1. A good reputation and respectare worth much morethan silver and gold.
2. The rich and the poorare all createdby the Lord.
3. When you see trouble coming,don't be stupidand walk right into it—be clever and hide.
4. Respect and serve the Lord!Your reward will be wealth,a long life, and honour.
5. Crooks walk down a roadfull of thorny traps.Stay away from there!
6. Teach your childrenright from wrong,and when they are grownthey will still do right.
7. The poor are ruled by the rich,and those who borroware slaves of moneylenders.
8. Troublemakers get in trouble,and their terrible angerwill get them nowhere.
9. The Lord blesses everyonewho freely gives foodto the poor.
10. Arguments and fightswill come to an end,if you chase away thosewho insult others.
11. The king is the friend of allwho are sincereand speak with kindness.
12. The Lord watches over everyonewho shows good sense,but he frustrates the plansof 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 womanare like a deep pit;if you make the Lord angry,you will fall right in.
15. All children are foolish,but firm correctionwill make them change.
16. Cheat the poor to make profitor give gifts to the rich—either way you lose.
17. Here are some sayingsof people with wisdom,so listen carefullyas I teach.
18. You will be gladthat you know these sayingsand can recite them.
19. I am teaching them today,so that youmay trust the Lord.
20. I have written thirty sayingsfilled with sound advice.
21. You can trust them completelyto give you the right wordsfor those in charge of you.
22. Don't take advantageof the pooror cheat them in court.
23. The Lord is their defender,and what you do to them,he will do to you.
24. Don't make friends with anyonewho has a bad temper.
25. You might turn out like themand get caught in a trap.
26. Don't guarantee to paysomeone else's debt.
27. If you don't have the money,you might lose your bed.
28. Don't move a boundary markerset up by your ancestors.
29. If you do your job well,you will work for a rulerand never be a slave.