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; favor is better than silver and gold.
2 The rich and poor meet together: the LORD is the maker of them all.
The rich and the poor have this in common: The LORD is Maker of them all.
3 A prudent man forsees the evil, and hides himself: but the simple pass on, and are punished.
The prudent see danger and take cover, but the simple keep going and suffer the consequences.
4 By humility and the fear of the LORD are riches, and honour, and life.
The rewards of humility and the fear of the LORD are wealth and honor and life.
5 Thorns and snares are in the way of the perverse: he that does keep his soul shall be far from them.
Thorns and snares lie on the path of the perverse; he who guards his soul stays far from them.
6 Train up a child in the way he should go: and 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 rules over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender.
The rich rule over the poor, and the borrower is slave to the lender.
8 He that sows iniquity shall reap vanity: and the rod of his anger shall fail.
He who sows injustice will reap disaster, and the rod of his fury will be destroyed.
9 He that has a bountiful eye shall be blessed; for he gives of his bread to the poor.
A generous man will be blessed, for he shares his bread with the poor.
10 Cast out the scorner, and contention shall go out; yea, strife and reproach shall cease.
Drive out the mocker, and conflict will depart; even quarreling and insults will cease.
11 He that loves pureness of heart, for the grace of his lips the king shall be his friend.
He who loves a pure heart and gracious lips will have the king for a friend.
12 The eyes of the LORD preserve knowledge, and he overthrows the words of the transgressor.
The LORD’s eyes keep watch over knowledge, but He frustrates the words of the faithless.
13 The slothful man says, There is a lion without, I shall be slain in the streets.
The slacker says, “There is a lion outside! I will 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 an adulteress is a deep pit; he who is under the wrath of the LORD will fall into it.
15 Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child; but the rod of correction shall drive it far from him.
Foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child, but the rod of discipline drives it far from him.
16 He that oppresses the poor to increase his riches, and he that gives to the rich, shall surely come to lack.
Oppressing the poor to enrich oneself or giving gifts to the rich will surely lead to poverty.
17 Bow down your ear, and hear the words of the wise, and apply your heart unto my knowledge.
Incline your ear and hear the words of the wise— apply your mind to my knowledge—
18 For it is a pleasant thing if you keep them within you; they shall likewise be fitted in your lips.
for it is pleasing when you keep them within you and they are constantly on your lips.
19 That your trust may be in the LORD, I have made known to you this day, even to you.
So that your trust may be in the LORD, I instruct you today—yes, you.
20 Have not I written to you excellent things in counsels and knowledge,
Have I not written for you thirty sayings about counsel and knowledge,
21 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?
to show you true and reliable words, that you may soundly answer those who sent you?
22 Rob not the poor, because he is poor: neither oppress the afflicted in the gate:
Do not rob a poor man because he is poor, and do not crush the afflicted at the gate,
23 For the LORD will plead their cause, and spoil the soul of those that spoiled them.
for the LORD will take up their case and will plunder those who rob them.
24 Make no friendship with an angry man; and with a furious man you shall not go:
Do not make friends with an angry man, and do not associate with a hot-tempered man,
25 Lest you learn his ways, and get a snare to your soul.
or you may learn his ways and entangle yourself in a snare.
26 Be not you one of them that shake hands, or of them that are sureties for debts.
Do not be one who gives pledges, who puts up security for debts.
27 If you have nothing to pay, why should he take away your bed from under you?
If you have nothing with which to pay, why should your bed be taken from under you?
28 Remove not the ancient landmark, which your fathers have set.
Do not move an ancient boundary stone which your fathers have placed.
29 See you 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 be stationed in the presence of kings; he will not stand before obscure men.
