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 rather to be chosen than great riches; And better is good-will 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 meet together; 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 prudent man seeth the evil, and hideth himself; But the simple rush on, and are punished.
4 The reward of a gentle spirit and the fear of the Lord is wealth and honour and life.
By humility and the fear of the LORD Are riches 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 are in the way of the deceitful; He that will preserve his life will be 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 accordance with his way, 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 ruleth over the poor, And 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 soweth iniquity shall reap calamity, And the rod of his punishment is prepared.
9 He who is kind will have a blessing, for he gives of his bread to the poor.
He who hath a bountiful eye shall be blessed, Because he giveth of his bread to the poor.
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 will go out; Yea, strife and reproach 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 loveth purity of heart, Grace is upon his lips, and the king will be 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 watch over knowledge; But he overthroweth the words of the treacherous.
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 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 strange women is a deep pit; He with whom the LORD is angry shall fall therein.
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 to the heart of a child; But the rod of correction will drive 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.
He that oppresseth the poor to increase his wealth, And he that giveth to the rich, shall surely come to want.
17 Let your ear be bent down for hearing my words, and let your heart give thought to knowledge.
Incline thine ear, and hear the words of the wise, And give heed to my instruction!
18 For it is a delight to keep them in your heart, to have them ready on your lips.
For it will be a pleasant thing, if thou keep them in thy bosom, When they are altogether established upon 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, I have this day given to thee instruction, yea, to thee.
20 Have I not put in writing for you thirty sayings, with wise suggestions and knowledge,
Behold, I have written to thee excellent things Concerning 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?
That I may make thee know rectitude, and words of truth; That thou mayst bring back words of truth to them that send 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:
Rob not the poor man, because he is poor, Nor crush thou the destitute 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 maintain their cause, And despoil their spoilers of life.
24 Do not be friends with a man who is given to wrath; do not go in the company of an angry man:
Make no friendship with a passionate man, Nor be the companion of a man prone to wrath;
25 For fear of learning his ways and making a net ready for your soul.
Lest thou learn his ways, And take to thyself a snare.
26 Be not one of those who give their hands in an agreement, or of those who make themselves responsible for debts:
Be not thou one of those who strike hands, Of those who are sureties for debts.
27 If you have nothing with which to make payment, he will take away your bed from under you.
When thou hast nothing to pay, Why should thy bed be taken from under thee?
28 Let not the old landmark be moved which your fathers have put in place.
Remove not the ancient landmark, Which thy fathers have made.
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.
Seest thou a man diligent in his business? He shall be the minister of kings; He shall not serve obscure men.
