Value of Reputation and Character

1

A name is chosen rather than much wealth, Than silver and than gold--good grace.

2

Rich and poor have met together, The Maker of them all is Jehovah.

3

The prudent hath seen the evil, and is hidden, And the simple have passed on, and are punished.

4

The end of humility is the fear of Jehovah, Riches, and honour, and life.

5

Thorns--snares are in the way of the perverse, Whoso is keeping his soul is far from them.

6

Give instruction to a youth about his way, Even when he is old he turneth not from it.

7

The rich over the poor ruleth, And a servant is the borrower to the lender.

8

Whoso is sowing perverseness reapeth sorrow, And the rod of his anger weareth out.

9

The good of eye--he is blessed, For he hath given of his bread to the poor.

10

Cast out a scorner--and contention goeth out, And strife and shame cease.

11

Whoso is loving cleanness of heart, Grace are his lips, a king is his friend.

12

The eyes of Jehovah have kept knowledge, And He overthroweth the words of the treacherous.

13

The slothful hath said, `A lion is without, In the midst of the broad places I am slain.'

14

A deep pit is the mouth of strange women, The abhorred of Jehovah falleth there.

15

Folly is bound up in the heart of a youth, The rod of chastisement putteth it far from him.

16

He is oppressing the poor to multiply to him, He is giving to the rich--only to want.