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 favour 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 the maker of them all.
3 A prudent man forsees the evil, and hides himself: but the simple pass on, and are punished.
A prudent man sees danger and hides himself; but the simple pass on, and suffer for it.
4 By humility and the fear of the LORD are riches, and honour, and life.
The result of humility and the fear of the LORD is wealth, 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 snares are in the path of the wicked; whoever 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. 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 sows wickedness reaps trouble, 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.
He who has a generous eye will be blessed, for he shares his food with the poor.
10 Cast out the scorner, and contention shall go out; yea, strife and reproach shall cease.
Drive out the mocker, and strife will go out; yes, quarrels and insults will stop.
11 He that loves pureness of heart, for the grace of 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 knowledge, and he overthrows the words of the transgressor.
The LORD’s eyes watch over knowledge, but he frustrates the words of the unfaithful.
13 The slothful man says, 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 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 He that oppresses the poor to increase his riches, and he that gives to the rich, shall surely come to lack.
Whoever oppresses the poor for his own increase and whoever gives to the rich, both come to poverty.
17 Bow down your ear, and hear the words of the wise, and apply your heart unto my knowledge.
Turn your ear, and listen to the words of the wise. Apply your heart to my teaching.
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 pleasant thing if you keep them within you, if all of them are ready on your lips.
19 That your trust may be in the LORD, I have made known to you this day, even to you.
I teach you today, even you, so that your trust may be in the LORD.
20 Have not I written to you excellent things in counsels and knowledge,
Haven’t I written to you thirty excellent things of 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 teach you truth, reliable words, to give sound answers to the ones who sent you?
22 Rob not the poor, because he is poor: neither oppress the afflicted in the gate:
Don’t exploit the poor because he is poor; and don’t crush the needy in court;
23 For the LORD will plead their cause, and spoil the soul of those that spoiled them.
for the LORD will plead their case, and plunder the life of those who plunder them.
24 Make no friendship with an angry man; and with a furious man you shall not go:
Don’t befriend a hot-tempered man. Don’t associate with one who harbours anger,
25 Lest you learn his ways, and get a snare to your soul.
lest you learn his ways and ensnare your soul.
26 Be not you one of them that shake hands, or of them that are sureties for debts.
Don’t you be one of those who strike hands, of those who are collateral for debts.
27 If you have nothing to pay, why should he take away your bed from under you?
If you don’t have means to pay, why should he take away your bed from under you?
28 Remove not the ancient landmark, which your fathers have set.
Don’t move the ancient boundary stone which your fathers have set up.
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 serve kings. He won’t serve obscure men.
