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, and loving 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 the maker of them all.
3 The sharp man sees the evil and takes cover: the simple go straight on and get into trouble.
The shrewd see danger and take cover, but the naive keep on going and suffer for it.
4 The reward of a gentle spirit and the fear of the Lord is wealth and honour and life.
The result of humility and the fear of the LORD is wealth, 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 are in the path of the wicked: whoever guards his soul stays 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 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. The borrower is servant 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 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 is kind will have a blessing, 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 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 strife will go out; yes, quarrels and insults will stop.
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 purity of heart and speaks gracefully is the king's 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 watch over knowledge; but he frustrates the words of the unfaithful.
13 The hater of work says, There is a lion outside: I will be put to death in the streets.
The sluggard says, "There is a lion outside. I will be killed 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 LORD's wrath 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.
Folly is bound up in the heart of a child: 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.
Whoever oppresses the poor for his own increase and whoever gives to the rich, both come to poverty.
17 Let your ear be bent down for hearing my words, and let your heart give thought to 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 delight to keep them in your heart, to have them ready on your lips.
For it is a pleasant thing if you keep them within you, if all of them are ready 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.
That your trust may be in the LORD, I teach you today, even you.
20 Have I not put in writing for you thirty sayings, with wise suggestions and knowledge,
Haven't I written to you thirty excellent things of 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 teach you truth, reliable words, to give sound answers to the ones 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 exploit the poor, because he is poor; and do not crush the needy in court;
23 For the Lord will give support to their cause, and take the life of those who take their goods.
for the LORD will plead their case, and plunder the life of those who plunder 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 befriend a hot-tempered man, and do not associate with one who harbors anger:
25 For fear of learning his ways and making a net ready for your soul.
lest you learn his ways, and ensnare your soul.
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 of those who strike hands, of those who are collateral for debts.
27 If you have nothing with which to make payment, he will take away your bed from under you.
If you do not have means to pay, why should he take away your bed from under you?
28 Let not the old landmark be moved which your fathers have put in place.
Do not move the ancient boundary stone, which your fathers have set up.
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 serve kings. He won't serve obscure men.
