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 favor 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] foreseeth the evil, and hideth 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, honor, 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 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 ruleth 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 soweth 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 hath a bountiful eye shall be blessed; for he giveth 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 loveth 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 overthroweth the words of the transgressor.
The LORD’s eyes watch over knowledge, but he frustrates the words of the unfaithful.
13 The slothful [man] saith, [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 oppresseth the poor to increase his [riches, and] he that giveth to the rich, [shall] surely [come] to want.
Whoever oppresses the poor for his own increase and whoever gives to the rich, both come to poverty.
17 Bow down thine ear, and hear the words of the wise, and apply thine 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 thou keep them within thee; they shall withal be fitted in thy lips.
For it is a pleasant thing if you keep them within you, if all of them are ready on your lips.
19 That thy trust may be in the LORD, I have made known to thee this day, even to thee.
I teach you today, even you, so that your trust may be in the LORD.
20 Have not I written to thee excellent things in counsels and knowledge,
Haven’t I written to you thirty excellent things of 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?
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 thou shalt not go:
Don’t befriend a hot-tempered man. Don’t associate with one who harbors anger,
25 Lest thou learn his ways, and get a snare to thy soul.
lest you learn his ways and ensnare your soul.
26 Be not thou [one] of them that strike 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 thou hast nothing to pay, why should he take away thy bed from under thee?
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 thy fathers have set.
Don’t move the ancient boundary stone which your fathers have set up.
29 Seest thou 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.
