Proverbs 22
1 A fair name is better than much wealth, and good favour is above silver and gold.
A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches, and loving favour rather than silver and gold.
2 The rich and the poor meet together; but the Lord made them both.
The rich and the poor meet together — the LORD is the maker of them all.
3 An intelligent man seeing a bad man severely punished is himself instructed, but fools pass by and are punished.
A prudent man seeth the evil, and hideth himself; but the thoughtless pass on, and are punished.
4 The fear of the Lord is the offspring of wisdom, and wealth, and glory, and life.
The reward of humility is the fear of the LORD, even riches, and honour, and life.
5 Thistles and snares are in perverse ways; but he that keeps his soul will refrain from them.
Thorns and snares are in the way of the froward; he that keepeth his soul holdeth himself far from them.
Train up a child in the way he should go, and even when he is old, he will not depart from it.
7 The rich will rule over the poor, and servants will lend to their own masters.
The rich ruleth over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender.
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 that soweth iniquity shall reap vanity; and the rod of his wrath shall fail.
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].
He that hath a bountiful eye shall be blessed; for he giveth of his bread to 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.
Cast out the scorner, and contention will go out; yea, strife and shame will cease.
11 The Lord loves holy hearts, and all blameless persons are acceptable with him: a king rules with his lips.
He that loveth pureness of heart, that hath grace in his lips, the king shall be his friend.
12 But the eyes of the Lord preserve discretion; but the transgressor despises [wise] words.
The eyes of the LORD preserve him that hath knowledge, but He overthroweth the words of the faithless man.
13 The sluggard makes excuses, and says, [There is] a lion in the ways, and murderers in the streets.
The sluggard saith: 'There is a lion without; I shall be slain in the streets.'
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 strange women is a deep pit: he that is abhorred of the LORD shall fall therein.
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 correction shall drive it far from him.
16 He that oppresses the poor, increases his own substance, yet gives to the rich so as to make it less.
One may oppress the poor, yet will their gain increase; one may give to the rich, yet will want come.
17 Incline your ear to the words of wise men: hear also my word, and apply your heart,
Incline thine ear, and hear the words of the wise, and apply thy heart unto my knowledge.
18 that you may know that they are good: and if you lay them to heart, they shall also gladden you on your lips.
For it is a pleasant thing if thou keep them within thee; let them be established altogether upon thy lips.
19 That your hope may be in the Lord, and he may make your way known to you.
That thy trust may be in the LORD, I have made them known to thee this day, even to thee.
20 And do you too repeatedly record them for yourself on the table of your heart, for counsel and knowledge.
Have not I written unto thee excellent things of counsels and knowledge;
21 I therefore teach you truth, and knowledge good to hear; that you may answer words of truth to them that question you.
That I might make thee know the certainty of the words of truth, that thou mightest bring back words of truth to them that send thee?
22 Do no violence to the poor, for he is needy: neither dishonour the helpless [man] in the gates.
Rob not the weak, because he is weak, neither crush the poor in the gate;
23 For the Lord will plead his cause, and you shall deliver your soul in safety.
For the LORD will plead their cause, and despoil of life those that despoil them.
24 Be not companion to a furious man; neither lodge with a passionate man:
Make no friendship with a man that is given to anger; and with a wrathful man thou shalt not go;
25 lest you learn of his ways, and get snares to your soul.
Lest thou learn his ways, and get a snare to thy soul.
26 Become not surety from respect of a man's person.
Be thou not of them that strike hands, or of them that are sureties for debts;
27 For if those have not whence to give compensation, they will take the bed [that is] under you.
If thou hast not wherewith to pay, why should he take away thy bed from under thee?
28 Remove not the old landmarks, which your fathers placed.
Remove not the ancient landmark, which thy 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.
Seest thou a man diligent in his business? he shall stand before kings; he shall not stand before mean men.
