Proverbs 22
1 A good name is better than many riches. And good esteem is above silver and gold.
A good name is more desirable than great riches; favor is better than silver and gold.
2 The rich and poor have met one another. The Lord is the maker of them both.
The rich and the poor have this in common: The LORD is Maker of them all.
3 The clever saw evil and hid himself. The innocent continued on and was afflicted with damage.
The prudent see danger and take cover, but the simple keep going and suffer the consequences.
4 The end of moderation is the fear of the Lord, riches and glory and life.
The rewards of humility and the fear of the LORD are wealth and honor and life.
5 Weapons and swords are on the way of the perverse. But he who guards his own soul withdraws far from them.
Thorns and snares lie on the path of the perverse; he who guards his soul stays far from them.
6 The proverb is: A youth is close to his way; even when he is old, he will not withdraw from it.
Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it.
7 The rich rule over the poor. And the borrower is servant to the lender.
The rich rule over the poor, and the borrower is slave to the lender.
8 Whoever sows iniquity will reap evils, and by the rod of his own wrath he will be consumed.
He who sows injustice will reap disaster, and the rod of his fury will be destroyed.
9 Whoever is inclined to mercy shall be blessed, for from his bread he has given to the poor. Whoever gives gifts will acquire victory and honor. But he carries away the soul of the receiver.
A generous man will be blessed, for he shares his bread with the poor.
10 Cast out the one who ridicules, and conflict will go out with him, and accusations and insults will cease.
Drive out the mocker, and conflict will depart; even quarreling and insults will cease.
11 Whoever loves cleanness of heart, because of the grace of his lips, will have the king as his friend.
He who loves a pure heart and gracious lips will have the king for a friend.
12 The eyes of the Lord watch over knowledge. And the words of the iniquitous are supplanted.
The LORD’s eyes keep watch over knowledge, but He frustrates the words of the faithless.
13 The lazy one says: “There is a lion outside. I might be slain in the midst of the streets.”
The slacker says, “There is a lion outside! I will be slain in the streets!”
14 The mouth of a foreign woman is a deep pit; the Lord was angry with him who will fall into it.
The mouth of an adulteress is a deep pit; he who is under the wrath of the LORD will fall into it.
15 Foolishness has been bound to the heart of a child, and a rod of discipline shall cause it to flee.
Foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child, but the rod of discipline drives it far from him.
16 Whoever slanders the poor, so as to augment his own riches, will give it away to one who is richer, and will be in need.
Oppressing the poor to enrich oneself or giving gifts to the rich will surely lead to poverty.
17 Incline your ear, and listen to the words of the wise. Then apply your heart to my doctrine.
Incline your ear and hear the words of the wise— apply your mind to my knowledge—
18 It shall be beautiful to you, if you preserve it in your inner self, and it shall overflow from your lips,
for it is pleasing when you keep them within you and they are constantly on your lips.
19 so that your confidence may be in the Lord. Therefore, I also have revealed it to you this day.
So that your trust may be in the LORD, I instruct you today—yes, you.
20 Behold, I have written it for you in three ways, and with meditations and knowledge,
Have I not written for you thirty sayings about counsel and knowledge,
21 so that I might reveal to you, firmly and with words of truth, in order to respond about these things to those who sent you.
to show you true and reliable words, that you may soundly answer those who sent you?
22 Do not act with violence toward the pauper because he is poor. And do not weary the needy at the gate.
Do not rob a poor man because he is poor, and do not crush the afflicted at the gate,
23 For the Lord will judge his case, and he will pierce those who have pierced his soul.
for the LORD will take up their case and will plunder those who rob them.
24 Do not be willing to be a friend to an angry man, and do not walk with a furious man,
Do not make friends with an angry man, and do not associate with a hot-tempered man,
25 lest perhaps you learn his ways, and take up a stumbling block to your soul.
or you may learn his ways and entangle yourself in a snare.
26 Do not be willing to be with those who certify with their hands, and who offer themselves as a guarantee against debts.
Do not be one who gives pledges, who puts up security for debts.
27 For if you do not have the means to restore, what reason should there be for him to take the covering from your bed?
If you have nothing with which to pay, why should your bed be taken from under you?
28 Do not cross beyond the ancient limits that your fathers have set.
Do not move an ancient boundary stone which your fathers have placed.
29 Have you seen a man swift in his work? He shall stand in the sight of kings, and not before those who are disreputable.
Do you see a man skilled in his work? He will be stationed in the presence of kings; he will not stand before obscure men.
