A Good Name 1 UDB Being a person who keeps his word is more important than having great riches, and being a person who everyone respects for doing right 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 UDB People who are rich and people who are poor 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 UDB One who has good sense takes cover when he sees trouble coming, but those who have no experience or knowledge rush ahead into danger. BSB BSB: The prudent see danger and take cover, but the simple keep going and suffer the consequences.
4 UDB When a person is humble and gives Yahweh the respect he deserves, these are his rewards: riches and honor and life. BSB BSB: The rewards of humility and the fear of the LORD are wealth and honor and life.
5 UDB Where the perverse walk, their way is like a road covered with thorns, and there are traps in every step. When you guard your own life from evil, you will stay away from all these dangers. BSB BSB: Thorns and snares lie on the path of the perverse; he who guards his soul stays far from them.
6 UDB A child must be shown the way to live and the direction he should go, and when he reaches old age, he will stay on that same path. BSB BSB: Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it.
7 UDB The fact is that the rich often have power over the poor, and one who borrows money is almost like a slave to the one who lends him the money. BSB BSB: The rich rule over the poor, and the borrower is slave to the lender.
8 UDB If you plant the seeds of wickedness, you can expect a crop of trouble, and when you use a rod to discipline your child but you use it when you are furious, it will do no good. BSB BSB: He who sows injustice will reap disaster, and the rod of his fury will be destroyed.
9 UDB Yahweh will give many good gifts to the one who looks for people to help because that person considered it important to share his food with the poor. BSB BSB: A generous man will be blessed, for he shares his bread with the poor.
10 UDB If you throw out the conceited person, out will go all kinds of conflict with him. No one will quarrel or insult anyone else when he is gone. BSB BSB: Drive out the mocker, and conflict will depart; even quarreling and insults will cease.
11 UDB When a person loves to do something just because he wants to do what is good and right— he is sincere, and his speech is filled with kindness —the king will be his friend. BSB BSB: He who loves a pure heart and gracious lips will have the king for a friend.
12 UDB Yahweh gives protection to knowledge, to keep it safe, just as surely as he makes the lying promises of the betrayer fail. BSB BSB: The LORD’s eyes keep watch over knowledge, but He frustrates the words of the faithless.
13 UDB A lazy person calls out, "There is a lion in the street! If I go out, I will be killed!" BSB BSB: The slacker says, “There is a lion outside! I will be slain in the streets!”
14 UDB The words spoken by an adulteress will draw you in, and it will be as if you have fallen into a deep and dangerous pit! All those who fall into that pit will be in trouble, but what is worse, they will experience Yahweh's anger for what they have done. 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 UDB Stupid and silly things are bound up within a child, and they come out in foolishness; but correcting a child with discipline drives the folly far away. BSB BSB: Foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child, but the rod of discipline drives it far from him.
16 UDB The one who makes his money by taking advantage of the poor, or by giving more money to the wealthy, Yahweh will bring him into poverty. BSB BSB: Oppressing the poor to enrich oneself or giving gifts to the rich will surely lead to poverty.
Thirty Sayings of the Wise Saying 1 17 UDB Now listen to what those who are wise have said; give it all your attention and learn the knowledge you will need if you are to become wise. BSB BSB: Incline your ear and hear the words of the wise—apply your mind to my knowledge—
18 UDB It will be good for you to make them the guiding principles you live by, and be able to repeat all of them to others. BSB BSB: for it is pleasing when you keep them within you and they are constantly on your lips.
19 UDB The most important thing is for you to trust in Yahweh, and so I am teaching them to you, yes, even to you. BSB BSB: So that your trust may be in the LORD, I instruct you today—yes, you.
20 UDB I have written thirty of these sayings for you to learn, sayings to give you advice and to teach you what you do not know. BSB BSB: Have I not written for you thirty sayings about counsel and knowledge,
21 UDB These lessons show you what is true and they teach you with faithful lessons, so you may give reliable and true answers to those who sent you. BSB BSB: to show you true and reliable words, that you may soundly answer those who sent you?
Saying 2 22 UDB Anyone can rob a poor person. Do not do it. And do not hurt them who are begging at the city gate, BSB BSB: Do not rob a poor man because he is poor, and do not crush the afflicted at the gate,
23 UDB for Yahweh stands to defend them, and he will take the life of those who stole from the poor. BSB BSB: for the LORD will take up their case and will plunder those who rob them.
Saying 3 24 UDB Do not become a friend with one whose life is controlled by his anger, and do not associate with a person who rages in his terrible wrath, BSB BSB: Do not make friends with an angry man, and do not associate with a hot-tempered man,
25 UDB or you will learn to be like him, and your anger will become like a trap, a trap that will take charge of your life. BSB BSB: or you may learn his ways and entangle yourself in a snare.
Saying 4 26 UDB Be careful that you do not shake hands and promise to pay for the debts of others, and do not make or sign a pledge so another person can take out a loan. BSB BSB: Do not be one who gives pledges, who puts up security for debts.
27 UDB For if you cannot pay it back, they will surely come and take away everything from you, even your bed on which you sleep. BSB BSB: If you have nothing with which to pay, why should your bed be taken from under you?
Saying 5 28 UDB The ancient boundary stones show where the property lines are. Do not take them away or move them. Your ancestors put them there. Leave them alone. BSB BSB: Do not move an ancient boundary stone which your fathers have placed.
Saying 6 29 UDB One who learns a trade and is skillful at it will become a servant of kings. Because of his achievements he will not serve mere ordinary 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.