Proverbs 22
1 A fair name is better than much wealth, and good favour is above silver and gold.
(Having a good reputation/Being honored by people) is better than having a lot of money; being well respected is better than having plenty of gold or silver [DOU].
2 The rich and the poor meet together; but the Lord made them both.
There is one thing that is true about both rich people and poor people: Yahweh is the one who created all of them.
3 An intelligent man seeing a bad man severely punished is himself instructed, but fools pass by and are punished.
Those who have good sense realize [that there is something] dangerous ahead, and they avoid it; those who do not have good sense just keep going and later they will suffer because of doing that.
4 The fear of the Lord is the offspring of wisdom, and wealth, and glory, and life.
The reward that Yahweh gives to those who are humble and who revere him is that he causes them to be rich and honored and to live for a long time.
5 Thistles and snares are in perverse ways; but he that keeps his soul will refrain from them.
Because of the things that wicked people do, [they have difficulties/troubles] that will be like thorns and traps on the roads that they walk on [MET]; people who are careful/cautious will be able to stay away from those difficulties.
If you train/teach children to do what is right, all during their life they will act/behave in that manner.
7 The rich will rule over the poor, and servants will lend to their own masters.
Rich people rule over poor people harshly, and those who borrow money become like slaves [MET] of the people who lend [money to them].
8 He that sows wickedness shall reap troubles; and shall fully receive the punishment of his deeds. God loves a cheerful and liberal man; but [a man] shall fully prove the folly of his works.
[If you plant corn or rice, corn or rice will grow]; [similarly], if you act unjustly, you will have disasters [MET]; and if you try to harm/oppress people [because you are angry with them], you will not be able to harm them.
9 He that has pity on the poor shall himself be maintained; for he has given of his own bread to the poor. He that gives liberally secures victory an honour; but he takes away the life of them that posses [them].
[God] will bless those who are generous [IDM], those who give some of their food to poor [people].
10 Cast out a pestilent person from the council, and strife shall go out with him; for when he sits in the council he dishonours all.
If you get rid of those who make fun of [everything that is good], there will no more arguing or quarreling or insulting [other people].
11 The Lord loves holy hearts, and all blameless persons are acceptable with him: a king rules with his lips.
If you always act sincerely [IDM] and always speak kindly, the king will be your friend.
12 But the eyes of the Lord preserve discretion; but the transgressor despises [wise] words.
Yahweh [SYN] (watches over/takes care of) [those who have] good understanding/sense, but he ruins the plans/affairs of those who always try to deceive others.
13 The sluggard makes excuses, and says, [There is] a lion in the ways, and murderers in the streets.
Lazy people [remain in their houses]; they say, “A lion might attack me if I go out into the street [to go to work]!”
14 The mouth of a transgressor is a deep pit; and he that is hated of the Lord shall fall into it. Evil ways are before a man, and he does not like to turn away from them; but it is needful to turn aside from a perverse and bad way.
What (wives who commit adultery/immoral women) say [to men] [MTY] is [like] a deep pit [MET] [into which those men fall]; those with whom Yahweh is angry will fall into that pit.
15 Folly is attached to the heart of a child, but the rod and instruction are [then] far from him.
Children [SYN] naturally do things that are foolish, but if you punish/spank them [PRS], they [will] (stop doing foolish things/learn to behave as they should).
16 He that oppresses the poor, increases his own substance, yet gives to the rich so as to make it less.
Those who oppress poor [people] in order to become rich, and those who give [a bribe] to rich [people in order that the rich people will do a favor for them], will just lose their money.
17 Incline thine ear to the words of wise men: hear also my word, and apply thine heart,
[Now] listen [MTY] to what wise [people] have said; think carefully about what I am teaching you.
18 that thou mayest know that they are good: and if thou lay them to heart, they shall also gladden thee on thy lips.
It will be good to (keep these things in your minds/always remember them), because if you do that, you will be able to quote/recite them [to others].
19 That thy hope may be in the Lord, and he may make thy way known to thee.
[I want you to] trust in Yahweh, and that is the reason that I am telling them to you, now.
20 And do thou too repeatedly record them for thyself on the table of thine heart, for counsel and knowledge.
I have written [RHQ] 30 (sayings/things that wise people have said) from which you will receive good advice and you will be able you to know [many good/useful things].
21 I therefore teach thee truth, and knowledge good to hear; that thou mayest answer words of truth to them that question thee.
From them, you will learn what is right and what is true, in order that you will be able to bring back a good report to those who sent you [to school] (OR, give a good answer [to those who ask you questions]).
22 Do no violence to the poor, for he is needy: neither dishonour the helpless [man] in the gates.
[It is easy to] rob poor [people] who are helpless [and cannot defend themselves, but] never [do that]; and do not oppress in court those who are needy/afflicted,
23 For the Lord will plead his cause, and thou shalt deliver thy soul in safety.
because Yahweh will speak to defend them, and he will punish those who steal things from others—by causing them to die.
24 Be not companion to a furious man; neither lodge with a passionate man:
Do not become friends with those who often become angry, and do not associate with those who cannot control their temper/anger,
25 lest thou learn of his ways, and get snares to thy soul.
because you might start to act like they do and not be able to stop doing that.
26 Become not surety from respect of a man's person.
If someone borrows money, do not be one of those who promises to pay what that person owes he cannot pay it back,
27 For if those have not whence to give compensation, they will take the bed [that is] under thee.
because if you cannot pay it back, people will surely [RHQ] [come and] take away [everything you own], even your bed.
28 Remove not the old landmarks, which thy fathers placed.
Do not [steal some of your neighbors’ land by] removing the boundary lines/markers that your ancestors placed/set.
29 It is fit that an observant man and [one] diligent in his business should attend on kings, and not attend on slothful men.
Know/Learn [RHQ] this about those who do their work very skillfully: They will quit working for ordinary people and will start working for kings [because the kings will want people like that to work for them].
