Beginning
22 A good name is to be chosen instead of many riches. Favor is better than silver and gold.
2 The rich and the poor meet together. The Lord is the maker of them all. 3 A wise man sees sin and hides himself, but the foolish go on, and are punished for it.
4 The reward for not having pride and having the fear of the Lord is riches, honor and life.
5 Thorns and traps are in the way of the sinful. He who watches himself will stay far from them.
6 Bring up a child by teaching him the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn away from it.
7 The rich rules over the poor. The man who uses something that belongs to someone else is ruled by the one who let him use it.
8 He who plants sin will gather trouble, and the heavy stick of his anger will break.
9 He who gives much will be honored, for he gives some of his food to the poor.
10 Send away the man who laughs at the truth, and arguing, fighting and shame will stop.
11 He who loves a pure heart and is kind in his speaking has the king as his friend.
12 The eyes of the Lord keep watch over much learning, but He destroys the words of the man who is not faithful.
13 The lazy man says, “There is a lion outside! I will be killed in the streets!”
14 The mouth of a sinful woman is a deep hole. He with whom the Lord is angry will fall into it.
15 A foolish way is held in the heart of a child, but the punishing stick will send it far from him.
16 He who makes it hard for the poor by getting more for himself, or who gives to the rich, will become poor himself.
17 Turn your ear and hear the words of the wise, and open your mind to what they teach. 18 For it will be pleasing if you keep them in your heart, so they may be ready on your lips. 19 I have taught you today, even you, so that your trust may be in the Lord. 20 Have I not written to you great things of wise teaching and much learning 21 to show you that the words of truth are sure, so you may give a true answer to him who sent you?
22 Do not rob the poor because he is poor, or crush those who suffer at the gate. 23 For the Lord will stand by them and help them, and take the life of those who rob them.
24 Do not have anything to do with a man given to anger, or go with a man who has a bad temper. 25 Or you might learn his ways and get yourself into a trap.
26 Do not be among those who make promises and put themselves up as trust for what others owe. 27 If you have nothing with which to pay, why should he take your bed from under you?
28 Do not take away the old land-mark which your fathers have set.
29 Do you see a man who is good at his work? He will stand in front of kings. He will not stand in front of men who are not important.
23 When you sit down to eat with a ruler, think about what is in front of you. 2 Put a knife to your neck if you are a man who is given to much eating. 3 Do not desire his special foods, for they are put there for no good reason.
4 Do not work hard to be rich. Stop trying to get things for yourself. 5 When you set your eyes upon it, it is gone. For sure, riches make themselves wings like an eagle that flies toward the heavens.
6 Do not eat the bread of a man who thinks only about himself. Do not have a desire for his fine food. 7 For as he thinks in his heart, so is he. He says to you, “Eat and drink!” But his heart is not with you. 8 You will spit up the piece of food you have eaten, and waste your good words.
9 Do not speak in the hearing of a fool, for he will hate the wisdom of your words.
10 Do not take away the old land-mark, or go into the fields of those without a father. 11 For the One Who saves them is strong. He will stand by them and give them help against you. 12 Open your heart to teaching, and your ears to words of much learning.
13 Do not keep from punishing the child if he needs it. If you beat him with the stick, he will not die. 14 Beat him with the stick, and save his soul from hell.
15 My son, if your heart is wise, my own heart will be glad also. 16 My heart will be full of joy when your lips speak what is right.
17 Do not let your heart be jealous of sinners, but live in the fear of the Lord always. 18 For sure there is a future and your hope will not be cut off. 19 Listen, my son, and be wise. Lead your heart in the way. 20 Do not be with those who drink too much wine or eat too much meat. 21 For the man who drinks too much or eats too much will become poor, and much sleep will dress a man in torn clothes.
22 Listen to your father who gave you life, and do not hate your mother when she is old. 23 Buy truth, and do not sell it. Get wisdom and teaching and understanding.
24 The father of one who is right with God will have much joy. He who has a wise son will be glad in him. 25 Let your father and mother be glad, and let her who gave birth to you be full of joy.
26 Give me your heart, my son. Let your eyes find joy in my ways. 27 For a woman who sells the use of her body is like a deep hole. A sinful woman is a narrow well. 28 She lies in wait as a robber, and makes many more men not faithful.
29 Who has trouble? Who has sorrow? Who is fighting? Who is complaining? Who is hurt without a reason? Who has eyes that have become red? 30 Those who stay a long time over wine. Those who go to taste mixed wine. 31 Do not look at wine when it is red, when it shines in the cup, when it is smooth in going down. 32 In the end it bites like a snake. It stings like the bite of a snake with poison. 33 Your eyes will see strange things. Your mind will say the wrong things. 34 And you will be like one who lies down in the center of the sea, or like one who lies above a ship’s sail. 35 “They hit me, but I was not hurt. They beat me, but I did not know it. When will I wake up? I will look for another drink.”
Copyright © 1969, 2003 by Barbour Publishing, Inc.