2. When a country is in rebellion, it has many rulers, but a man of discernment and knowledge maintains order.
3. A poor man who oppresses the weak is like pounding rain without food.
4. Those who forsake Torah praise the wicked, but those who keep Torah stir them up.
5. Evil men do not understand justice, but those who seek Adonai understand it fully.
6. Better the poor who walks in his integrity than the rich whose ways are crooked.
7. He who keeps Torah is a discerning son, but a companion of gluttons disgraces his father.
8. Whoever increases his wealth by exorbitant interest, gathers it for one kinder to the poor.
9. One who turns his ear from hearing Torah —even his prayer is an abomination.
10. One who leads the upright astray along an evil path will fall into his own pit, but the blameless will inherit good.
11. A rich person is wise in his own eyes, but a discerning poor person sees through him.
12. When the righteous triumph there is great glory, but when the wicked rise to power, people hide.