Proverbs 22
1 A good name is more to be desired than great wealth, and to be respected is better than silver and gold.
A good name is more desirable than great riches; favor is better than silver and gold.
2 The man of wealth and the poor man come face to face: the Lord is the maker of them all.
The rich and the poor have this in common: The LORD is Maker of them all.
3 The sharp man sees the evil and takes cover: the simple go straight on and get into trouble.
The prudent see danger and take cover, but the simple keep going and suffer the consequences.
4 The reward of a gentle spirit and the fear of the Lord is wealth and honour and life.
The rewards of humility and the fear of the LORD are wealth and honor and life.
5 Thorns and nets are in the way of the twisted: he who keeps watch over his soul will be far from them.
Thorns and snares lie on the path of the perverse; he who guards his soul stays far from them.
6 If a child is trained up in the right way, even when he is old he will not be turned away from it.
Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it.
7 The man of wealth has rule over the poor, and he who gets into debt is a servant to his creditor.
The rich rule over the poor, and the borrower is slave to the lender.
8 By planting the seed of evil a man will get in the grain of sorrow, and the rod of his wrath will be broken.
He who sows injustice will reap disaster, and the rod of his fury will be destroyed.
9 He who is kind will have a blessing, for he gives of his bread to the poor.
A generous man will be blessed, for he shares his bread with the poor.
10 Send away the man of pride, and argument will go out; truly fighting and shame will come to an end.
Drive out the mocker, and conflict will depart; even quarreling and insults will cease.
11 He whose heart is clean is dear to the Lord; for the grace of his lips the king will be his friend.
He who loves a pure heart and gracious lips will have the king for a friend.
12 The eyes of the Lord keep knowledge, but by him the acts of the false man will be overturned.
The LORD’s eyes keep watch over knowledge, but He frustrates the words of the faithless.
13 The hater of work says, There is a lion outside: I will be put to death in the streets.
The slacker says, “There is a lion outside! I will be slain in the streets!”
14 The mouth of strange women is a deep hole: he with whom the Lord is angry will go down into it.
The mouth of an adulteress is a deep pit; he who is under the wrath of the LORD will fall into it.
15 Foolish ways are deep-seated in the heart of a child, but the rod of punishment will send them far from him.
Foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child, but the rod of discipline drives it far from him.
16 He who is cruel to the poor for the purpose of increasing his profit, and he who gives to the man of wealth, will only come to be in need.
Oppressing the poor to enrich oneself or giving gifts to the rich will surely lead to poverty.
17 Let your ear be bent down for hearing my words, and let your heart give thought to knowledge.
Incline your ear and hear the words of the wise— apply your mind to my knowledge—
18 For it is a delight to keep them in your heart, to have them ready on your lips.
for it is pleasing when you keep them within you and they are constantly on your lips.
19 So that your faith may be in the Lord, I have made them clear to you this day, even to you.
So that your trust may be in the LORD, I instruct you today—yes, you.
20 Have I not put in writing for you thirty sayings, with wise suggestions and knowledge,
Have I not written for you thirty sayings about counsel and knowledge,
21 To make you see how certain are true words, so that you may give a true answer to those who put questions to you?
to show you true and reliable words, that you may soundly answer those who sent you?
22 Do not take away the property of the poor man because he is poor, or be cruel to the crushed ones when they come before the judge:
Do not rob a poor man because he is poor, and do not crush the afflicted at the gate,
23 For the Lord will give support to their cause, and take the life of those who take their goods.
for the LORD will take up their case and will plunder those who rob them.
24 Do not be friends with a man who is given to wrath; do not go in the company of an angry man:
Do not make friends with an angry man, and do not associate with a hot-tempered man,
25 For fear of learning his ways and making a net ready for your soul.
or you may learn his ways and entangle yourself in a snare.
26 Be not one of those who give their hands in an agreement, or of those who make themselves responsible for debts:
Do not be one who gives pledges, who puts up security for debts.
27 If you have nothing with which to make payment, he will take away your bed from under you.
If you have nothing with which to pay, why should your bed be taken from under you?
28 Let not the old landmark be moved which your fathers have put in place.
Do not move an ancient boundary stone which your fathers have placed.
29 Have you seen a man who is expert in his business? he will take his place before kings; his place will not be among low persons.
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.
