A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches, and amiable grace rather than silver or gold.

A [good] name is choicer than much wealth, and goodly favor than silver and gold.

The rich and poor meet together: the Lord is the maker of them all.

The rich man and the poor man meet. [If the poor man asks for food and the rich man answers him harshly,] the L-rd makes all [anew. i.e., He makes the rich man poor and the poor man rich].

A prudent man foresees evil, and hides himself: but the simple pass on, and are punished.

The wise man sees the evil [(the punishment for a transgression)] and hides [from it]; but the fools pass on [i.e., they transgress] and are punished.

The reward of humility and the fear of the Lord are riches, and honour, and life.

In the path of humility comes fear of the L-rd, wealth, and honor, and life.

Thorns and snares are in the way of the crooked man: he that guards his soul shall be far from them.

Thorns and snares [i.e., afflictions] are in the way of the perverse [i.e., they are readied for them]; the keeper of his soul will distance himself from them.

Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.

[If you] rear the youth in his way [(either good or evil)], even when he grows old, he will not depart from it.

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

The rich rule the poor [i.e., the ignorant are always dependent upon the Torah scholars], just as the debtor is a servant to the creditor.

He that sows iniquity shall reap vanity: and the rod of his arrogance shall fail.

The sower of wrong will reap wrong, and his grain-stalk [i.e., his strength] will wither.

He that has a generous eye shall be blessed; for he gives of his bread to the poor.

The generous one will be blessed, for he has given of his bread to the poor.

Cast out the scorner, and contention will go out; yea, strife and disgrace will cease.

Drive away the scoffer [(the evil inclination)] and strife will depart, and punishment and shame will cease.

He that loves pureness of heart, and grace is on his lips, the king shall be his friend.

He [the L-rd] loves the pure of heart; [one who has] favor [on] his lips, the King befriends him.

The eyes of the Lord preserve knowledge, and he overthrows the words of the transgressor.

The eyes of the L-rd guard wisdom, and He twists the words of the faithless.

The lazy man says, There is a lion outside, I shall be slain in the streets.

The lazy one, [(shirking Torah study)], says: "There is a lion outside; in the midst of the streets I will be slain!" [(How can I go out to learn?)]

The mouth of strange woman is a deep pit: he who incurs the Lord’s indignation shall fall therein.

A deep pit is the mouth of the strange woman [(the idolatress)]; the scorned of the L-rd will fall therein.

Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child; but the rod of correction shall drive it far from him.

Foolishness is rooted in the heart of a youth; the rod of chastisement will distance it from him.

He that oppresses the poor may well bring him gain, and he that gives to the rich, may nevertheless come to want.

He who robs the poor to increase [his fortune] will [ultimately] give [his wealth] to the rich [pagan kings, so that his greed will redound] to [his own] want.

Incline thy ear, and hear the words of the wise, and apply thy heart to my knowledge.

Incline your ear and hear the words of the wise [(though they be only moderately wise)], but put your heart to My mind [(i.e., If your teacher is wicked, do not learn from him.)]

For it is a pleasant thing if thou keep them within thee; let them be firmly attached together to thy lips.

For [it will be] pleasant [for you] if you keep them in your innards. [And when will you keep them so, (not to forget them)?] When they are established together upon your lips [i.e., when you utter them with your mouth.]

That thy trust may be in the Lord, I have made known to thee this day, even to thee.

I have counseled you to put your trust in the L-rd [and to study Torah, without worrying how you will support yourself], today, even you!

Have I not written to thee excellent things in counsels and knowledge,

Have I not written for you three-fold [(Torah, Prophets, Writings)] with counsel and wisdom?

that I might make thee know the certainty of the words of truth; that thou mightest answer the words of truth to those who send thee?

To apprise you of the truth of words of truth, to return words of truth to those who send [to] you [for instruction].

Do not rob the poor, because he is poor: nor oppress the afflicted in the gate:

Do not rob a poor man because he is poor [i.e., because you see him to be defenseless]; and do not crush a poor man in the gate [of judgment].

for the Lord will plead their cause, and rob life those who rob them.

For the L-rd will fight their battle, and He will steal the soul of those who would steal from them.

Make no friendship with an angry man; and with a furious man thou shalt not go:

Do not befriend the angry man, and do not come together with the man of wrath.

lest thou learn his ways, and get a snare to thy soul.

Lest you learn his ways and take a snare for your soul.

Be not thou one of those who strike the palm, or of those who are sureties for debts.

Do not be among those who shake hands [(to pledge themselves)], who stand security for loans.

If thou hast nothing with which to pay, why should he take away thy bed from under thee?

If you have not what to pay, why should he [(the creditor)] take your bedding from beneath you?

Remove not the ancient landmark, which thy fathers have set.

Do not move back the long-standing boundary-marker, which your forefathers have established. [(Do not depart from the customs of your forefathers.)]

Dost thou see a man diligent in his business? he shall stand before kings; he shall not stand before obscure men.

Have you seen a man quick in his work? He will stand before kings. He will not stand before low-life.