Proverbs 22
1 A good reputation is a much better choice than plenty of money; respect is better than 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 the poor have this in common: the Lord created them all.
The rich and the poor meet together: the LORD is the maker of them all.
3 If you're sensible you see danger coming and get out of the way; but stupid people just keep going and pay for it.
A prudent man seeth the evil, and hideth himself: but the simple pass on, and suffer for it.
4 The reward you receive for being humble and respecting the Lord is wealth, honor, and life.
The reward of humility [and] the fear of the LORD [is] riches, and honour, and life.
5 Thorns and traps lie in the path of crooked people; those who value their lives will stay away from them.
Thorns [and] snares are in the way of the froward: he that keepeth his soul shall be far from them.
6 Teach children the right way to live, and when they grow up they'll go on doing so.
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 rule the poor, and borrowers are slaves to their lenders.
The rich ruleth over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender.
8 Those who sow injustice will reap disaster, and the angry beatings they inflict on others will be stopped.
He that soweth iniquity shall reap calamity: and the rod of his wrath shall fail.
9 If you're generous, you'll be blessed, for you share your food with those in need.
He that hath a bountiful eye shall be blessed; for he giveth of his bread to the poor.
10 Get rid of the scornful, and you'll get rid of conflict too—no more arguments or insults!
Cast out the scorner, and contention shall go out; yea, strife and ignominy shall cease.
11 Anyone who loves sincerity and a gracious way of speaking will have the king as their friend.
He that loveth pureness of heart, [for] the grace of his lips the king shall be his friend.
12 The Lord watches over true knowledge, but counteracts the words of liars.
The eyes of the LORD preserve [him that hath] knowledge, but he overthroweth the words of the treacherous man.
13 Lazy people make claims like, “There's a lion outside! I might be killed if I go out there!”
The sluggard saith, There is a lion without: I shall be murdered in the streets.
14 The seductive words of an immoral woman are a dangerous trap—if the Lord's angry with you, then you'll fall right in.
The mouth of strange women is a deep pit: he that is abhorred of the LORD shall fall therein.
15 Children are naturally foolish; physical correction helps them to see sense.
Foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child; [but] the rod of correction shall drive it far from him.
16 If you oppress the poor to make yourself rich, or if you're generous to the rich, you'll end up poor yourself.
He that oppresseth the poor to increase his [gain, and] he that giveth to the rich, [cometh] only to want.
17 Pay attention and listen to the words of the wise, and think carefully about my teachings—
Incline thine ear, and hear the words of the wise, and apply thine heart unto my knowledge.
18 for it's good to keep them in mind so you can be ready to share them.
For it is a pleasant thing if thou keep them within thee, if they be established together upon thy lips.
19 I'm explaining this to you today so you can trust in the Lord—yes, you!
That thy trust may be in the LORD, I have made [them] known to thee this day, even to thee.
20 Haven't I written down for you thirty sayings of advice and wisdom?
Have not I written unto thee excellent things of counsels and knowledge;
21 They are to make it clear to you what's right and true, so you can give a truthful explanation to those who sent you.
To make thee know the certainty of the words of truth, that thou mayest carry back words of truth to them that send thee?
22 For you shouldn't steal from the poor just because they're poor; and you shouldn't crush those with limited means in court,
Rob not the poor, because he is poor, neither oppress the afflicted in the gate:
23 for the Lord will plead their case, and he will take back whatever was stolen from them.
For the LORD will plead their cause, and despoil of life those that despoil them.
24 Don't make friends with someone who gets upset easily; don't associate with angry people,
Make no friendship with a man that is given to anger; and with a wrathful man thou shalt not go:
25 in case you learn to be like them and make a mess of your life.
Lest thou learn his ways, and get a snare to thy soul.
26 Don't shake hands and guarantee someone's debt,
Be thou not one of them that strike hands, [or] of them that are sureties for debts:
27 for if you can't pay, why should your bed be taken away from beneath you?
If thou hast not wherewith to pay, why should he take away thy bed from under thee?
28 Don't move ancient boundary markers that your forefathers put in place.
Remove not the ancient landmark, which thy fathers have set.
29 If you see someone skilled in what they do, they'll work for kings and not for ordinary people.
Seest thou a man diligent in his business? he shall stand before kings; he shall not stand before mean men.
