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1 Having a good reputation is better than having a lot of money;being well respected is better than having plenty of gold or silver.
2 There is one thing that is true about both rich people and poor people:
Yahweh is the one who created all of them.
3 Those who have good sense realize that there is something dangerous ahead, and they avoid it;
those who do not have good sense just keep going and later they will suffer because of doing that.
4 The reward that Yahweh gives to those who are humble and who have an awesome respect for him
is that he causes them to be rich and honored and to live for a long time.
5 Because of the things that wicked people do, they have troubles that will be like thorns and traps on the roads that they walk on;
people who are careful will be able to stay away from those difficulties.
6 If you teach children to do what is right,
all during their life they will behave in that manner.
7 Rich people rule over poor people harshly,
and those who borrow money become like slaves of the people who lend money to them.
8 If you plant corn or rice, corn or rice will grow;
similarly, if you act unjustly, you will have disasters;
and if you try to oppress people because you are angry with them,
you will not be able to do that.
9 God will bless those who are generous,
those who give some of their food to poor people.
10 If you get rid of those who make fun of everything that is good,
there will no more arguing or quarreling or insulting other people.
11 If you always act sincerely and always speak kindly,
the king will be your friend.
12 Yahweh takes care of those who have good sense,
but he ruins the plans of those who always try to deceive others.
13 Lazy people remain in their houses;
they say, “A lion might attack me if I go out into the street to go to work!”
14 What wives who commit adultery say to men is like a deep pit into which those men fall;
those with whom Yahweh is angry will fall into that pit.
15 Children naturally do things that are foolish,
but if you spank them, they will learn to behave as they should.
16 Those who oppress poor people in order to become rich,
and those who give a bribe to rich people in order that the rich people will do a favor for them,
will just lose their money.
Thirty wise sayings
17 Now listen to what wise people have said;
think carefully about what I am teaching you.
18 It will be good to keep these things in your minds,
because if you do that, you will be able to quote them to others.
19 I want you to trust in Yahweh,
and that is the reason that I am telling them to you, now.
20 I have written thirty sayings
from which you will receive good advice and you will be able to know many useful things.
21 From them, you will learn what is right and what is true,
in order that you will be able to bring back a good report to those who sent you to school (OR, give a good answer to those who ask you questions).
-1-
22 It is easy to rob poor people who are helpless and cannot defend themselves, but never do that;
and do not oppress in court those who are needy,
23 because Yahweh will speak to defend them,
and he will punish those who steal things from others—by causing them to die.
-2-
24 Do not become friends with those who often become angry,
and do not associate with those who cannot control their temper,
25 because you might start to act like they do
and not be able to stop doing that.
-3-
26 If someone borrows money,
do not be one of those who promises to pay what that person owes
if he cannot pay it back,
27 because if you cannot pay it back,
people will surely come and take away everything you own, even your bed.
-4-
28 Do not steal some of your neighbors' land by removing the boundary markers that your ancestors placed.
-5-
29 Learn this about those who do their work very skillfully:
they will quit working for ordinary people
and will start working for kings
because the kings will want people like that to work for them.