Proverbs 22
1 A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches, loving favor rather than silver and gold.
A good name is more desirable than great riches, and loving favor is better than silver and gold.
2 The rich and the poor meet together. Jehovah is the maker of them all.
The rich and the poor have this in common: YHWH is the maker of them all.
3 A prudent man sees the evil, and hides himself, but the simple pass on, and suffer for it.
The shrewd see danger and take cover, but the naive keep on going and suffer for it.
4 The reward of humility and the fear of Jehovah is riches and honor and life.
The result of humility and the fear of YHWH is wealth, honor, and life.
5 Thorns and snares are in the way of a perverse man. He who keeps his soul shall be far from them.
Thorns and snares are in the path of the wicked: whoever guards his soul stays from them.
6 Train up a child in the way he should go, and even when he is old he will not depart from it.
Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it.
7 The rich rule over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender.
The rich rule over the poor. The borrower is servant to the lender.
8 He who sows iniquity shall reap calamity, and the rod of his wrath shall fail.
He who sows wickedness reaps trouble, and the rod of his fury will fail. God blesses a cheerful and generous person, but the vanity of his deeds he will bring to an end.
9 He who has a bountiful eye shall be blessed, for he gives of his bread to the poor.
He who has a generous eye will be blessed; for he shares his food with the poor.
10 Cast out the scoffer, and contention will go out, yea, strife and reproach will cease.
Drive out the mocker, and strife will go out; yes, quarrels and insults will stop.
11 He who loves pureness of heart, for the grace of his lips, the king will be his friend.
He who loves purity of heart and speaks gracefully is the king's friend.
12 The eyes of Jehovah preserve knowledge, but he overthrows the words of the treacherous man.
The eyes of YHWH watch over knowledge; but he frustrates the words of the unfaithful.
13 The sluggard says, There is a lion outside. I shall be slain in the streets.
The sluggard says, "There is a lion outside. I will be killed in the streets."
14 The mouth of interloping women is a deep pit. He who is abhorred of Jehovah shall fall in it.
The mouth of an adulteress is a deep pit: he who is under YHWH's wrath will fall into it.
15 Foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child, but the rod of correction shall drive it far from him.
Folly is bound up in the heart of a child: the rod of discipline drives it far from him.
16 He who oppresses a poor man to his increase, and he who gives to a rich man, comes only to want.
Whoever oppresses the poor for his own increase and whoever gives to the rich, both come to poverty.
17 Incline thine ear, and hear the words of the wise, and apply thy heart to my knowledge.
The words of the wise: Incline your ear and hear my words, and apply your heart to my instruction.
18 For it is a pleasant thing if thou keep them within thee, if they be established together upon thy lips.
For it is a pleasant thing if you keep them within you, if all of them are ready on your lips.
19 That thy trust may be in Jehovah, I have made them known to thee this day, even to thee.
That your trust may be in YHWH, I teach you today, even you.
20 Have I not written to thee excellent things of counsels and knowledge,
Haven't I written to you thirty excellent things of counsel and knowledge,
21 to make thee know the certainty of the words of truth, that thou may carry back words of truth to those who send thee?
To teach you truth, reliable words, to give sound answers to the ones who sent you?
22 Do not rob a poor man, because he is poor, nor oppress an afflicted man in the gate.
Do not exploit the poor, because he is poor; and do not crush the needy in court;
23 For Jehovah will plead their cause, and despoil of life those who despoil them.
for YHWH will plead their case, and plunder the life of those who plunder them.
24 Make no friendship with a man who is given to anger, and thou shall not go with a wrathful man,
Do not befriend a hot-tempered man, and do not associate with one who harbors anger:
25 lest thou learn this ways, and get a snare to thy soul.
lest you learn his ways, and ensnare your soul.
26 Be thou not one of those who strike hands, or of those who are sureties for debts.
Do not be one of those who strike hands, of those who are collateral for debts.
27 If thou have not wherewith to pay, why should he take away thy bed from under thee?
If you do not have means to pay, why should he take away your bed from under you?
28 Remove not the ancient landmark, which thy fathers have set.
Do not move the ancient boundary stone, which your fathers have set up.
29 See thou a man diligent in his business? He shall stand before kings; he shall not stand before obscure men.
Do you see a man skilled in his work? He will serve kings. He won't serve obscure men.
