1 A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches, and loving favour rather than silver and gold. 2 The rich and poor meet together: the LORD is the maker of them all. 3 A prudent man foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself: but the simple pass on, and are punished. 4 By humility and the fear of the LORD are riches, and honour, and life. 5 Thorns and snares are in the way of the froward: he that doth keep his soul shall be far from them. 6 Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it. 7 The rich ruleth over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender. 8 He that soweth iniquity shall reap vanity: and the rod of his anger shall fail. 9 He that hath a bountiful eye shall be blessed; for he giveth of his bread to the poor. 10 Cast out the scorner, and contention shall go out; yea, strife and reproach shall cease. 11 He that loveth pureness of heart, for the grace of his lips the king shall be his friend. 12 The eyes of the LORD preserve knowledge, and he overthroweth the words of the transgressor. 13 The slothful man saith, There is a lion without, I shall be slain in the streets. 14 The mouth of strange women is a deep pit: he that is abhorred of the LORD shall fall therein. 15 Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child; but the rod of correction shall drive it far from him. 16 He that oppresseth the poor to increase his riches, and he that giveth to the rich, shall surely come to want.
17 Bow down thine ear, and hear the words of the wise, and apply thine heart unto my knowledge. 18 For it is a pleasant thing if thou keep them within thee; they shall withal be fitted in thy lips. 19 That thy trust may be in the LORD, I have made known to thee this day, even to thee. 20 Have not I written to thee excellent things in counsels and knowledge, 21 That I might make thee know the certainty of the words of truth; that thou mightest answer the words of truth to them that send unto thee?
22 Rob not the poor, because he is poor: neither oppress the afflicted in the gate: 23 For the LORD will plead their cause, and spoil the soul of those that spoiled them.
24 Make no friendship with an angry man; and with a furious man thou shalt not go: 25 Lest thou learn his ways, and get a snare to thy soul.
26 Be not thou one of them that strike hands, or of them that are sureties for debts. 27 If thou hast nothing to pay, why should he take away thy bed from under thee? 28 Remove not the ancient landmark, which thy fathers have set. 29 Seest thou a man diligent in his business? he shall stand before kings; he shall not stand before mean men .
1 Izvēlies labu slavu, nevis lielu bagātību –
ne sudrabu un zeltu, bet ļaužu cieņu!
2 Bagāts ar nabagu abi turpat –
abus divus radījis Kungs.
3 Gudrinieks pamana briesmas un patveras,
bet vientieši brāžas un dabū sodu.
4 Alga par pazemību, par Kunga bijāšanu –
bagātība, gods un ilgs mūžs!
5 Slazdi un cilpas viltnieka ceļā,
kam dzīvība dārga, tur nestaigās!
6 Uzved puisēnu uz viņa ceļa –
pat vecs kļuvis, no tā nenoklīdīs.
7 Bagāts pār nabagiem valda,
kas aizņemas, paliek devējam kalps.
8 Kas sēj netaisnību, pļaus postu –
tad viņa iecirtības rīkste būs pušu!
9 Tas svētīts, kam vēlīga acs,
kas dod nabagam no savas maizes!
10 Triec pulgotāju – būs ķilda prom,
aprims ēšanās un lāsti!
11 Kam sirds šķīsta, kam lūpas laipnas –
pats ķēniņš tādam draugs!
12 Kunga acis uzrauga zināšanu –
viņš apgāž viltvāržu runas!
13 Sliņķis saka: ārā ir lauva,
ja iešu uz ielas, tas nokodīs mani!
14 Dziļa bedre ir svešinieces mute –
kuru Kungs nīst, tas tajā iekritīs!
15 Sēž muļķība jaunekļa sirdī,
bet stingra rīkste spēj to patriekt!
16 Kas nabagam atrauj, tam kaut kas tiek,
bet, kas bagātam pieliek, tas pats izput!
Gudrības vārdi
17 Liec ausi un klausies gudro vārdus,
atdari sirdi manām zinībām –
18 ar tīksmi glabā tās sevī,
lai tās runā no tavām lūpām!
19 Paļaujies taču uz Kungu,
to es tev šodien mācu – jā, tev!
20 Vai neesmu tev uzrakstījis trejkāršu gudrību,
pilnu padoma un zināšanas,
21 tev rādīdams īstos taisnības vārdus,
lai tu vari sacīt taisnības vārdus tiem,
kas sūtīja tevi!
22 Neatņem nabagam – viņš tā jau nabags,
netiesā sūrdieni pilsētas vārtos,
23 jo Kungs nāks tiesāties viņu vietā –
tiem, kas tos aplaupa, viņš laupīs dzīvību!
24 Neturies ar tādu, kas nasks dusmās,
kas ātrs sirdī, pie tāda neej,
25 ka neiemācies tu viņu niķus
un neizliec lamatas pats sev!
26 Neesi kā tie, kas līkop līgst,
kas galvo par aizdevumu,
27 ja tev nebūs ko aizmaksāt,
tev no apakšas izraus pēli!
28 Nepārcel senu robežakmeni,
ko nolikuši tavi tēvi!
29 Palūk, vīrs, darbā prasmīgs,
ķēniņiem viņš kalpos,
nelgām viņš nekalpos!
