misfortunes.

¹⁶ It is senseless to pay tuition to educate a rebel who has no heart for truth.^[a]