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, and loving favour 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 poor meet together: the LORD 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 foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself: but the simple pass on, and are punished.
4 The fruit of humility is the fear of the Lord, riches and glory and life.
By humility and the fear of the LORD are riches, and honour, 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 the perverse: he that doth keep 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 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 ruleth 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 that soweth iniquity shall reap vanity: and the rod of his anger 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 that hath a bountiful eye shall be blessed; for he giveth 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 scorner, and contention shall end; yea, strife and reproach shall cease.
11 He that loveth cleanness of heart, for the grace of his lips shall have the king for his friend.
He that loveth pureness of heart, for the grace of his lips the king shall be his friend.
12 The eyes of the Lord preserve knowledge: and the words of the unjust are overthrown.
The eyes of the LORD preserve knowledge, and he overthroweth the words of the transgressor.
13 The slothful man saith: There is a lion without, I shall be slain in the midst of the streets.
The slothful man saith, 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 an adulteress is a deep pit: he that is abhorred by the LORD 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 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 that oppresseth the poor to increase his riches, and he that giveth to the rich, shall surely come to want.
17 Incline thy ear, and hear the words of the wise: and apply thy heart to my doctrine:
Bow down thy 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 keepest them within thee; they shall all be ready on 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 the LORD, I have made 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 not I written to thee excellent things in 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.
That I might make thee know the certainty of the words of truth; that thou mightest answer the words of truth to them that send to thee?
22 Do no violence to the poor, because he is poor: and do not oppress the needy in the gate:
Rob not the poor, because he is poor: neither oppress the afflicted in the gate:
23 Because the Lord will judge his cause, and will afflict them that have afflicted his soul.
For the LORD will plead their cause, and spoil the soul of those that spoiled them.
24 Be not a friend to an angry man, and do not walk with a furious man:
Make no friendship with an angry man; and with a furious man thou shalt not go:
25 Lest perhaps thou learn his ways, and take scandal to thy soul.
Lest thou learn his 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 not thou one of them that strike hands, or of them that 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 hast nothing 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.
Seest thou a man diligent in his business? he shall stand before kings; he shall not stand before obscure men.
