Proverbs 22
1 A name is chosen rather than much wealth, Than silver and than gold—good grace.
A good name is more desirable than great riches; favor is better than silver and gold.
2 Rich and poor have met together, YHWH [is] the Maker of them all.
The rich and the poor have this in common: The LORD is Maker of them all.
3 The prudent has seen the evil, and is hidden, And the simple have passed on, and are punished.
The prudent see danger and take cover, but the simple keep going and suffer the consequences.
4 The end of humility [is] the fear of YHWH, riches, and honor, and life.
The rewards of humility and the fear of the LORD are wealth and honor and life.
5 Thorns [and] snares [are] in the way of the perverse, Whoever is keeping his soul is far from them.
Thorns and snares lie on the path of the perverse; he who guards his soul stays far from them.
6 Give instruction to a youth about his way, Even when he is old he does not turn 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 rules over the poor, And a servant [is] the borrower to the lender.
The rich rule over the poor, and the borrower is slave to the lender.
8 Whoever is sowing perverseness reaps sorrow, And the rod of his anger wears out.
He who sows injustice will reap disaster, and the rod of his fury will be destroyed.
9 The good of eye—he is blessed, For he has given of his bread to the poor.
A generous man will be blessed, for he shares his bread with the poor.
10 Cast out a scorner—and contention goes out, And strife and shame cease.
Drive out the mocker, and conflict will depart; even quarreling and insults will cease.
11 Whoever is loving cleanness of heart, His lips [are] grace, A king [is] his friend.
He who loves a pure heart and gracious lips will have the king for a friend.
12 The eyes of YHWH have kept knowledge, And He overthrows the words of the treacherous.
The LORD’s eyes keep watch over knowledge, but He frustrates the words of the faithless.
13 The slothful has said, “A lion [is] outside, I am slain in the midst of the broad places.”
The slacker says, “There is a lion outside! I will be slain in the streets!”
14 The mouth of strange women [is] a deep pit, The abhorred of YHWH falls there.
The mouth of an adulteress is a deep pit; he who is under the wrath of the LORD will fall into it.
15 Folly is bound up in the heart of a youth, The rod of discipline puts it far from him.
Foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child, but the rod of discipline drives it far from him.
16 He [who] is oppressing the poor to multiply his [riches], Is giving to the rich—only to want.
Oppressing the poor to enrich oneself or giving gifts to the rich will surely lead to poverty.
17 Incline your ear, and hear words of the wise, And set your heart to my knowledge,
Incline your ear and hear the words of the wise— apply your mind to my knowledge—
18 For they are pleasant when you keep them in your heart, They are prepared together for your lips.
for it is pleasing when you keep them within you and they are constantly on your lips.
19 That your trust may be in YHWH, I caused you to know today, even you.
So that your trust may be in the LORD, I instruct you today—yes, you.
20 Have I not written to you three times With counsels and knowledge?
Have I not written for you thirty sayings about counsel and knowledge,
21 To cause you to know the certainty of sayings of truth, To return sayings of truth to those sending you.
to show you true and reliable words, that you may soundly answer those who sent you?
22 Do not rob the poor because he [is] poor, And do not bruise the afflicted in the gate.
Do not rob a poor man because he is poor, and do not crush the afflicted at the gate,
23 For YHWH pleads their cause, And has spoiled the soul of their spoilers.
for the LORD will take up their case and will plunder those who rob them.
24 Do not show yourself friendly with an angry man, And do not go in with a man of fury,
Do not make friends with an angry man, and do not associate with a hot-tempered man,
25 Lest you learn his paths, And have received a snare to your soul.
or you may learn his ways and entangle yourself in a snare.
26 Do not be among those striking hands, Among sureties [for] burdens.
Do not be one who gives pledges, who puts up security for debts.
27 If you have nothing to pay, Why does he take your bed from under you?
If you have nothing with which to pay, why should your bed be taken from under you?
28 Do not remove a border of ancient times, That your fathers have made.
Do not move an ancient boundary stone which your fathers have placed.
29 Have you seen a man speedy in his business? He stations himself before kings, He does not station himself before obscure men!
Do you see a man skilled in his work? He will be stationed in the presence of kings; he will not stand before obscure men.
