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The Value of a Good Reputation

22 A good reputation and respect
are worth much more
    than silver and gold.
The rich and the poor
are all created
    by the Lord.
When you see trouble coming,
    don't be stupid
and walk right into it—
    be smart and hide.

Respect and serve the Lord!
Your reward will be wealth,
    a long life, and honor.
Crooks walk down a road
full of thorny traps.
    Stay away from there!
(A) Teach your children
    right from wrong,
and when they are grown
    they will still do right.
The poor are ruled by the rich,
and those who borrow
    are slaves of moneylenders.
Troublemakers get in trouble,
and their terrible anger
    will get them nowhere.

The Lord blesses everyone
who freely gives food
    to the poor.
10 Arguments and fights
    will come to an end,
if you chase away those
    who insult others.
11 The king is the friend of all
who are sincere
    and speak with kindness.

12 The Lord watches over everyone
    who shows good sense,
but he frustrates the plans
    of deceitful liars.
13 Don't be so lazy that you say,
“If I go to work,
    a lion will eat me!”
14 The words of a bad woman
    are like a deep pit;
if you make the Lord angry,
    you will fall right in.
15 All children are foolish,
but firm correction
    will make them change.
16 Cheat the poor to make profit
or give gifts to the rich—
    either way you lose.

Thirty Wise Sayings

17 Here are some sayings
    of people with wisdom,
so listen carefully
    as I teach.
18 You will be glad
that you know these sayings
    and can recite them.
19 I am teaching them today,
so that you
    may trust the Lord.
20 I have written thirty sayings
    filled with sound advice.
21 You can trust them completely
to give you the right words
    for those in charge of you.

–1–

22 Don't take advantage
of the poor
    or cheat them in court.
23 The Lord is their defender,
and what you do to them,
    he will do to you.

–2–

24 Don't make friends with anyone
    who has a bad temper.
25 You might turn out like them
    and get caught in a trap.

–3–

26 Don't guarantee to pay
    someone else's debt.
27 If you don't have the money,
    you might lose your bed.

–4–

28 Don't move a boundary marker[a]
    set up by your ancestors.

–5–

29 If you do your job well,
you will work for a ruler
    and never be a slave.

Footnotes

  1. 22.28 marker: In ancient Israel boundary lines were sacred because all property was a gift from the Lord (see Deuteronomy 19.14).

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