Proverbs 22
1 A fair name is better than much wealth, and good favor is above silver and gold.
A good name is to be chosen aboue great riches, and louing fauour is aboue siluer and aboue golde.
2 The rich and the poor meet together; but the Lord made them both.
The rich and poore meete together: the Lord is the maker of them all.
3 An intelligent man seeing a bad man severely punished is himself instructed, but fools pass by and are punished.
A prudent man seeth the plague, and hideth himselfe: but the foolish goe on still, and are punished.
4 The fear of the Lord is the offspring of wisdom, and wealth, and glory, and life.
The rewarde of humilitie, and the feare of God is riches, and glory, and life.
5 Thistles and snares are in perverse ways; but he that keeps his soul will refrain from them.
Thornes and snares are in the way of the frowarde: but he that regardeth his soule, will depart farre from them.
Teache a childe in the trade of his way, and when he is olde, he shall not depart from it.
7 The rich will rule over the poor, and servants will lend to their own masters.
The rich ruleth the poore, and the borower is seruant to the man that lendeth.
8 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.
He that soweth iniquitie, shall reape affliction, and the rodde of his anger shall faile.
9 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].
He that hath a good eye, he shalbe blessed: for he giueth of his bread vnto the poore.
10 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.
Cast out the scorner, and strife shall go out: so contention and reproche shall cease.
11 The Lord loves holy hearts, and all blameless persons are acceptable with him: a king rules with his lips.
Hee that loueth purenesse of heart for the grace of his lippes, the King shalbe his friend.
12 But the eyes of the Lord preserve discretion; but the transgressor despises [wise] words.
The eyes of the Lord preserue knowledge: but hee ouerthroweth the wordes of the transgressour.
13 The sluggard makes excuses, and says, [There is] a lion in the ways, and murderers in the streets.
The slouthfull man saith, A lyon is without, I shall be slaine in the streete.
14 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.
The mouth of strage women is as a deepe pit: he with whom the Lord is angry, shall fall therein.
15 Folly is attached to the heart of a child, but the rod and instruction are [then] far from him.
Foolishnesse is bounde in the heart of a childe: but the rodde of correction shall driue it away from him.
16 He that oppresses the poor, increases his own substance, yet gives to the rich so as to make it less.
Hee that oppresseth the poore to increase him selfe, and giueth vnto the riche, shall surely come to pouertie.
17 Incline your ear to the words of wise men: hear also my word, and apply your heart,
Incline thine eare, and heare the wordes of the wise, and apply thine heart vnto my knowledge.
18 that you may know that they are good: and if you lay them to heart, they shall also gladden you on your lips.
For it shalbe pleasant, if thou keepe them in thy bellie, and if they be directed together in thy lippes.
19 That your hope may be in the Lord, and he may make your way known to you.
That thy confidence may be in the Lord, I haue shewed thee this day: thou therefore take heede.
20 And do you too repeatedly record them for yourself on the table of your heart, for counsel and knowledge.
Haue not I written vnto thee three times in counsels and knowledge,
21 I therefore teach you truth, and knowledge good to hear; that you may answer words of truth to them that question you.
That I might shewe thee the assurance of the wordes of trueth to answere the wordes of trueth to them that sende to thee?
22 Do no violence to the poor, for he is needy: neither dishonor the helpless [man] in the gates.
Robbe not the poore, because hee is poore, neither oppresse the afflicted in iudgement.
23 For the Lord will plead his cause, and you shall deliver your soul in safety.
For the Lord will defende their cause, and spoyle the soule of those that spoyle them.
24 Be not companion to a furious man; neither lodge with a passionate man:
Make no friendship with an angrie man, neither goe with the furious man,
25 lest you learn of his ways, and get snares to your soul.
Least thou learne his wayes, and receiue destruction to thy soule.
26 Become not surety from respect of a man's person.
Be not thou of them that touch the hand, nor among them that are suretie for debts.
27 For if those have not whence to give compensation, they will take the bed [that is] under you.
If thou hast nothing to paye, why causest thou that he should take thy bed from vnder thee?
28 Remove not the old landmarks, which your fathers placed.
Thou shalt not remooue the ancient bounds which thy fathers haue made.
29 It is fit that an observant man and [one] diligent in his business should attend on kings, and not attend on slothful men.
Thou seest that a diligent man in his businesse standeth before Kings, and standeth not before the base sort.
