1 MEJOR es el pobre que camina en su sencillez, Que el de perversos labios y fatuo.

2 El alma sin ciencia no es buena; Y el presuroso de pies peca.

3 La insensatez del hombre tuerce su camino; Y contra Jehová se aira su corazón.

4 Las riquezas allegan muchos amigos: Mas el pobre, de su amigo es apartado.

5 El testigo falso no quedará sin castigo; Y el que habla mentiras no escapará.

6 Muchos rogarán al príncipe: Mas cada uno es amigo del hombre que da.

7 Todos los hermanos del pobre le aborrecen: ­Cuánto más sus amigos se alejarán de él! Buscará la palabra y no la hallará.

8 El que posee entendimiento, ama su alma: El que guarda la inteligencia, hallará el bien.

9 El testigo falso no quedará sin castigo; Y el que habla mentiras, perecerá.

10 No conviene al necio el deleite: ­Cuánto menos al siervo ser señor de los príncipes!

11 La cordura del hombre detiene su furor; Y su honra es disimular la ofensa.

12 Como el bramido del cachorro de león es la ira del rey; Y su favor como el rocío sobre la hierba.

13 Dolor es para su padre el hijo necio; Y gotera continua las contiendas de la mujer.

14 La casa y las riquezas herencia son de los padres: Mas de Jehová la mujer prudente.

15 La pereza hace caer en sueño; Y el alma negligente hambreará.

16 El que guarda el mandamiento, guarda su alma: Mas el que menospreciare sus caminos, morirá.

17 A Jehová empresta el que da al pobre, Y él le dará su paga.

18 Castiga á tu hijo en tanto que hay esperanza; Mas no se excite tu alma para destruirlo.

19 El de grande ira llevará la pena: Y si usa de violencias, añadirá nuevos males.

20 Escucha el consejo, y recibe la corrección, Para que seas sabio en tu vejez.

21 Muchos pensamientos hay en el corazón del hombre; Mas el consejo de Jehová permanecerá.

22 Contentamiento es á los hombres hacer misericordia: Pero mejor es el pobre que el mentiroso.

23 El temor de Jehová es para vida; Y con él vivirá el hombre, lleno de reposo; No será visitado de mal.

24 El perezoso esconde su mano en el seno: Aun á su boca no la llevará.

25 Hiere al escarnecedor, y el simple se hará avisado; Y corrigiendo al entendido, entenderá ciencia.

26 El que roba á su padre y ahuyenta á su madre, Hijo es avergonzador y deshonrador.

27 Cesa, hijo mío, de oir la enseñanza Que induce á divagar de las razones de sabiduría.

28 El testigo perverso se burlará del juicio; Y la boca de los impíos encubrirá la iniquidad.

29 Aparejados están juicios para los escarnecedores, Y azotes para los cuerpos de los insensatos.

1 Better is the poor man whose ways are upright, than the man of wealth whose ways are twisted.

2 Further, without knowledge desire is not good; and he who is over-quick in acting goes out of the right way.

3 By his foolish behaviour a man's ways are turned upside down, and his heart is bitter against the Lord.

4 Wealth makes a great number of friends; but the poor man is parted from his friend.

5 A false witness will not go without punishment, and the breather out of deceit will not go free.

6 Great numbers will make attempts to get the approval of a ruler: and every man is the special friend of him who has something to give.

7 All the brothers of the poor man are against him: how much more do his friends go far from him! ...

8 He who gets wisdom has love for his soul: he who keeps good sense will get what is truly good.

9 A false witness will not go without punishment, and the breather out of deceit will be cut off.

10 Material comfort is not good for the foolish; much less for a servant to be put over rulers.

11 A man's good sense makes him slow to wrath, and the overlooking of wrongdoing is his glory.

12 The king's wrath is like the loud cry of a lion, but his approval is like dew on the grass.

13 A foolish son is the destruction of his father; and the bitter arguments of a wife are like drops of rain falling without end.

14 House and wealth are a heritage from fathers, but a wife with good sense is from the Lord.

15 Hate of work sends deep sleep on a man: and he who has no industry will go without food.

16 He who keeps the law keeps his soul; but death will be the fate of him who takes no note of the word.

17 He who has pity on the poor gives to the Lord, and the Lord will give him his reward.

18 Give your son training while there is hope; let not your heart be purposing his death.

19 A man of great wrath will have to take his punishment: for if you get him out of trouble you will have to do it again.

20 Let your ear be open to suggestion and take teaching, so that at the end you may be wise.

21 A man's heart may be full of designs, but the purpose of the Lord is unchanging.

22 The ornament of a man is his mercy, and a poor man is better than one who is false.

23 The fear of the Lord gives life: and he who has it will have need of nothing; no evil will come his way.

24 The hater of work puts his hand deep into the basin, and will not even take it to his mouth again.

25 When blows overtake the man of pride, the simple will get sense; say sharp words to the wise, and knowledge will be made clear to him.

26 He who is violent to his father, driving away his mother, is a son causing shame and a bad name.

27 A son who no longer gives attention to teaching is turned away from the words of knowledge.

28 A good-for-nothing witness makes sport of the judge's decision: and the mouth of evil-doers sends out evil like a stream.

29 Rods are being made ready for the man of pride, and blows for the back of the foolish.