Proverbs 22
1 A good name is better than many riches. And good esteem is above silver and gold.
A name is chosen rather than much wealth, Than silver and than gold—good grace.
2 The rich and poor have met one another. The Lord is the maker of them both.
Rich and poor have met together, YHWH [is] the Maker of them all.
3 The clever saw evil and hid himself. The innocent continued on and was afflicted with damage.
The prudent has seen the evil, and is hidden, And the simple have passed on, and are punished.
4 The end of moderation is the fear of the Lord, riches and glory and life.
The end of humility [is] the fear of YHWH, riches, 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 [are] in the way of the perverse, Whoever is keeping his soul is 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.
Give instruction to a youth about his way, Even when he is old he does not turn from it.
7 The rich rule over the poor. And the borrower is servant to the lender.
The rich rules over the poor, And a servant [is] the borrower to the lender.
8 Whoever sows iniquity will reap evils, and by the rod of his own wrath he will be consumed.
Whoever is sowing perverseness reaps sorrow, And the rod of his anger wears out.
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.
The good of eye—he is blessed, For he has given 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.
Cast out a scorner—and contention goes out, And strife and shame cease.
11 Whoever loves cleanness of heart, because of the grace of his lips, will have the king as his friend.
Whoever is loving cleanness of heart, His lips [are] grace, A king [is] his friend.
12 The eyes of the Lord watch over knowledge. And the words of the iniquitous are supplanted.
The eyes of YHWH have kept knowledge, And He overthrows the words of the treacherous.
13 The lazy one says: “There is a lion outside. I might be slain in the midst of the streets.”
The slothful has said, “A lion [is] outside, I am slain in the midst of the broad places.”
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 pit, The abhorred of YHWH falls there.
15 Foolishness has been bound to the heart of a child, and a rod of discipline shall cause it to flee.
Folly is bound up in the heart of a youth, The rod of discipline puts 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.
He [who] is oppressing the poor to multiply his [riches], Is giving to the rich—only to want.
17 Incline your ear, and listen to the words of the wise. Then apply your heart to my doctrine.
Incline your ear, and hear words of the wise, And set your heart 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 they are pleasant when you keep them in your heart, They are prepared together for your lips.
19 so that your confidence may be in the Lord. Therefore, I also have revealed it to you this day.
That your trust may be in YHWH, I caused you to know today, even you.
20 Behold, I have written it for you in three ways, and with meditations and knowledge,
Have I not written to you three times With counsels 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 cause you to know the certainty of sayings of truth, To return sayings of truth to those sending 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 the poor because he [is] poor, And do not bruise the afflicted in the gate.
23 For the Lord will judge his case, and he will pierce those who have pierced his soul.
For YHWH pleads their cause, And has spoiled the soul of their spoilers.
24 Do not be willing to be a friend to an angry man, and do not walk with a furious man,
Do not show yourself friendly with an angry man, And do not go in with a man of fury,
25 lest perhaps you learn his ways, and take up a stumbling block to your soul.
Lest you learn his paths, And have received a snare to 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.
Do not be among those striking hands, Among sureties [for] burdens.
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 to pay, Why does he take your bed from under you?
28 Do not cross beyond the ancient limits that your fathers have set.
Do not remove a border of ancient times, That your fathers have made.
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 speedy in his business? He stations himself before kings, He does not station himself before obscure men!
