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 rather to be chosen than great riches, and loving favour rather than silver and gold.

2 The rich and the poor meet together — the LORD is the maker of them all.

The rich and poor meet together: 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.

A prudent man forsees the evil, and hides himself: but the simple pass on, and are punished.

4 The reward of humility is the fear of the LORD, even riches, and honour, and life.

By humility and the fear of the LORD are riches, 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 snares are in the way of the perverse: he that does keep his soul shall 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.

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 the lender.

The rich rules over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender.

8 He that soweth iniquity shall reap vanity; and the rod of his wrath shall fail.

He that sows iniquity shall reap vanity: and the rod of his anger shall fail.

9 He that hath a bountiful eye shall be blessed; for he giveth of his bread to the poor.

He that has a bountiful eye shall be blessed; 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.

Cast out the scorner, and contention shall go out; yea, strife and reproach shall cease.

11 He that loveth pureness of heart, that hath grace in his lips, the king shall be his friend.

He that loves pureness of heart, for the grace of his lips the king shall 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 preserve knowledge, and he overthrows the words of the transgressor.

13 The sluggard saith: 'There is a lion without; I shall be slain in the streets.'

The slothful man says, There is a lion without, I shall be slain 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 pit: he that is abhorred of the LORD shall fall therein.

15 Foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child; but the rod of correction shall drive it far from him.

Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child; but the rod of correction shall drive it 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 that oppresses the poor to increase his riches, and he that gives to the rich, shall surely come to lack.

17 Incline thine ear, and hear the words of the wise, and apply thy heart unto my knowledge.

Bow down your ear, and hear the words of the wise, and apply your heart unto my 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 pleasant thing if you keep them within you; they shall likewise be fitted in your lips.

19 That thy trust may be in the LORD, I have made them known to thee this day, even to thee.

That your trust may be in the LORD, I have made known to you this day, even to you.

20 Have not I written unto thee excellent things of counsels and knowledge;

Have not I written to you excellent things in counsels 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?

That I might make you know the certainty of the words of truth; that you might answer the words of truth to them that send unto you?

22 Rob not the weak, because he is weak, neither crush the poor in the gate;

Rob not the poor, because he is poor: neither oppress the afflicted in the gate:

23 For the LORD will plead their cause, and despoil of life those that despoil them.

For the LORD will plead their cause, and spoil the soul of those that spoiled them.

24 Make no friendship with a man that is given to anger; and with a wrathful man thou shalt not go;

Make no friendship with an angry man; and with a furious man you shall not go:

25 Lest thou learn his ways, and get a snare to thy soul.

Lest you learn his ways, and get a snare to your soul.

26 Be thou not of them that strike hands, or of them that are sureties for debts;

Be not you one of them that shake hands, or of them that are sureties for debts.

27 If thou hast not wherewith to pay, why should he take away thy bed from under thee?

If you have nothing to pay, why should he take away your bed from under you?

28 Remove not the ancient landmark, which thy fathers have set.

Remove not the ancient landmark, which your fathers have set.

29 Seest thou a man diligent in his business? he shall stand before kings; he shall not stand before mean men.

See you a man diligent in his business? he shall stand before kings; he shall not stand before mean men.