Proverbs 22
1 A good name is preferable to abundant riches, and good grace, to silver and to gold.
A fair name is better than much wealth, and good favour is above silver and gold.
2 The rich and poor meet together: the Lord is the maker them all.
The rich and the poor meet together; but the Lord made them both.
3 The prudent 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 The reward of humility [and] the fear of the Lord are riches and honor, and life.
The fear of the Lord is the offspring of wisdom, and wealth, and glory, and life.
5 Thorns and snares are on the way of a perverse man: he that doth guard his soul will keep far from them.
Thistles and snares are in perverse ways; but he that keeps his soul will refrain from them.
6 Train up the lad in accordance with his course: even when he groweth old, will he not depart from it.
7 A rich man ruleth over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the man that lendeth.
The rich will rule over the poor, and servants will lend to their own masters.
8 He that soweth injustice will reap wrong-doing; and the rod of God's wrath will not 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 A man of a benevolent eye will indeed 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 honour; but he takes away the life of them that posses [them].
10 Drive away the scorner, and strife will go off; and then will cease contention and dishonor.
Cast out a pestilent person from the council, and strife shall go out with him; for when he sits in the council he dishonours all.
11 He that loveth with a pure heart, and hath grace on his lips, will have the king as 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 guard knowledge, and he overturneth the words of the treacherous.
But the eyes of the Lord preserve discretion; but the transgressor despises [wise] words.
13 The slothful saith, There is a lion without, in the midst of the streets shall I be murdered.
The sluggard makes excuses, and says, [There is] a lion in the ways, and murderers in the streets.
14 A deep pit is the mouth of adulterous women: he that hath obtained the indignation of the Lord will fall thereinto.
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 When folly is bound fast to the heart of a lad, the rod of correction must remove 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, [must at length] give to the rich, and come only to want.
He that oppresses the poor, increases his own substance, yet gives to the rich so as to make it less.
17 Incline thy ear, and hear the words of the wise, and apply thy 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 thy bosom, if they be altogether firmly seated upon 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, have I made them known to thee this day, yea, 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 for 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 rectitude, the sayings of truth; that thou mightest bring back answers of truth to those that send 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 crush the afflicted in the gate;
Do no violence to the poor, for he is needy: neither dishonour the helpless [man] in the gates.
23 For the Lord will plead their cause, and despoil the life of those that despoil them.
For the Lord will plead his cause, and you shall deliver your soul in safety.
24 Make no friendship with a man given to anger; and with a man of fury thou must have no intercourse:
Be not companion to a furious man; neither lodge with a passionate man:
25 Lest thou learn his ways, and get a snare for thy own soul.
lest you learn of his ways, and get snares to your soul.
26 Be not one of those that pledge their hand, or of those that are sureties for debts.
Become not surety from respect of a man's person.
27 If thou have 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 established.
Remove not the old landmarks, which your fathers placed.
29 Seest thou a man that is diligent in his work? before kings may he place himself: let him not place himself before obscure men.
It is fit that an observant man and [one] diligent in his business should attend on kings, and not attend on slothful men.
