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 better than great riches: and good favour is above 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 poor have met one another: the Lord is the maker of them both.
3 The sharp man sees the evil and takes cover: the simple go straight on and get into trouble.
The prudent man saw the evil, and hid himself: the simple passed on, and suffered loss.
4 The reward of a gentle spirit and the fear of the Lord is wealth and honour and life.
The fruit of humility is the fear of the Lord, riches and glory 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.
Arms and swords are in the way of the perverse: but he that keepeth his own soul departeth 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.
It is a proverb: A young man according to his way, even 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 ruleth over the poor: and the borrower is servant to him that lendeth.
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 that soweth iniquity shall reap evils, and with the rod of his anger he shall be consumed.
9 He who is kind will have a blessing, for he gives of his bread to the poor.
He that is inclined to mercy shall be blessed: for of his bread he hath given to the poor. He that maketh presents shall purchase victory and honour: but he carrieth away the souls of the receivers.
10 Send away the man of pride, and argument will go out; truly fighting and shame will come to an end.
Cast out the scoffer, and contention shall go out with him, and quarrels and reproaches shall 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 that loveth cleanness of heart, for the grace of his lips shall have the king for his friend.
12 The eyes of the Lord keep knowledge, but by him the acts of the false man will be overturned.
The eyes of the Lord preserve knowledge: and the words of the unjust are overthrown.
13 The hater of work says, There is a lion outside: I will be put to death in the streets.
The slothful man saith: There is a lion without, I shall be slain in the midst of 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 a strange woman is a deep pit: he whom the Lord is angry with, shall 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.
Folly is bound up in the heart of a child, and the rod of correction shall drive it away.
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.
He that oppresseth the poor, to increase his own riches, shall himself give to one that is richer, and shall be in need.
17 Let your ear be bent down for hearing my words, and let your heart give thought to knowledge.
Incline thy ear, and hear the words of the wise: and apply thy heart to my doctrine:
18 For it is a delight to keep them in your heart, to have them ready on your lips.
Which shall be beautiful for thee, if thou keep it in thy bowels, and it shall flow in thy lips:
19 So that your faith may be in the Lord, I have made them clear to you this day, even to you.
That thy trust may be in the Lord, wherefore I have also shewn it to thee this day.
20 Have I not put in writing for you thirty sayings, with wise suggestions and knowledge,
Behold I have described it to thee three manner of ways, in thoughts 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?
That I might shew thee the certainty, and the words of truth, to answer out of these to them that sent thee.
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 no violence to the poor, because he is poor: and do not oppress the needy in the gate:
23 For the Lord will give support to their cause, and take the life of those who take their goods.
Because the Lord will judge his cause, and will afflict them that have afflicted his soul.
24 Do not be friends with a man who is given to wrath; do not go in the company of an angry man:
Be not a friend to an angry man, and do not walk with a furious man:
25 For fear of learning his ways and making a net ready for your soul.
Lest perhaps thou learn his ways, and take scandal to thy soul.
26 Be not one of those who give their hands in an agreement, or of those who make themselves responsible for debts:
Be not with them that fasten down their hands, and that offer themselves sureties for debts:
27 If you have nothing with which to make payment, he will take away your bed from under you.
For if thou have not wherewith to restore, what cause is there, that he should take the covering from thy bed?
28 Let not the old landmark be moved which your fathers have put in place.
Pass not beyond the ancient bounds which thy fathers have set.
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.
Hast thou seen a man swift in his work? he shall stand before kings, and shall not be before those that are obscure.
