Proverbs 22
1 A good name is better than many riches. And good esteem is above silver and gold.
A good name is more to be desired than great wealth, and to be respected is better than silver and gold.
2 The rich and poor have met one another. The Lord is the maker of them both.
The man of wealth and the poor man come face to face: the Lord is the maker of them all.
3 The clever saw evil and hid himself. The innocent continued on and was afflicted with damage.
The sharp man sees the evil and takes cover: the simple go straight on and get into trouble.
4 The end of moderation is the fear of the Lord, riches and glory and life.
The reward of a gentle spirit and the fear of the Lord is wealth and honour 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 nets are in the way of the twisted: he who keeps watch over his soul will be 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.
If a child is trained up in the right way, even when he is old he will not be turned away from it.
7 The rich rule over the poor. And the borrower is servant to the lender.
The man of wealth has rule over the poor, and he who gets into debt is a servant to his creditor.
8 Whoever sows iniquity will reap evils, and by the rod of his own wrath he will be consumed.
By planting the seed of evil a man will get in the grain of sorrow, and the rod of his wrath will be broken.
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.
He who is kind will have a blessing, for he gives of his bread to the poor.
10 Cast out the one who ridicules, and conflict will go out with him, and accusations and insults will cease.
Send away the man of pride, and argument will go out; truly fighting and shame will come to an end.
11 Whoever loves cleanness of heart, because of the grace of his lips, will have the king as his friend.
He whose heart is clean is dear to the Lord; for the grace of his lips the king will be his friend.
12 The eyes of the Lord watch over knowledge. And the words of the iniquitous are supplanted.
The eyes of the Lord keep knowledge, but by him the acts of the false man will be overturned.
13 The lazy one says: “There is a lion outside. I might be slain in the midst of the streets.”
The hater of work says, There is a lion outside: I will be put to death 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 strange women is a deep hole: he with whom the Lord is angry will go down into it.
15 Foolishness has been bound to the heart of a child, and a rod of discipline shall cause it to flee.
Foolish ways are deep-seated in the heart of a child, but the rod of punishment will send them 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.
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.
17 Incline your ear, and listen to the words of the wise. Then apply your heart to my doctrine.
Let your ear be bent down for hearing my words, and let your heart give thought to 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 a delight to keep them in your heart, to have them ready 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 faith may be in the Lord, I have made them clear to you this day, even to you.
20 Behold, I have written it for you in three ways, and with meditations and knowledge,
Have I not put in writing for you thirty sayings, with wise suggestions 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 make you see how certain are true words, so that you may give a true answer to those who put questions to 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 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:
23 For the Lord will judge his case, and he will pierce those who have pierced his soul.
For the Lord will give support to their cause, and take the life of those who take their goods.
24 Do not be willing to be a friend to an angry man, and do not walk with a furious man,
Do not be friends with a man who is given to wrath; do not go in the company of an angry man:
25 lest perhaps you learn his ways, and take up a stumbling block to your soul.
For fear of learning his ways and making a net ready for your soul.
26 Do not be willing to be with those who certify with their hands, and who offer themselves as a guarantee against debts.
Be not one of those who give their hands in an agreement, or of those who make themselves responsible 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 make payment, he will take away your bed from under you.
28 Do not cross beyond the ancient limits that your fathers have set.
Let not the old landmark be moved which your fathers have put in place.
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.
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.
