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 better is good-will than silver and gold.
2 The rich and poor meet together: the LORD is the maker of them all.
The rich and the poor meet together; 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 prudent man seeth the evil, and hideth himself; But the simple rush on, and are punished.
4 By humility and the fear of the LORD are riches, and honour, and life.
By humility and the fear of the LORD Are riches 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 are in the way of the deceitful; He that will preserve his life 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.
Train up a child in accordance with his way, 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 ruleth over the poor, And the borrower is servant to the lender.
8 He that sows iniquity shall reap vanity: and the rod of his anger shall fail.
He who soweth iniquity shall reap calamity, And the rod of his punishment is prepared.
9 He that has a bountiful eye shall be blessed; for he gives of his bread to the poor.
He who hath a bountiful eye shall be blessed, Because he giveth of his bread to the poor.
10 Cast out the scorner, and contention shall go out; yea, strife and reproach shall cease.
Cast out the scoffer, and contention will go out; Yea, strife and reproach will cease.
11 He that loves pureness of heart, for the grace of his lips the king shall be his friend.
He who loveth purity of heart, Grace is upon his lips, and 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 watch over knowledge; But he overthroweth the words of the treacherous.
13 The slothful man says, There is a lion without, I shall be slain in the streets.
The slothful man saith, “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 with whom the LORD is angry shall fall therein.
15 Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child; but the rod of correction shall drive it far from him.
Folly is bound to the heart of a child; But the rod of correction will drive 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.
He that oppresseth the poor to increase his wealth, And he that giveth to the rich, shall surely come to want.
17 Bow down your ear, and hear the words of the wise, and apply your heart unto my knowledge.
Incline thine ear, and hear the words of the wise, And give heed to my instruction!
18 For it is a pleasant thing if you keep them within you; they shall likewise be fitted in your lips.
For it will be a pleasant thing, if thou keep them in thy bosom, When they are altogether established upon thy lips.
19 That your trust may be in the LORD, I have made known to you this day, even to you.
That thy trust may be in the LORD, I have this day given to thee instruction, yea, to thee.
20 Have not I written to you excellent things in counsels and knowledge,
Behold, I have written to thee excellent things Concerning 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?
That I may make thee know rectitude, and words of truth; That thou mayst bring back words of truth to them that send thee.
22 Rob not the poor, because he is poor: neither oppress the afflicted in the gate:
Rob not the poor man, because he is poor, Nor crush thou the destitute at the gate;
23 For the LORD will plead their cause, and spoil the soul of those that spoiled them.
For the LORD will maintain their cause, And despoil their spoilers of life.
24 Make no friendship with an angry man; and with a furious man you shall not go:
Make no friendship with a passionate man, Nor be the companion of a man prone to wrath;
25 Lest you learn his ways, and get a snare to your soul.
Lest thou learn his ways, And take to thyself a snare.
26 Be not you one of them that shake hands, or of them that are sureties for debts.
Be not thou one of those who strike hands, Of those who are sureties for debts.
27 If you have nothing to pay, why should he take away your bed from under you?
When thou hast nothing to pay, Why should thy bed be taken from under thee?
28 Remove not the ancient landmark, which your fathers have set.
Remove not the ancient landmark, Which thy fathers have made.
29 See you a man diligent in his business? he shall stand before kings; he shall not stand before mean men.
Seest thou a man diligent in his business? He shall be the minister of kings; He shall not serve obscure men.
