Proverbs 22
1 A good name is better than many riches. And good esteem is above silver and gold.
A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches; And better is good-will 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 meet together; 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 prudent man seeth the evil, and hideth himself; But the simple rush on, and are punished.
4 The end of moderation is the fear of the Lord, riches and glory and life.
By humility and the fear of the LORD Are 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 deceitful; He that will preserve his life 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.
Train up a child in accordance with his way, 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 ruleth over the poor, And the borrower is servant to the lender.
8 Whoever sows iniquity will reap evils, and by the rod of his own wrath he will be consumed.
He who soweth iniquity shall reap calamity, And the rod of his punishment is prepared.
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 hath a bountiful eye shall be blessed, Because he giveth 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 the scoffer, and contention will go out; Yea, strife and reproach will cease.
11 Whoever loves cleanness of heart, because of the grace of his lips, will have the king as his friend.
He who loveth purity of heart, Grace is upon his lips, and 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 watch over knowledge; But he overthroweth 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 man saith, “There is a lion without; I shall 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 strange women is a deep pit; He with whom the LORD is angry shall fall therein.
15 Foolishness has been bound to the heart of a child, and a rod of discipline shall cause it to flee.
Folly is bound to the heart of a child; But the rod of correction will drive 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 that oppresseth the poor to increase his wealth, And he that giveth to the rich, shall surely come to want.
17 Incline your ear, and listen to the words of the wise. Then apply your heart to my doctrine.
Incline thine ear, and hear the words of the wise, And give heed to my instruction!
18 It shall be beautiful to you, if you preserve it in your inner self, and it shall overflow from your lips,
For it will be a pleasant thing, if thou keep them in thy bosom, When they are altogether established upon thy lips.
19 so that your confidence may be in the Lord. Therefore, I also have revealed it to you this day.
That thy trust may be in the LORD, I have this day given to thee instruction, yea, to thee.
20 Behold, I have written it for you in three ways, and with meditations and knowledge,
Behold, I have written to thee excellent things Concerning 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.
That I may make thee know rectitude, and words of truth; That thou mayst bring back words of truth to them that send thee.
22 Do not act with violence toward the pauper because he is poor. And do not weary the needy at the gate.
Rob not the poor man, because he is poor, Nor crush thou the destitute 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 maintain their cause, And despoil their spoilers of life.
24 Do not be willing to be a friend to an angry man, and do not walk with a furious man,
Make no friendship with a passionate man, Nor be the companion of a man prone to wrath;
25 lest perhaps you learn his ways, and take up a stumbling block to your soul.
Lest thou learn his ways, And take to thyself 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.
Be not thou one of those who strike hands, Of those who are sureties 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?
When thou hast nothing to pay, Why should thy bed be taken from under thee?
28 Do not cross beyond the ancient limits that your fathers have set.
Remove not the ancient landmark, Which thy 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.
Seest thou a man diligent in his business? He shall be the minister of kings; He shall not serve obscure men.
