נִבְחָר שֵׁם מֵעֹשֶׁר רָב מִכֶּסֶף וּמִזָּהָב חֵן טוֹב

A name is preferable to great wealth. One’s good reputation is priceless; it can be preserved more easily than wealth, and it does not entail worry or weigh heavily on a person like material riches. And likewise, good grace should be preferred to silver and gold. The ability to understand the world and to conduct oneself with grace and tact is more valuable than silver and gold.

עָשִׁיר וָרָשׁ נִפְגָּשׁוּ עֹשֵׂה כֻלָּם ה'

Rich and poor meet in certain situations, despite the fact that they are on opposite ends of the social spectrum, as ultimately the Lord is the Maker of them all. God created both the rich and the poor, and therefore they share many common qualities that enable them to meet, interact, and even assist one another at times. Some commentaries connect this verse to the previous one: The rich and the poor can both achieve a good name and grace, as these qualities are independent of one’s wealth.

עָרוּם רָאָה רָעָה וְנִסְתָּר וּפְתָיִים עָבְרוּ וְנֶעֱנָשׁוּ

The clever one sees harm, as he discerns when trouble is approaching and hides himself from it, but naïfs pass near it and are punished. They are harmed due to their lack of caution.

עֵקֶב עֲנָוָה יִרְאַת ה'עֹשֶׁר וְכָבוֹד וְחַיִּים

In the wake of humility are fear of the Lord, wealth, honor, and life.

צִנִּים פַחִים בְּדֶרֶךְ עִקֵּשׁ שׁוֹמֵר נַפְשׁוֹ יִרְחַק מֵהֶם

Thorns and traps, or cold and heat, are in the way of the crooked, a warped individual, whereas the guardian of his soul will distance himself from them. A cautious person will naturally protect himself from such dangers, but a crooked person is drawn to them and becomes entangled in them.

חֲנֹךְ לַנַּעַר עַל־פִּי דַרְכּוֹ גַּם כִּי־יַזְקִין לֹא־יָסוּר מִמֶּנָּה

Train the lad in accordance with his way, in a manner appropriate for him, which allows him to easily comprehend and apply what he is taught. If you do so properly, and avoid pressuring the child to follow a direction unsuitable for him, even when he grows old, he will not turn from it. Success in education does not depend merely on fine theories. Only a method that suits the personality and character of a particular student will fully leave its mark on him. If one attempts to educate someone in a fashion that is not in keeping with his natural character, when he becomes an adult he will likely find for himself a more suitable path.

עָשִׁיר בְּרָשִׁים יִמְשׁוֹל וְעֶבֶד לוֶֹה לְאִישׁ מַלְוֶה

The wealthy will rule over the poor, and a borrower is servant to a man who lends.

זוֹרֵעַ עַוְלָה יִקְצָר־אָוֶן וְשֵׁבֶט עֶבְרָתוֹ יִכְלֶה

He who sows injustice will reap iniquity. One who harms others will ultimately suffer from evil himself, and his ire’s rod, his strength, will fail. The devastating consequences of evil behavior will ricochet upon those who performed it.

טוֹב־עַיִן הוּא יְבֹרָךְ כִּי־נָתַן מִלַּחְמוֹ לַדָּל

A generous eye, one who looks at others in a positive manner and endeavors to provide them with what they lack, will himself be blessed, for he gives of his bread to the impoverished.

גָּרֵשׁ לֵץ ויֵצֵא מָדוֹן וְיִשְׁבֹּת דִּין וְקָלוֹן

Expel from your house or company the scoffer, who is frivolous and refuses to take responsibility for his actions, and thereby strife will depart, and contention and disgrace will cease. The scorner does not always quarrel directly with those in his immediate surroundings, but nevertheless he complicates their lives by incessantly involving himself in arguments and crises. Once he has departed, quiet will reign.

אֹהֵב טְהָר־לֵב חֵן שְׂפָתָיו רֵעֵהוּ מֶלֶךְ

One who loves, and is pure of heart, has grace on his lips; his friend is like a king.

עֵינֵי ה'נָצְרוּ דָעַת ויְסַלֵּף דִּבְרֵי בֹגֵד

The eyes of the Lord safeguard knowledge, or knowledgeable and truthful people, and as God watches everything, He distorts the words of the treacherous. God will negate the will and plans of those who betray His word.

אָמַר עָצֵל אֲרִי בַחוּץ בְּתוֹךְ רְחֹבוֹת אֵרָצֵחַ

The idler, who prefers not to leave his house, says: There is a lion prowling in the street; I will be murdered in the squares. Lions are not commonly found in city streets, and it is unlikely that a passerby would be killed, but the idler invents all sorts of excuses to avoid activity.

שׁוּחָה עֲמֻקָּה פִּי זָרוֹת זְעוּם ה'יִפָּל־שָׁם

The mouth of deviance, a bad, repulsive mouth, is a deep pit; he who has infuriated the Lord will fall there, into this mouth, which is essentially a trap.

אִוֶּלֶת קְשׁוּרָה בְלֶב־נָעַר שֵׁבֶט מוּסָר יַרְחִיקֶנָּה מִמֶּנּוּ

Folly is bound in the heart of a lad, as a youngster occasionally entertains an idea without realizing that it is foolish, and the rod of admonishment will distance it from him. Beating the lad will remove his foolishness (see 19:18).

עֹשֵׁק דָּל לְהַרְבּוֹת נֹתֵן לְעָשִׁיר אַךְ־לְמַחְסוֹר

He who exploits the impoverished to gain for himself, or he who gives to the wealthy, it is only for loss. Neither one who oppresses the poor in order to increase his own wealth, nor one who gives to the rich to win their favor, will thereby benefit. There is nothing to be gained from this type of giving or taking, which only causes harm.

הַט אָזְנְךָ וּשְׁמַע דִּבְרֵי חֲכָמִים וְלִבְּךָ תָּשִׁית לְדַעְתִּי

Incline your ear and hear the words of the wise, and set your heart to the task of absorbing my knowledge.

כִּי־נָעִים כִּי תִשְׁמְרֵם בְּבִטְנֶךָ יִכֹּנוּ יַחְדָּו עַל־שְׂפָתֶיךָ

For it is pleasant for you if you keep them in your belly, if you internalize and remember these instructions, and if they shall be fixed together on your lips as a clear and orderly doctrine.

לִהְיוֹת בַּה' מִבְטַחֶךָ הוֹדַעְתִּיךָ הַיּוֹם אַף־אָתָּה

If you do so, you will merit to place your trust in the Lord. The aphorist stresses again: I have informed you today, even for you.

הֲלֹא כָתַבְתִּי לְךָ שָׁלִישִׁים בְּמֹעֵצוֹת וָדָעַת

Didn’t I write it for you, and reiterate it at least three times, with wise counsel and knowledge,

לְהוֹדִיעֲךָ קֹשְׁטְ אִמְרֵי אֱמֶת לְהָשִׁיב אֲמָרִים אֱמֶת לְשֹׁלְחֶיךָ

in order to faithfully and precisely inform you of the certainty of sayings of truth? Alternatively, this means: I did so to inform you of sayings of truth whose precision and correctness is clearly recognized by all. I did not inform you of this only for yourself, but also to respond with sayings of truth to those who sent you, your parents who have sent you off to study, or those who ask questions of you.

אַל־תִּגְזָל־דָּל כִּי דַל הוּא וְאַל־תְּדַכֵּא עָנִי בַשָּׁעַר

The aphorist offers specific warnings and advice: Do not rob the impoverished, as he is impoverished, and has no one to help him, and do not oppress the poor at the gate, in courts of justice, or in your business dealings in the city, where the rich and poor often interact,

כִּי־ה' יָרִיב רִיבָם וְקָבַע אֶת־קֹבְעֵיהֶם נָפֶשׁ

for the Lord will fight their, the wretched people’s, battle and will deprive those who deprive them of life. Even when it is necessary to rebuke or punish one of these unfortunate people, such acts must be carried out with great mercy and respect.

אַל־תִּתְרַע אֶת בַּעַל אָף וְאֶת־אִישׁ חֵמוֹת לֹא תָבוֹא

The verses now cite a series of instructions involving one’s social environment: Do not befriend he who is disposed to wrath, and do not approach the man of fury. Do not associate with him.

פֶּן־תֶּאֱלַף אֹרְחֹתָו וְלָקַחְתָּ מוֹקֵשׁ לְנַפְשֶׁךָ

The reason for the above advice, to keep away from someone who is prone to fits of rage, is not because he will inevitably turn his anger upon you, as you are his friend. Nevertheless, you should avoid his company lest you become versed in his ways and accustomed to acting accordingly, and as a result, you will bring a snare upon your soul. It is best to avoid being overly involved with those who serve as a negative role model.

אַל־תְּהִי בְתֹקְעֵי־כָף בַעֹרְבִים מַשָּׁאוֹת

Do not be among those who shake hands, make promises, among the guarantors of loans. Even if you are surrounded by people who make this type of commitment, either to boast about their ill-advised generosity or for some other reason, you should resist the social pressure to follow suit. Think carefully about your options and remember that you are under no obligation to commit yourself.

אִם אֵין־לְךָ לְשַׁלֵּם לָמָּה יִקַּח מִשְׁכָּבְךָ מִתַּחְתֶּיךָ

If you agreed to serve as a guarantor, and it eventually turns out that you do not have with what to pay, why should you put yourself in a situation where he, the creditor, can take away your property, even your bed from under you?

אַל־תַּסֵּג גְּבוּל עוֹלָם אֲשֶׁר עָשׂוּ אֲבוֹתֶיךָ

Do not move back the ancient boundary that your ancestors established to demarcate property boundaries.

חָזִיתָ אִישׁ מָהִיר בִּמְלַאכְתּוֹ לִפְנֵי־מְלָכִים יִתְיַצָּב בַּל יִתְיַצֵּב לִפְנֵי חֲשֻׁכִּים

Have you seen a man who is quick, determined, and efficient in his work? If so, rest assured that he will go far. He will advance and eventually stand before kings. He will not stand before dark ones, lowly men; alternatively, he will not stand in hidden and dark places. Consequently, it is worthwhile to learn from him and emulate his actions.