Proverbs 22
1 A good name is more desirable than great riches; favor is better than silver and gold.
A good name is to be chosen over great riches and favor is better than silver and gold.
2 The rich and the poor have this in common: The LORD is Maker of them all.
Rich and poor people have this in common— Yahweh is the maker of all of them.
3 The prudent see danger and take cover, but the simple keep going and suffer the consequences.
A prudent man sees trouble and hides himself, but the naive go on and suffer because of it.
4 The rewards of humility and the fear of the LORD are wealth and honor and life.
The reward for humility and fear of Yahweh is riches, honor, and life.
5 Thorns and snares lie on the path of the perverse; he who guards his soul stays far from them.
Thorns and snares lie in the path of the perverse; whoever guards his life will keep far from them.
6 Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it.
Teach a child the way he should go and when he is old he will not turn away from that instruction.
7 The rich rule over the poor, and the borrower is slave to the lender.
Rich people rule over poor people and one who borrows is a slave to the one who lends.
8 He who sows injustice will reap disaster, and the rod of his fury will be destroyed.
He who sows injustice will reap trouble and the rod of his fury will fade away.
9 A generous man will be blessed, for he shares his bread with the poor.
The one who has a generous eye will be blessed, for he shares his bread with the poor.
10 Drive out the mocker, and conflict will depart; even quarreling and insults will cease.
Drive away the mocker, and out goes strife; disputes and insults will cease.
11 He who loves a pure heart and gracious lips will have the king for a friend.
The one who loves a pure heart and whose speech is gracious, he will have the king for his friend.
12 The LORD’s eyes keep watch over knowledge, but He frustrates the words of the faithless.
The eyes of Yahweh keep watch over knowledge, but he overthrows the words of the treacherous.
13 The slacker says, “There is a lion outside! I will be slain in the streets!”
The lazy person says, “There is a lion in the street! I will be killed in the open places.”
14 The mouth of an adulteress is a deep pit; he who is under the wrath of the LORD will fall into it.
The mouth of an adulteress is a deep pit; Yahweh's anger is stirred up against anyone who falls into it.
15 Foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child, but the rod of discipline drives it far from him.
Foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child, but the rod of discipline drives it far away.
16 Oppressing the poor to enrich oneself or giving gifts to the rich will surely lead to poverty.
The one who oppresses poor people to increase his wealth, or gives to rich people, will come to poverty.
17 Incline your ear and hear the words of the wise— apply your mind to my knowledge—
Incline your ear and listen to the words of the wise and apply your heart to my knowledge,
18 for it is pleasing when you keep them within you and they are constantly on your lips.
for it will be pleasant for you if you keep them within you, if all of them are ready on your lips.
19 So that your trust may be in the LORD, I instruct you today—yes, you.
So your trust may be in Yahweh, I teach them to you today—even to you.
20 Have I not written for you thirty sayings about counsel and knowledge,
Have I not written for you thirty sayings of instruction and knowledge,
21 to show you true and reliable words, that you may soundly answer those who sent you?
to teach you truth in these trustworthy words, so you may give trustworthy answers to those who sent you?
22 Do not rob a poor man because he is poor, and do not crush the afflicted at the gate,
Do not rob the poor because he is poor, or crush the needy at the gate,
23 for the LORD will take up their case and will plunder those who rob them.
for Yahweh will plead their case, and he will rob of life those who robbed them.
24 Do not make friends with an angry man, and do not associate with a hot-tempered man,
Do not make a friend of someone who is ruled by anger and you must not go with one who rages,
25 or you may learn his ways and entangle yourself in a snare.
or you will learn his ways and you will take bait for your soul.
26 Do not be one who gives pledges, who puts up security for debts.
Do not be one who strikes hands in making a pledge, or who puts up security for debts.
27 If you have nothing with which to pay, why should your bed be taken from under you?
If you lack the means to pay, what could stop someone from taking away your bed from under you?
28 Do not move an ancient boundary stone which your fathers have placed.
Do not remove the ancient boundary stone that your fathers have set.
29 Do you see a man skilled in his work? He will be stationed in the presence of kings; he will not stand before obscure men.
Do you see a man skilled at his work? He will stand before kings; he will not stand before common people.
