Proverbs 22
1 A [good] name [is] rather to be chosen than great riches, [and] loving favour rather than silver and gold.
A fair name is better than much wealth, and good favor is above 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; but the Lord made them both.
3 A prudent [man] foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself: but the simple pass on, and are punished.
An intelligent man seeing a bad man severely punished is himself instructed, but fools pass by and are punished.
4 By humility [and] the fear of the LORD [are] riches, and honour, and life.
The fear of the Lord is the offspring of wisdom, and wealth, and glory, and life.
5 Thorns [and] snares [are] in the way of the froward: he that doth keep his soul shall be far from them.
Thistles and snares are in perverse ways; but he that keeps his soul will refrain from them.
6 Train up 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 will rule over the poor, and servants will lend to their own masters.
8 He that soweth iniquity shall reap vanity: and the rod of his anger shall fail.
He that sows wickedness shall reap troubles; and shall fully receive the punishment of his deeds. God loves a cheerful and liberal man; but [a man] shall fully prove the folly of his works.
9 He that hath a bountiful eye shall be blessed; for he giveth of his bread to the poor.
He that has pity on the poor shall himself be maintained; for he has given of his own bread to the poor. He that gives liberally secures victory an honor; but he takes away the life of them that posses [them].
10 Cast out the scorner, and contention shall go out; yea, strife and reproach shall cease.
Cast out a pestilent person from the council, and strife shall go out with him; for when he sits in the council he dishonors all.
11 He that loveth pureness of heart, [for] the grace of his lips the king [shall be] his friend.
The Lord loves holy hearts, and all blameless persons are acceptable with him: a king rules with his lips.
12 The eyes of the LORD preserve knowledge, and he overthroweth the words of the transgressor.
But the eyes of the Lord preserve discretion; but the transgressor despises [wise] words.
13 The slothful [man] saith, [There is] a lion without, I shall be slain in the streets.
The sluggard makes excuses, and says, [There is] a lion in the ways, and murderers 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 a transgressor is a deep pit; and he that is hated of the Lord shall fall into it. Evil ways are before a man, and he does not like to turn away from them; but it is needful to turn aside from a perverse and bad way.
15 Foolishness [is] bound in the heart of a child; [but] the rod of correction shall drive it far from him.
Folly is attached to the heart of a child, but the rod and instruction are [then] far from him.
16 He that oppresseth the poor to increase his [riches, and] he that giveth to the rich, [shall] surely [come] to want.
He that oppresses the poor, increases his own substance, yet gives to the rich so as to make it less.
17 Bow down thine ear, and hear the words of the wise, and apply thine heart unto my knowledge.
Incline your ear to the words of wise men: hear also my word, and apply your heart,
18 For [it is] a pleasant thing if thou keep them within thee; they shall withal be fitted in thy lips.
that you may know that they are good: and if you lay them to heart, they shall also gladden you on your lips.
19 That thy trust may be in the LORD, I have made known to thee this day, even to thee.
That your hope may be in the Lord, and he may make your way known to you.
20 Have not I written to thee excellent things in counsels and knowledge,
And do you too repeatedly record them for yourself on the table of your heart, for counsel and knowledge.
21 That I might make thee know the certainty of the words of truth; that thou mightest answer the words of truth to them that send unto thee?
I therefore teach you truth, and knowledge good to hear; that you may answer words of truth to them that question you.
22 Rob not the poor, because he [is] poor: neither oppress the afflicted in the gate:
Do no violence to the poor, for he is needy: neither dishonor the helpless [man] in the gates.
23 For the LORD will plead their cause, and spoil the soul of those that spoiled them.
For the Lord will plead his cause, and you shall deliver your soul in safety.
24 Make no friendship with an angry man; and with a furious man thou shalt not go:
Be not companion to a furious man; neither lodge with a passionate man:
25 Lest thou learn his ways, and get a snare to thy soul.
lest you learn of his ways, and get snares to your soul.
26 Be not thou [one] of them that strike hands, [or] of them that are sureties for debts.
Become not surety from respect of a man's person.
27 If thou hast nothing to pay, why should he take away thy bed from under thee?
For if those have not whence to give compensation, they will take the bed [that is] under you.
28 Remove not the ancient landmark, which thy fathers have set.
Remove not the old landmarks, which your fathers placed.
29 Seest thou a man diligent in his business? he shall stand before kings; he shall not stand before mean [men].
It is fit that an observant man and [one] diligent in his business should attend on kings, and not attend on slothful men.
