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 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 forsees the evil, and hides himself: but the simple pass on, and are punished.
4 The end of humility [is] the fear of YHWH, riches, and honor, and life.
By humility and the fear of the LORD are 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 perverse: he that does keep his soul shall be 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 rules 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 sows iniquity shall reap vanity: and the rod of his anger shall fail.
9 The good of eye—he is blessed, For he has given of his bread to the poor.
He that has a bountiful eye shall be blessed; for he gives 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 shall go out; yea, strife and reproach shall cease.
11 Whoever is loving cleanness of heart, His lips [are] grace, A king [is] his friend.
He that loves pureness of heart, for the grace of 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 knowledge, and he overthrows the words of the transgressor.
13 The slothful has said, “A lion [is] outside, I am slain in the midst of the broad places.”
The slothful man says, 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 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.
He that oppresses the poor to increase his riches, and he that gives to the rich, shall surely come to lack.
17 Incline your ear, and hear words of the wise, And set your heart to my knowledge,
Bow down your ear, and hear the words of the wise, and apply your 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 you keep them within you; they shall likewise be fitted in your lips.
19 That your trust may be in YHWH, I caused you to know today, even you.
That your trust may be in the LORD, I have made known to you this day, even to you.
20 Have I not written to you three times With counsels and knowledge?
Have not I written to you excellent things in 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 you know the certainty of the words of truth; that you might answer the words of truth to them that send unto you?
22 Do not rob the poor because he [is] poor, And do not bruise the afflicted in the gate.
Rob not the poor, because he is poor: neither oppress the afflicted 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 spoil the soul of those that spoiled 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 an angry man; and with a furious man you shall not go:
25 Lest you learn his paths, And have received a snare to your soul.
Lest you learn his ways, and get a snare to your soul.
26 Do not be among those striking hands, Among sureties [for] burdens.
Be not you one of them that shake 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 you have nothing to pay, why should he take away your bed from under you?
28 Do not remove a border of ancient times, That your fathers have made.
Remove not the ancient landmark, which 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!
See you a man diligent in his business? he shall stand before kings; he shall not stand before mean men.
