Proverbs 22
1 A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches, and loving favour rather than silver and gold.
A good name is more to be desired than great wealth, and to be respected is better than silver and gold.
2 The rich and the poor meet together — the LORD is the maker of them all.
The man of wealth and the poor man come face to face: the Lord is the maker of them all.
3 A prudent man seeth the evil, and hideth himself; but the thoughtless pass on, and are punished.
The sharp man sees the evil and takes cover: the simple go straight on and get into trouble.
4 The reward of humility is the fear of the LORD, even riches, and honour, and life.
The reward of a gentle spirit and the fear of the Lord is wealth and honour and life.
5 Thorns and snares are in the way of the froward; he that keepeth his soul holdeth himself far from them.
Thorns and nets are in the way of the twisted: he who keeps watch over his soul will be far from them.
6 Train up a child in the way he should go, and even when he is old, he will not depart from it.
If a child is trained up in the right way, even when he is old he will not be turned away from it.
7 The rich ruleth over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender.
The man of wealth has rule over the poor, and he who gets into debt is a servant to his creditor.
8 He that soweth iniquity shall reap vanity; and the rod of his wrath shall fail.
By planting the seed of evil a man will get in the grain of sorrow, and the rod of his wrath will be broken.
9 He that hath a bountiful eye shall be blessed; for he giveth of his bread to the poor.
He who is kind will have a blessing, for he gives of his bread to the poor.
10 Cast out the scorner, and contention will go out; yea, strife and shame will cease.
Send away the man of pride, and argument will go out; truly fighting and shame will come to an end.
11 He that loveth pureness of heart, that hath grace in his lips, the king shall be his friend.
He whose heart is clean is dear to the Lord; for the grace of his lips the king will be his friend.
12 The eyes of the LORD preserve him that hath knowledge, but He overthroweth the words of the faithless man.
The eyes of the Lord keep knowledge, but by him the acts of the false man will be overturned.
13 The sluggard saith: 'There is a lion without; I shall be slain in the streets.'
The hater of work says, There is a lion outside: I will be put to death in the streets.
14 The mouth of strange women is a deep pit: he that is abhorred of the LORD shall fall therein.
The mouth of strange women is a deep hole: he with whom the Lord is angry will go down into it.
15 Foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child; but the rod of correction shall drive it far from him.
Foolish ways are deep-seated in the heart of a child, but the rod of punishment will send them far from him.
16 One may oppress the poor, yet will their gain increase; one may give to the rich, yet will want come.
He who is cruel to the poor for the purpose of increasing his profit, and he who gives to the man of wealth, will only come to be in need.
17 Incline thine ear, and hear the words of the wise, and apply thy heart unto my knowledge.
Let your ear be bent down for hearing my words, and let your heart give thought to knowledge.
18 For it is a pleasant thing if thou keep them within thee; let them be established altogether upon thy lips.
For it is a delight to keep them in your heart, to have them ready on your lips.
19 That thy trust may be in the LORD, I have made them known to thee this day, even to thee.
So that your faith may be in the Lord, I have made them clear to you this day, even to you.
20 Have not I written unto thee excellent things of counsels and knowledge;
Have I not put in writing for you thirty sayings, with wise suggestions and knowledge,
21 That I might make thee know the certainty of the words of truth, that thou mightest bring back words of truth to them that send thee?
To make you see how certain are true words, so that you may give a true answer to those who put questions to you?
22 Rob not the weak, because he is weak, neither crush the poor in the gate;
Do not take away the property of the poor man because he is poor, or be cruel to the crushed ones when they come before the judge:
23 For the LORD will plead their cause, and despoil of life those that despoil them.
For the Lord will give support to their cause, and take the life of those who take their goods.
24 Make no friendship with a man that is given to anger; and with a wrathful man thou shalt not go;
Do not be friends with a man who is given to wrath; do not go in the company of an angry man:
25 Lest thou learn his ways, and get a snare to thy soul.
For fear of learning his ways and making a net ready for your soul.
26 Be thou not of them that strike hands, or of them that are sureties for debts;
Be not one of those who give their hands in an agreement, or of those who make themselves responsible for debts:
27 If thou hast not wherewith to pay, why should he take away thy bed from under thee?
If you have nothing with which to make payment, he will take away your bed from under you.
28 Remove not the ancient landmark, which thy fathers have set.
Let not the old landmark be moved which your fathers have put in place.
29 Seest thou a man diligent in his business? he shall stand before kings; he shall not stand before mean men.
Have you seen a man who is expert in his business? he will take his place before kings; his place will not be among low persons.
