Thorns and snares are in the path of the perverse, but the one who guards himself keeps far from them.

The rich rule over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender.

The one who sows iniquity will reap trouble, and the rod of his fury will end.

The one who oppresses the poor to increase his own gain and the one who gives to the rich – both end up only in poverty.

These sayings also are from the wise: To show partiality in judgment is terrible:

The one who says to the guilty, “You are innocent,” peoples will curse him, and nations will denounce him.

Establish your work outside and get your fields ready; afterward build your house.

When I saw this, I gave careful consideration to it; I received instruction from what I saw:

Do not go out hastily to litigation, or what will you do afterward when your neighbor puts you to shame?

The one who hates others disguises it with his lips, but he stores up deceit within him.

The one who increases his wealth by increasing interest gathers it for someone who is gracious to the needy.

When the righteous rejoice, great is the glory, but when the wicked rise to power, people are sought out.

Blessed is the one who is always cautious, but whoever hardens his heart will fall into evil.

The one who works his land will be satisfied with food, but whoever chases daydreams will have his fill of poverty.

Remove falsehood and lies far from me; do not give me poverty or riches, feed me with my allotted portion of bread,

the grave, the barren womb, land that is not satisfied with water, and fire that never says, “Enough!”

This is the way of an adulterous woman: she eats and wipes her mouth and says, “I have not done wrong.”

If you have done foolishly by exalting yourself or if you have planned evil, put your hand over your mouth!

She extends her hand to the poor, and reaches out her hand to the needy.

Her husband is well-known in the city gate when he sits with the elders of the land.