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 desirable than great riches, and loving favor is better than silver and gold.
2 The rich and the poor meet 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 evil, and hideth himself; but the thoughtless pass on, and are punished.
The shrewd see danger and take cover, but the naive keep on going and suffer for it.
4 The reward of humility is the fear of the LORD, even riches, and honour, and life.
The result of humility and the fear of the LORD is wealth, honor, 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 path of the wicked: whoever guards his soul stays 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 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 rule over the poor. The borrower is servant to the lender.
8 He that soweth iniquity shall reap vanity; and the rod of his wrath shall fail.
He who sows wickedness reaps trouble, and the rod of his fury will fail. God blesses a cheerful and generous person, but the vanity of his deeds he will bring to an end.
9 He that hath a bountiful eye shall be blessed; for he giveth of his bread to the poor.
He who has a generous eye will be blessed; for he shares his food with the poor.
10 Cast out the scorner, and contention will go out; yea, strife and shame will cease.
Drive out the mocker, and strife will go out; yes, quarrels and insults will stop.
11 He that loveth pureness of heart, that hath grace in his lips, the king shall be his friend.
He who loves purity of heart and speaks gracefully is the king's 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 watch over knowledge; but he frustrates the words of the unfaithful.
13 The sluggard saith: 'There is a lion without; I shall be slain in the streets.'
The sluggard says, "There is a lion outside. I will be killed 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 an adulteress is a deep pit: he who is under the LORD's wrath will fall into it.
15 Foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child; but the rod of correction shall drive it far from him.
Folly is bound up in the heart of a child: the rod of discipline drives 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.
Whoever oppresses the poor for his own increase and whoever gives to the rich, both come to poverty.
17 Incline thine ear, and hear the words of the wise, and apply thy heart unto my knowledge.
The words of the wise: Incline your ear and hear my words, and apply your heart to my instruction.
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, if all of them are 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.
That your trust may be in the LORD, I teach you today, even you.
20 Have not I written unto thee excellent things of counsels and knowledge;
Haven't I written to you thirty excellent things of counsel 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 teach you truth, reliable words, to give sound answers to the ones who sent you?
22 Rob not the weak, because he is weak, neither crush the poor in the gate;
Do not exploit the poor, because he is poor; and do not crush the needy in court;
23 For the LORD will plead their cause, and despoil of life those that despoil them.
for the LORD will plead their case, and plunder the life of those who plunder them.
24 Make no friendship with a man that is given to anger; and with a wrathful man thou shalt not go;
Do not befriend a hot-tempered man, and do not associate with one who harbors anger:
25 Lest thou learn his ways, and get a snare to thy soul.
lest you learn his ways, and ensnare your soul.
26 Be thou not of them that strike hands, or of them that are sureties for debts;
Do not be one of those who strike hands, of those who are collateral for debts.
27 If thou hast not wherewith to pay, why should he take away thy bed from under thee?
If you do not have means to pay, why should he take away your bed from under you?
28 Remove not the ancient landmark, which thy fathers have set.
Do not move the ancient boundary stone, which your fathers have set up.
29 Seest thou a man diligent in his business? he shall stand before kings; he shall not stand before mean men.
Do you see a man skilled in his work? He will serve kings. He won't serve obscure men.
