Proverbs 22
1 A name is chosen rather than much wealth, Than silver and than gold—good grace.
A good name is better than great riches: and good favour 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 prudent man saw the evil, and hid himself: the simple passed on, and suffered loss.
4 The end of humility [is] the fear of YHWH, riches, and honor, and life.
The fruit of humility 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.
Arms and swords are in the way of the perverse: but he that keepeth his own soul departeth far from them.
6 Give instruction to a youth about his way, Even when he is old he does not turn from it.
It is a proverb: A young man according to his way, even 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 ruleth over the poor: and the borrower is servant to him that lendeth.
8 Whoever is sowing perverseness reaps sorrow, And the rod of his anger wears out.
He that soweth iniquity shall reap evils, and with the rod of his anger he shall be consumed.
9 The good of eye—he is blessed, For he has given of his bread to the poor.
He that is inclined to mercy shall be blessed: for of his bread he hath given to the poor. He that maketh presents shall purchase victory and honour: but he carrieth away the souls of the receivers.
10 Cast out a scorner—and contention goes out, And strife and shame cease.
Cast out the scoffer, and contention shall go out with him, and quarrels and reproaches shall cease.
11 Whoever is loving cleanness of heart, His lips [are] grace, A king [is] his friend.
He that loveth cleanness of heart, for the grace of his lips shall have the king for his friend.
12 The eyes of YHWH have kept knowledge, And He overthrows the words of the treacherous.
The eyes of the Lord preserve knowledge: and the words of the unjust are overthrown.
13 The slothful has said, “A lion [is] outside, I am slain in the midst of the broad places.”
The slothful man saith: There is a lion without, I shall 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 strange woman is a deep pit: he whom the Lord is angry with, shall fall into it.
15 Folly is bound up in the heart of a youth, The rod of discipline puts it far from him.
Folly is bound up in the heart of a child, and the rod of correction shall drive it away.
16 He [who] is oppressing the poor to multiply his [riches], Is giving to the rich—only to want.
He that oppresseth the poor, to increase his own riches, shall himself give to one that is richer, and shall be in need.
17 Incline your ear, and hear words of the wise, And set your heart to my knowledge,
Incline thy ear, and hear the words of the wise: and apply thy heart to my doctrine:
18 For they are pleasant when you keep them in your heart, They are prepared together for your lips.
Which shall be beautiful for thee, if thou keep it in thy bowels, and it shall flow in thy lips:
19 That your trust may be in YHWH, I caused you to know today, even you.
That thy trust may be in the Lord, wherefore I have also shewn it to thee this day.
20 Have I not written to you three times With counsels and knowledge?
Behold I have described it to thee three manner of ways, in thoughts and knowledge:
21 To cause you to know the certainty of sayings of truth, To return sayings of truth to those sending you.
That I might shew thee the certainty, and the words of truth, to answer out of these to them that sent thee.
22 Do not rob the poor because he [is] poor, And do not bruise the afflicted in the gate.
Do no violence to the poor, because he is poor: and do not oppress the needy in the gate:
23 For YHWH pleads their cause, And has spoiled the soul of their spoilers.
Because the Lord will judge his cause, and will afflict them that have afflicted his soul.
24 Do not show yourself friendly with an angry man, And do not go in with a man of fury,
Be not 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 thou learn his ways, and take scandal to thy soul.
26 Do not be among those striking hands, Among sureties [for] burdens.
Be not with them that fasten down their hands, and that offer themselves sureties for debts:
27 If you have nothing to pay, Why does he take your bed from under you?
For if thou have not wherewith to restore, what cause is there, that he should take the covering from thy bed?
28 Do not remove a border of ancient times, That your fathers have made.
Pass not beyond the ancient bounds which thy 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!
Hast thou seen a man swift in his work? he shall stand before kings, and shall not be before those that are obscure.
