Proverbs 22
1 A good name is better than great riches: and good favour is above silver and gold.
A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches, loving favor rather 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. Jehovah is the maker of them all.
3 The prudent man saw the evil, and hid himself: the simple passed on, and suffered loss.
A prudent man sees the evil, and hides himself, but the simple pass on, and suffer for it.
4 The fruit of humility is the fear of the Lord, riches and glory and life.
The reward of humility and the fear of Jehovah is riches and honor and life.
5 Arms and swords are in the way of the perverse: but he that keepeth his own soul departeth far from them.
Thorns and snares are in the way of a perverse man. He who keeps his soul shall be far from them.
6 It is a proverb: A young man according to his way, even when he is old he will not depart from it.
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 ruleth over the poor: and the borrower is servant to him that lendeth.
The rich rule over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender.
8 He that soweth iniquity shall reap evils, and with the rod of his anger he shall be consumed.
He who sows iniquity shall reap calamity, and the rod of his wrath shall fail.
9 He that is inclined to mercy shall be blessed: for of his bread he hath given to the poor. He that maketh presents shall purchase victory and honour: but he carrieth away the souls of the receivers.
He who has a bountiful eye shall be blessed, for he gives of his bread to the poor.
10 Cast out the scoffer, and contention shall go out with him, and quarrels and reproaches shall cease.
Cast out the scoffer, and contention will go out, yea, strife and reproach will cease.
11 He that loveth cleanness of heart, for the grace of his lips shall have the king for his friend.
He who loves pureness of heart, for the grace of his lips, the king will be his friend.
12 The eyes of the Lord preserve knowledge: and the words of the unjust are overthrown.
The eyes of Jehovah preserve knowledge, but he overthrows the words of the treacherous man.
13 The slothful man saith: There is a lion without, I shall be slain in the midst of the streets.
The sluggard says, There is a lion outside. I shall be slain in the streets.
14 The mouth of a strange woman is a deep pit: he whom the Lord is angry with, shall fall into it.
The mouth of interloping women is a deep pit. He who is abhorred of Jehovah shall fall in it.
15 Folly is bound up in the heart of a child, and the rod of correction shall drive it away.
Foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child, but the rod of correction shall drive it far from him.
16 He that oppresseth the poor, to increase his own riches, shall himself give to one that is richer, and shall be in need.
He who oppresses a poor man to his increase, and he who gives to a rich man, comes only to want.
17 Incline thy ear, and hear the words of the wise: and apply thy heart to my doctrine:
Incline thine ear, and hear the words of the wise, and apply thy heart to my knowledge.
18 Which shall be beautiful for thee, if thou keep it in thy bowels, and it shall flow in thy lips:
For it is a pleasant thing if thou keep them within thee, if they be established together upon thy lips.
19 That thy trust may be in the Lord, wherefore I have also shewn it to thee this day.
That thy trust may be in Jehovah, I have made them known to thee this day, even to thee.
20 Behold I have described it to thee three manner of ways, in thoughts and knowledge:
Have I not written to thee excellent things of counsels and knowledge,
21 That I might shew thee the certainty, and the words of truth, to answer out of these to them that sent thee.
to make thee know the certainty of the words of truth, that thou may carry back words of truth to those who send thee?
22 Do no violence to the poor, because he is poor: and do not oppress the needy in the gate:
Do not rob a poor man, because he is poor, nor oppress an afflicted man in the gate.
23 Because the Lord will judge his cause, and will afflict them that have afflicted his soul.
For Jehovah will plead their cause, and despoil of life those who despoil them.
24 Be not a friend to an angry man, and do not walk with a furious man:
Make no friendship with a man who is given to anger, and thou shall not go with a wrathful man,
25 Lest perhaps thou learn his ways, and take scandal to thy soul.
lest thou learn this ways, and get a snare to thy soul.
26 Be not with them that fasten down their hands, and that offer themselves sureties for debts:
Be thou not one of those who strike hands, or of those who are sureties for debts.
27 For if thou have not wherewith to restore, what cause is there, that he should take the covering from thy bed?
If thou have not wherewith to pay, why should he take away thy bed from under thee?
28 Pass not beyond the ancient bounds which thy fathers have set.
Remove not the ancient landmark, which thy fathers have set.
29 Hast thou seen a man swift in his work? he shall stand before kings, and shall not be before those that are obscure.
See thou a man diligent in his business? He shall stand before kings; he shall not stand before obscure men.
