< Proverbs 22 >

1 A name is chosen rather than much wealth, Than silver and than gold—good grace.
A good name is better than many riches. And good esteem is above silver and gold.
2 Rich and poor have met together, YHWH [is] the Maker of them all.
The rich and poor have met one another. The Lord is the maker of them both.
3 The prudent has seen the evil, and is hidden, And the simple have passed on, and are punished.
The clever saw evil and hid himself. The innocent continued on and was afflicted with damage.
4 The end of humility [is] the fear of YHWH, riches, and honor, and life.
The end of moderation is the fear of the Lord, riches and glory and life.
5 Thorns [and] snares [are] in the way of the perverse, Whoever is keeping his soul is far from them.
Weapons and swords are on the way of the perverse. But he who guards his own soul withdraws far from them.
6 Give instruction to a youth about his way, Even when he is old he does not turn from it.
The proverb is: A youth is close to his way; even when he is old, he will not withdraw 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 servant to the lender.
8 Whoever is sowing perverseness reaps sorrow, And the rod of his anger wears out.
Whoever sows iniquity will reap evils, and by the rod of his own wrath he will be consumed.
9 The good of eye—he is blessed, For he has given of his bread to the poor.
Whoever is inclined to mercy shall be blessed, for from his bread he has given to the poor. Whoever gives gifts will acquire victory and honor. But he carries away the soul of the receiver.
10 Cast out a scorner—and contention goes out, And strife and shame cease.
Cast out the one who ridicules, and conflict will go out with him, and accusations and insults will cease.
11 Whoever is loving cleanness of heart, His lips [are] grace, A king [is] his friend.
Whoever loves cleanness of heart, because of the grace of his lips, will have the king as his friend.
12 The eyes of YHWH have kept knowledge, And He overthrows the words of the treacherous.
The eyes of the Lord watch over knowledge. And the words of the iniquitous are supplanted.
13 The slothful has said, “A lion [is] outside, I am slain in the midst of the broad places.”
The lazy one says: “There is a lion outside. I might be slain in the midst of the streets.”
14 The mouth of strange women [is] a deep pit, The abhorred of YHWH falls there.
The mouth of a foreign woman is a deep pit; the Lord was angry with him who 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 has been bound to the heart of a child, and a rod of discipline shall cause it to flee.
16 He [who] is oppressing the poor to multiply his [riches], Is giving to the rich—only to want.
Whoever slanders the poor, so as to augment his own riches, will give it away to one who is richer, and will be in need.
17 Incline your ear, and hear words of the wise, And set your heart to my knowledge,
Incline your ear, and listen to the words of the wise. Then apply your heart to my doctrine.
18 For they are pleasant when you keep them in your heart, They are prepared together for your lips.
It shall be beautiful to you, if you preserve it in your inner self, and it shall overflow from your lips,
19 That your trust may be in YHWH, I caused you to know today, even you.
so that your confidence may be in the Lord. Therefore, I also have revealed it to you this day.
20 Have I not written to you three times With counsels and knowledge?
Behold, I have written it for you in three ways, and with meditations and knowledge,
21 To cause you to know the certainty of sayings of truth, To return sayings of truth to those sending you.
so that I might reveal to you, firmly and with words of truth, in order to respond about these things to 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 act with violence toward the pauper because he is poor. And do not weary the needy at the gate.
23 For YHWH pleads their cause, And has spoiled the soul of their spoilers.
For the Lord will judge his case, and he will pierce those who have pierced his soul.
24 Do not show yourself friendly with an angry man, And do not go in with a man of fury,
Do not be willing to be a friend to an angry man, and do not walk with a furious man,
25 Lest you learn his paths, And have received a snare to your soul.
lest perhaps you learn his ways, and take up a stumbling block to your soul.
26 Do not be among those striking hands, Among sureties [for] burdens.
Do not be willing to be with those who certify with their hands, and who offer themselves as a guarantee against debts.
27 If you have nothing to pay, Why does he take your bed from under you?
For if you do not have the means to restore, what reason should there be for him to take the covering from your bed?
28 Do not remove a border of ancient times, That your fathers have made.
Do not cross beyond the ancient limits that your fathers have set.
29 Have you seen a man speedy in his business? He stations himself before kings, He does not station himself before obscure men!
Have you seen a man swift in his work? He shall stand in the sight of kings, and not before those who are disreputable.

< Proverbs 22 >