1 ARST Being someone whom people respect is more important than being very wealthy. Indeed, being someone whom others approve of is better than having silver and gold. BSB BSB: A good name is more desirable than great riches; favor is better than silver and gold.
2 ARST Rich people and poor people have{ at least} one thing in common: Yahweh made both of them. BSB BSB: The rich and the poor have this in common: The LORD is Maker of them all.
3 ARST Sensible people observe something dangerous happening and avoid it, but naive people{ ignorantly} do not avoid it and suffer{ for doing so}. BSB BSB: The prudent see danger and take cover, but the simple keep going and suffer the consequences.
4 ARST People who are humble, who reverently fear Yahweh, will become rich. People will respect them, and they will live{ for a long time}. BSB BSB: The rewards of humility and the fear of the LORD are wealth and honor and life.
5 ARST Deceptive people live{ dangerously,} as if they were walking down a road covered with thorns and traps,{ but} people who want to stay alive avoid living that way. BSB BSB: Thorns and snares lie on the path of the perverse; he who guards his soul stays far from them.
6 ARST Teach children how to behave{ properly}, so that when they become old, they will still continue to do so. BSB BSB: Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it.
7 ARST Rich people reign over poor people, and people who borrow{ money} from others are slaves to the people who loaned them{ money}. BSB BSB: The rich rule over the poor, and the borrower is slave to the lender.
8 ARST People who act unjustly will suffer for doing so, and they will no longer be able to furiously oppress other people. BSB BSB: He who sows injustice will reap disaster, and the rod of his fury will be destroyed.
9 ARST Yahweh will bless generous people because they give their own food to poor people. BSB BSB: A generous man will be blessed, for he shares his bread with the poor.
10 ARST If you banish people who ridicule others, then people will stop arguing{ with each other}, quarreling{ with each other}, and shaming{ each other}. BSB BSB: Drive out the mocker, and conflict will depart; even quarreling and insults will cease.
11 ARST People who love thinking purely speak graciously and are companions of kings. BSB BSB: He who loves a pure heart and gracious lips will have the king for a friend.
12 ARST Yahweh preserves what people should know, but he makes what treacherous people say fail. BSB BSB: The LORD’s eyes keep watch over knowledge, but He frustrates the words of the faithless.
13 ARST Lazy people{ do nothing because they} claim that there is a lion outside that will kill them in the street{ if they go outside}. BSB BSB: The slacker says, “There is a lion outside! I will be slain in the streets!”
14 ARST What adulterous women say is{ as dangerous as} a deep hole; those whom Yahweh is angry with will fall into it. BSB BSB: The mouth of an adulteress is a deep pit; he who is under the wrath of the LORD will fall into it.
15 ARST Children inherently think foolishly, but physically disciplining them will teach them to stop being foolish. BSB BSB: Foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child, but the rod of discipline drives it far from him.
16 ARST People who oppress poor people in order to make more money for themselves or who give things to rich people{ in order to become rich} will only become poor. BSB BSB: Oppressing the poor to enrich oneself or giving gifts to the rich will surely lead to poverty.
17 ARST Listen carefully to what wise people have said; consider carefully what I am teaching you! BSB BSB: Incline your ear and hear the words of the wise—apply your mind to my knowledge—
18 ARST { Do this} because if you remember these sayings and are always ready to repeat them{ to others}, then you will be glad. BSB BSB: for it is pleasing when you keep them within you and they are constantly on your lips.
19 ARST I am teaching these sayings to you— yes, you— right now so that you will trust Yahweh. BSB BSB: So that your trust may be in the LORD, I instruct you today—yes, you.
20 ARST I am indeed writing these 30 sayings to advise and teach you. BSB BSB: Have I not written for you thirty sayings about counsel and knowledge,
21 ARST { I am writing them} in order to teach you what is true in trustworthy sayings, and in order to answer those who sent you with trustworthy sayings. BSB BSB: to show you true and reliable words, that you may soundly answer those who sent you?
22 ARST Do not steal from poor people just because they are poor; and do not oppress suffering people in court. BSB BSB: Do not rob a poor man because he is poor, and do not crush the afflicted at the gate,
23 ARST { Do not do these things} because Yahweh will defend those poor people when you dispute with them, and he will kill the people who stole from them. BSB BSB: for the LORD will take up their case and will plunder those who rob them.
24 ARST Do not become friends with angry people. Indeed, do not associate with people who easily become angry. BSB BSB: Do not make friends with an angry man, and do not associate with a hot-tempered man,
25 ARST { If you do so,} then you will act like them, and you will endanger yourself like an animal caught in a trap. BSB BSB: or you may learn his ways and entangle yourself in a snare.
26 ARST Stay away from those people who agree to pay loans for others.{ Indeed, stay away from those people} who guarantee to pay the loans of others. BSB BSB: Do not be one who gives pledges, who puts up security for debts.
27 ARST { For} if you cannot pay back{ the loan},{ then} the person to whom you owe money will surely take away even your own bed{ in order to pay back the loan}. BSB BSB: If you have nothing with which to pay, why should your bed be taken from under you?
28 ARST Do not cheat people by moving the stones that their ancestors placed long ago to mark the boundaries of their land. BSB BSB: Do not move an ancient boundary stone which your fathers have placed.
29 ARST Consider this: People who work skillfully will serve kings rather than serving unknown people. BSB BSB: Do you see a man skilled in his work? He will be stationed in the presence of kings; he will not stand before obscure men.
Select verses for actions: Enter goes to them and Escape comes back.