Proverbs 22
1 A fair name is better than much wealth, and good favour is above silver and gold.
A good name is to be chosen over great riches and favor is better than silver and gold.
2 The rich and the poor meet together; but the Lord made them both.
Rich and poor people have this in common— Yahweh is the maker of all of them.
3 An intelligent man seeing a bad man severely punished is himself instructed, but fools pass by and are punished.
A prudent man sees trouble and hides himself, but the naive go on and suffer because of it.
4 The fear of the Lord is the offspring of wisdom, and wealth, and glory, and life.
The reward for humility and fear of Yahweh is riches, honor, and life.
5 Thistles and snares are in perverse ways; but he that keeps his soul will refrain from them.
Thorns and snares lie in the path of the perverse; whoever guards his life will keep far from them.
Teach a child the way he should go and when he is old he will not turn away from that instruction.
7 The rich will rule over the poor, and servants will lend to their own masters.
Rich people rule over poor people and one who borrows is a slave to the one who lends.
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.
He who sows injustice will reap trouble and the rod of his fury will fade away.
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].
The one who has a generous eye will be blessed, for he shares his bread with the poor.
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.
Drive away the mocker, and out goes strife; disputes and insults will cease.
11 The Lord loves holy hearts, and all blameless persons are acceptable with him: a king rules with his lips.
The one who loves a pure heart and whose speech is gracious, he will have the king for his friend.
12 But the eyes of the Lord preserve discretion; but the transgressor despises [wise] words.
The eyes of Yahweh keep watch over knowledge, but he overthrows the words of the treacherous.
13 The sluggard makes excuses, and says, [There is] a lion in the ways, and murderers in the streets.
The lazy person says, “There is a lion in the street! I will be killed in the open places.”
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.
The mouth of an adulteress is a deep pit; Yahweh's anger is stirred up against anyone who falls into it.
15 Folly is attached to the heart of a child, but the rod and instruction are [then] far from him.
Foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child, but the rod of discipline drives it far away.
16 He that oppresses the poor, increases his own substance, yet gives to the rich so as to make it less.
The one who oppresses poor people to increase his wealth, or gives to rich people, will come to poverty.
17 Incline thine ear to the words of wise men: hear also my word, and apply thine heart,
Incline your ear and listen to the words of the wise and apply your heart to my knowledge,
18 that thou mayest know that they are good: and if thou lay them to heart, they shall also gladden thee on thy lips.
for it will be pleasant for you if you keep them within you, if all of them are ready on your lips.
19 That thy hope may be in the Lord, and he may make thy way known to thee.
So your trust may be in Yahweh, I teach them to you today—even to you.
20 And do thou too repeatedly record them for thyself on the table of thine heart, for counsel and knowledge.
Have I not written for you thirty sayings of instruction and knowledge,
21 I therefore teach thee truth, and knowledge good to hear; that thou mayest answer words of truth to them that question thee.
to teach you truth in these trustworthy words, so you may give trustworthy answers to those who sent you?
22 Do no violence to the poor, for he is needy: neither dishonour the helpless [man] in the gates.
Do not rob the poor because he is poor, or crush the needy at the gate,
23 For the Lord will plead his cause, and thou shalt deliver thy soul in safety.
for Yahweh will plead their case, and he will rob of life those who robbed them.
24 Be not companion to a furious man; neither lodge with a passionate man:
Do not make a friend of someone who is ruled by anger and you must not go with one who rages,
25 lest thou learn of his ways, and get snares to thy soul.
or you will learn his ways and you will take bait for your soul.
26 Become not surety from respect of a man's person.
Do not be one who strikes hands in making a pledge, or who puts up security for debts.
27 For if those have not whence to give compensation, they will take the bed [that is] under thee.
If you lack the means to pay, what could stop someone from taking away your bed from under you?
28 Remove not the old landmarks, which thy fathers placed.
Do not remove the ancient boundary stone that your fathers have 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.
Do you see a man skilled at his work? He will stand before kings; he will not stand before common people.
