Proverbs 22
1 A good name is to be chosen aboue great riches, and louing fauour is aboue siluer and aboue golde.
A good name is more desirable than great riches, and loving favor is better than silver and gold.
2 The rich and poore meete together: the Lord is the maker of them all.
The rich and the poor have this in common: The LORD is the maker of them all.
3 A prudent man seeth the plague, and hideth himselfe: but the foolish goe on still, and are punished.
A prudent man sees danger and hides himself; but the simple pass on, and suffer for it.
4 The rewarde of humilitie, and the feare of God is riches, and glory, and life.
The result of humility and the fear of the LORD is wealth, honor, and life.
5 Thornes and snares are in the way of the frowarde: but he that regardeth his soule, will depart farre from them.
Thorns and snares are in the path of the wicked; whoever guards his soul stays far from them.
6 Teache a childe in the trade of his way, and when he is olde, he shall 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 the poore, and the borower is seruant to the man that lendeth.
The rich rule over the poor. The borrower is servant to the lender.
8 He that soweth iniquitie, shall reape affliction, and the rodde of his anger shall faile.
He who sows wickedness reaps trouble, and the rod of his fury will be destroyed.
9 He that hath a good eye, he shalbe blessed: for he giueth of his bread vnto the poore.
He who has a generous eye will be blessed, for he shares his food with the poor.
10 Cast out the scorner, and strife shall go out: so contention and reproche shall cease.
Drive out the mocker, and strife will go out; yes, quarrels and insults will stop.
11 Hee that loueth purenesse of heart for the grace of his lippes, the King shalbe his friend.
He who loves purity of heart and speaks gracefully is the king’s friend.
12 The eyes of the Lord preserue knowledge: but hee ouerthroweth the wordes of the transgressour.
The LORD’s eyes watch over knowledge, but he frustrates the words of the unfaithful.
13 The slouthfull man saith, A lyon is without, I shall be slaine in the streete.
The sluggard says, “There is a lion outside! I will be killed in the streets!”
14 The mouth of strage women is as a deepe pit: he with whom the Lord is angry, shall fall therein.
The mouth of an adulteress is a deep pit. He who is under the LORD’s wrath will fall into it.
15 Foolishnesse is bounde in the heart of a childe: but the rodde of correction shall driue it away from him.
Folly is bound up in the heart of a child; the rod of discipline drives it far from him.
16 Hee that oppresseth the poore to increase him selfe, and giueth vnto the riche, shall surely come to pouertie.
Whoever oppresses the poor for his own increase and whoever gives to the rich, both come to poverty.
17 Incline thine eare, and heare the wordes of the wise, and apply thine heart vnto my knowledge.
Turn your ear, and listen to the words of the wise. Apply your heart to my teaching.
18 For it shalbe pleasant, if thou keepe them in thy bellie, and if they be directed together in thy lippes.
For it is a pleasant thing if you keep them within you, if all of them are ready on your lips.
19 That thy confidence may be in the Lord, I haue shewed thee this day: thou therefore take heede.
I teach you today, even you, so that your trust may be in the LORD.
20 Haue not I written vnto thee three times in counsels and knowledge,
Haven’t I written to you thirty excellent things of counsel and knowledge,
21 That I might shewe thee the assurance of the wordes of trueth to answere the wordes of trueth to them that sende to thee?
To teach you truth, reliable words, to give sound answers to the ones who sent you?
22 Robbe not the poore, because hee is poore, neither oppresse the afflicted in iudgement.
Don’t exploit the poor because he is poor; and don’t crush the needy in court;
23 For the Lord will defende their cause, and spoyle the soule of those that spoyle them.
for the LORD will plead their case, and plunder the life of those who plunder them.
24 Make no friendship with an angrie man, neither goe with the furious man,
Don’t befriend a hot-tempered man. Don’t associate with one who harbors anger,
25 Least thou learne his wayes, and receiue destruction to thy soule.
lest you learn his ways and ensnare your soul.
26 Be not thou of them that touch the hand, nor among them that are suretie for debts.
Don’t you be one of those who strike hands, of those who are collateral for debts.
27 If thou hast nothing to paye, why causest thou that he should take thy bed from vnder thee?
If you don’t have means to pay, why should he take away your bed from under you?
28 Thou shalt not remooue the ancient bounds which thy fathers haue made.
Don’t move the ancient boundary stone which your fathers have set up.
29 Thou seest that a diligent man in his businesse standeth before Kings, and standeth not before the base sort.
Do you see a man skilled in his work? He will serve kings. He won’t serve obscure men.
