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 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 forsees the evil, and hides himself: but the simple pass on, and are punished.
The sharp man sees the evil and takes cover: the simple go straight on and get into trouble.
4 By humility and the fear of the LORD are 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 perverse: he that does keep his soul shall be 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 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 rules 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 sows iniquity shall reap vanity: and the rod of his anger 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 has a bountiful eye shall be blessed; for he gives 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 shall go out; yea, strife and reproach shall cease.
Send away the man of pride, and argument will go out; truly fighting and shame will come to an end.
11 He that loves pureness of heart, for the grace of 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 knowledge, and he overthrows the words of the transgressor.
The eyes of the Lord keep knowledge, but by him the acts of the false man will be overturned.
13 The slothful man says, 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 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 He that oppresses the poor to increase his riches, and he that gives to the rich, shall surely come to lack.
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 Bow down your ear, and hear the words of the wise, and apply your 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 you keep them within you; they shall likewise be fitted in your lips.
For it is a delight to keep them in your heart, to have them ready 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 faith may be in the Lord, I have made them clear to you this day, even to you.
20 Have not I written to you excellent things in counsels and knowledge,
Have I not put in writing for you thirty sayings, with wise suggestions 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 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 poor, because he is poor: neither oppress the afflicted 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 spoil the soul of those that spoiled 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 an angry man; and with a furious man you shall 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 you learn his ways, and get a snare to your soul.
For fear of learning his ways and making a net ready for your soul.
26 Be not you one of them that shake 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 you have nothing to pay, why should he take away your bed from under you?
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 your fathers have set.
Let not the old landmark be moved which your fathers have put in place.
29 See you 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.
