Proverbs 22
1 A name is chosen rather than much wealth, Than silver and than gold—good grace.
A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches, and loving favour rather than silver and gold.
2 Rich and poor have met together, YHWH [is] the Maker of them all.
The rich and the poor meet together — the LORD is the maker of them all.
3 The prudent has seen the evil, and is hidden, And the simple have passed on, and are punished.
A prudent man seeth the evil, and hideth himself; but the thoughtless pass on, and are punished.
4 The end of humility [is] the fear of YHWH, riches, and honor, and life.
The reward of humility is the fear of the LORD, even riches, and honour, 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 are in the way of the froward; he that keepeth his soul holdeth himself 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 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 the lender.
8 Whoever is sowing perverseness reaps sorrow, And the rod of his anger wears out.
He that soweth iniquity shall reap vanity; and the rod of his wrath shall fail.
9 The good of eye—he is blessed, For he has given of his bread to the poor.
He that hath a bountiful eye shall be blessed; for he giveth of his bread to the poor.
10 Cast out a scorner—and contention goes out, And strife and shame cease.
Cast out the scorner, and contention will go out; yea, strife and shame will cease.
11 Whoever is loving cleanness of heart, His lips [are] grace, A king [is] his friend.
He that loveth pureness of heart, that hath grace in his lips, the king shall be his friend.
12 The eyes of YHWH have kept knowledge, And He overthrows the words of the treacherous.
The eyes of the LORD preserve him that hath knowledge, but He overthroweth the words of the faithless man.
13 The slothful has said, “A lion [is] outside, I am slain in the midst of the broad places.”
The sluggard saith: 'There is a lion without; I shall be slain in the streets.'
14 The mouth of strange women [is] a deep pit, The abhorred of YHWH falls there.
The mouth of strange women is a deep pit: he that is abhorred of the LORD shall fall therein.
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 correction shall drive it far from him.
16 He [who] is oppressing the poor to multiply his [riches], Is giving to the rich—only to want.
One may oppress the poor, yet will their gain increase; one may give to the rich, yet will want come.
17 Incline your ear, and hear words of the wise, And set your heart to my knowledge,
Incline thine ear, and hear the words of the wise, and apply thy heart unto my knowledge.
18 For they are pleasant when you keep them in your heart, They are prepared together for your lips.
For it is a pleasant thing if thou keep them within thee; let them be established altogether upon 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, I have made them known to thee this day, even to thee.
20 Have I not written to you three times With counsels and knowledge?
Have not I written unto thee excellent things of counsels 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 make thee know the certainty of the words of truth, that thou mightest bring back words of truth to them that send thee?
22 Do not rob the poor because he [is] poor, And do not bruise the afflicted in the gate.
Rob not the weak, because he is weak, neither crush the poor in the gate;
23 For YHWH pleads their cause, And has spoiled the soul of their spoilers.
For the LORD will plead their cause, and despoil of life those that despoil them.
24 Do not show yourself friendly with an angry man, And do not go in with a man of fury,
Make no friendship with a man that is given to anger; and with a wrathful man thou shalt not go;
25 Lest you learn his paths, And have received a snare to your soul.
Lest thou learn his ways, and get a snare to thy soul.
26 Do not be among those striking hands, Among sureties [for] burdens.
Be thou not of them that strike hands, or of them that are sureties for debts;
27 If you have nothing to pay, Why does he take your bed from under you?
If thou hast not wherewith to pay, why should he take away thy bed from under thee?
28 Do not remove a border of ancient times, That your fathers have made.
Remove not the ancient landmark, 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!
Seest thou a man diligent in his business? he shall stand before kings; he shall not stand before mean men.
