Proverbs 22
1 A name is chosen rather than much wealth, Than silver and than gold—good grace.
A fair name is better than much wealth, and good favor is above silver and gold.
2 Rich and poor have met together, YHWH [is] the Maker of them all.
The rich and the poor meet together; but the Lord made them both.
3 The prudent has seen the evil, and is hidden, And the simple have passed on, and are punished.
An intelligent man seeing a bad man severely punished is himself instructed, but fools pass by and are punished.
4 The end of humility [is] the fear of YHWH, riches, and honor, and life.
The fear of the Lord is the offspring of wisdom, and wealth, and glory, and life.
5 Thorns [and] snares [are] in the way of the perverse, Whoever is keeping his soul is far from them.
Thistles and snares are in perverse ways; but he that keeps his soul will refrain from them.
6 Give instruction to a youth about his way, Even when he is old he does not turn from it.
7 The rich rules over the poor, And a servant [is] the borrower to the lender.
The rich will rule over the poor, and servants will lend to their own masters.
8 Whoever is sowing perverseness reaps sorrow, And the rod of his anger wears out.
He that sows wickedness shall reap troubles; and shall fully receive the punishment of his deeds. God loves a cheerful and liberal man; but [a man] shall fully prove the folly of his works.
9 The good of eye—he is blessed, For he has given of his bread to the poor.
He that has pity on the poor shall himself be maintained; for he has given of his own bread to the poor. He that gives liberally secures victory an honor; but he takes away the life of them that posses [them].
10 Cast out a scorner—and contention goes out, And strife and shame cease.
Cast out a pestilent person from the council, and strife shall go out with him; for when he sits in the council he dishonors all.
11 Whoever is loving cleanness of heart, His lips [are] grace, A king [is] his friend.
The Lord loves holy hearts, and all blameless persons are acceptable with him: a king rules with his lips.
12 The eyes of YHWH have kept knowledge, And He overthrows the words of the treacherous.
But the eyes of the Lord preserve discretion; but the transgressor despises [wise] words.
13 The slothful has said, “A lion [is] outside, I am slain in the midst of the broad places.”
The sluggard makes excuses, and says, [There is] a lion in the ways, and murderers in the streets.
14 The mouth of strange women [is] a deep pit, The abhorred of YHWH falls there.
The mouth of a transgressor is a deep pit; and he that is hated of the Lord shall fall into it. Evil ways are before a man, and he does not like to turn away from them; but it is needful to turn aside from a perverse and bad way.
15 Folly is bound up in the heart of a youth, The rod of discipline puts it far from him.
Folly is attached to the heart of a child, but the rod and instruction are [then] 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, increases his own substance, yet gives to the rich so as to make it less.
17 Incline your ear, and hear words of the wise, And set your heart to my knowledge,
Incline your ear to the words of wise men: hear also my word, and apply your heart,
18 For they are pleasant when you keep them in your heart, They are prepared together for your lips.
that you may know that they are good: and if you lay them to heart, they shall also gladden you on your lips.
19 That your trust may be in YHWH, I caused you to know today, even you.
That your hope may be in the Lord, and he may make your way known to you.
20 Have I not written to you three times With counsels and knowledge?
And do you too repeatedly record them for yourself on the table of your heart, for counsel and knowledge.
21 To cause you to know the certainty of sayings of truth, To return sayings of truth to those sending you.
I therefore teach you truth, and knowledge good to hear; that you may answer words of truth to them that question you.
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, for he is needy: neither dishonor the helpless [man] in the gates.
23 For YHWH pleads their cause, And has spoiled the soul of their spoilers.
For the Lord will plead his cause, and you shall deliver your soul in safety.
24 Do not show yourself friendly with an angry man, And do not go in with a man of fury,
Be not companion to a furious man; neither lodge with a passionate man:
25 Lest you learn his paths, And have received a snare to your soul.
lest you learn of his ways, and get snares to your soul.
26 Do not be among those striking hands, Among sureties [for] burdens.
Become not surety from respect of a man's person.
27 If you have nothing to pay, Why does he take your bed from under you?
For if those have not whence to give compensation, they will take the bed [that is] under you.
28 Do not remove a border of ancient times, That your fathers have made.
Remove not the old landmarks, which your fathers placed.
29 Have you seen a man speedy in his business? He stations himself before kings, He does not station himself before obscure men!
It is fit that an observant man and [one] diligent in his business should attend on kings, and not attend on slothful men.
