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] loving favour rather 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] foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself: but the simple pass on, and are punished.

A prudent man seeth the evil, and hideth 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 reward of humility [and] the fear of the LORD [is] riches, and honour, and life.

5 Thorns [and] snares [are] in the way of the froward: he that doth keep his soul shall be far from them.

Thorns [and] snares are in the way of the froward: he that keepeth his soul shall 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 the way he should go, and even 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 ruleth over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender.

8 He that soweth iniquity shall reap vanity: and the rod of his anger shall fail.

He that soweth iniquity shall reap calamity: and the rod of his wrath shall fail.

9 He that hath a bountiful eye shall be blessed; for he giveth of his bread to the poor.

He that hath a bountiful eye shall be blessed; for 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 scorner, and contention shall go out; yea, strife and ignominy shall cease.

11 He that loveth pureness of heart, [for] the grace of his lips the king [shall be] his friend.

He that loveth pureness of heart, [for] the grace of his lips the king shall be his friend.

12 The eyes of the LORD preserve knowledge, and he overthroweth the words of the transgressor.

The eyes of the LORD preserve [him that hath] knowledge, but he overthroweth the words of the treacherous man.

13 The slothful [man] saith, [There is] a lion without, I shall be slain in the streets.

The sluggard saith, There is a lion without: I shall be murdered 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 that is abhorred of the LORD shall fall therein.

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 correction shall drive it 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 oppresseth the poor to increase his [gain, and] he that giveth to the rich, [cometh] only to want.

17 Bow down thine ear, and hear the words of the wise, and apply thine heart unto my knowledge.

Incline thine ear, and hear the words of the wise, and apply thine heart unto my knowledge.

18 For [it is] a pleasant thing if thou keep them within thee; they shall withal be fitted in thy lips.

For it is a pleasant thing if thou keep them within thee, if they be established together upon thy lips.

19 That thy trust may be in the LORD, I have made known to thee this day, even to thee.

That thy trust may be in the LORD, I have made [them] known to thee this day, even to thee.

20 Have not I written to thee excellent things in counsels and knowledge,

Have not I written unto thee excellent things of counsels 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?

To make thee know the certainty of the words of truth, that thou mayest carry 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, because he is poor, neither oppress the afflicted in the gate:

23 For the LORD will plead their cause, and spoil the soul of those that spoiled them.

For the LORD will plead their cause, and despoil of life those that despoil them.

24 Make no friendship with an angry man; and with a furious man thou shalt not go:

Make no friendship with a man that is given to anger; and with a wrathful man thou shalt not go:

25 Lest thou learn his ways, and get a snare to thy soul.

Lest thou learn his ways, and get a snare to thy soul.

26 Be not thou [one] of them that strike hands, [or] of them that are sureties for debts.

Be thou not one of them that strike hands, [or] of them that are sureties for debts:

27 If thou hast nothing to pay, why should he take away thy bed from under thee?

If thou hast not wherewith to pay, why should he take away thy bed from under thee?

28 Remove not the ancient landmark, which thy fathers have set.

Remove not the ancient landmark, which thy fathers have set.

29 Seest thou 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 stand before kings; he shall not stand before mean men.