Proverbs 22
1 A good reputation is a much better choice than plenty of money; respect is better than silver and gold.
(Having a good reputation/Being honored by people) is better than having a lot of money; being well respected is better than having plenty of gold or silver [DOU].
2 The rich and the poor have this in common: the Lord created them all.
There is one thing that is true about both rich people and poor people: Yahweh is the one who created all of them.
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.
Those who have good sense realize [that there is something] dangerous ahead, and they avoid it; those who do not have good sense just keep going and later they will suffer because of doing that.
4 The reward you receive for being humble and respecting the Lord is wealth, honor, and life.
The reward that Yahweh gives to those who are humble and who revere him is that he causes them to be rich and honored and to live for a long time.
5 Thorns and traps lie in the path of crooked people; those who value their lives will stay away from them.
Because of the things that wicked people do, [they have difficulties/troubles] that will be like thorns and traps on the roads that they walk on [MET]; people who are careful/cautious will be able to stay away from those difficulties.
6 Teach children the right way to live, and when they grow up they'll go on doing so.
If you train/teach children to do what is right, all during their life they will act/behave in that manner.
7 The rich rule the poor, and borrowers are slaves to their lenders.
Rich people rule over poor people harshly, and those who borrow money become like slaves [MET] of the people who lend [money to them].
8 Those who sow injustice will reap disaster, and the angry beatings they inflict on others will be stopped.
[If you plant corn or rice, corn or rice will grow]; [similarly], if you act unjustly, you will have disasters [MET]; and if you try to harm/oppress people [because you are angry with them], you will not be able to harm them.
9 If you're generous, you'll be blessed, for you share your food with those in need.
[God] will bless those who are generous [IDM], those who give some of their food to poor [people].
10 Get rid of the scornful, and you'll get rid of conflict too—no more arguments or insults!
If you get rid of those who make fun of [everything that is good], there will no more arguing or quarreling or insulting [other people].
11 Anyone who loves sincerity and a gracious way of speaking will have the king as their friend.
If you always act sincerely [IDM] and always speak kindly, the king will be your friend.
12 The Lord watches over true knowledge, but counteracts the words of liars.
Yahweh [SYN] (watches over/takes care of) [those who have] good understanding/sense, but he ruins the plans/affairs of those who always try to deceive others.
13 Lazy people make claims like, “There's a lion outside! I might be killed if I go out there!”
Lazy people [remain in their houses]; they say, “A lion might attack me if I go out into the street [to go to work]!”
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.
What (wives who commit adultery/immoral women) say [to men] [MTY] is [like] a deep pit [MET] [into which those men fall]; those with whom Yahweh is angry will fall into that pit.
15 Children are naturally foolish; physical correction helps them to see sense.
Children [SYN] naturally do things that are foolish, but if you punish/spank them [PRS], they [will] (stop doing foolish things/learn to behave as they should).
16 If you oppress the poor to make yourself rich, or if you're generous to the rich, you'll end up poor yourself.
Those who oppress poor [people] in order to become rich, and those who give [a bribe] to rich [people in order that the rich people will do a favor for them], will just lose their money.
17 Pay attention and listen to the words of the wise, and think carefully about my teachings—
[Now] listen [MTY] to what wise [people] have said; think carefully about what I am teaching you.
18 for it's good to keep them in mind so you can be ready to share them.
It will be good to (keep these things in your minds/always remember them), because if you do that, you will be able to quote/recite them [to others].
19 I'm explaining this to you today so you can trust in the Lord—yes, you!
[I want you to] trust in Yahweh, and that is the reason that I am telling them to you, now.
20 Haven't I written down for you thirty sayings of advice and wisdom?
I have written [RHQ] 30 (sayings/things that wise people have said) from which you will receive good advice and you will be able you to know [many good/useful things].
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.
From them, you will learn what is right and what is true, in order that you will be able to bring back a good report to those who sent you [to school] (OR, give a good answer [to those who ask you questions]).
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,
[It is easy to] rob poor [people] who are helpless [and cannot defend themselves, but] never [do that]; and do not oppress in court those who are needy/afflicted,
23 for the Lord will plead their case, and he will take back whatever was stolen from them.
because Yahweh will speak to defend them, and he will punish those who steal things from others—by causing them to die.
24 Don't make friends with someone who gets upset easily; don't associate with angry people,
Do not become friends with those who often become angry, and do not associate with those who cannot control their temper/anger,
25 in case you learn to be like them and make a mess of your life.
because you might start to act like they do and not be able to stop doing that.
26 Don't shake hands and guarantee someone's debt,
If someone borrows money, do not be one of those who promises to pay what that person owes he cannot pay it back,
27 for if you can't pay, why should your bed be taken away from beneath you?
because if you cannot pay it back, people will surely [RHQ] [come and] take away [everything you own], even your bed.
28 Don't move ancient boundary markers that your forefathers put in place.
Do not [steal some of your neighbors’ land by] removing the boundary lines/markers that your ancestors placed/set.
29 If you see someone skilled in what they do, they'll work for kings and not for ordinary people.
Know/Learn [RHQ] this about those who do their work very skillfully: They will quit working for ordinary people and will start working for kings [because the kings will want people like that to work for them].
