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 better is good-will 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.
The prudent man seeth the evil, and hideth himself; But the simple rush 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 honor 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 deceitful; He that will preserve his life will 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 accordance with his way, 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 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 who soweth iniquity shall reap calamity, And the rod of his punishment is prepared.
9 The good of eye—he is blessed, For he has given of his bread to the poor.
He who hath a bountiful eye shall be blessed, Because 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 scoffer, and contention will go out; Yea, strife and reproach will cease.
11 Whoever is loving cleanness of heart, His lips [are] grace, A king [is] his friend.
He who loveth purity of heart, Grace is upon his lips, and the king will be 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; But he overthroweth the words of the treacherous.
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 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 with whom the LORD is angry shall fall therein.
15 Folly is bound up in the heart of a youth, The rod of discipline puts it far from him.
Folly is bound to the heart of a child; But the rod of correction will 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 oppresseth the poor to increase his wealth, And he that giveth to the rich, shall surely come to want.
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 give heed to my instruction!
18 For they are pleasant when you keep them in your heart, They are prepared together for your lips.
For it will be a pleasant thing, if thou keep them in thy bosom, When they are altogether established 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 this day given to thee instruction, yea, to thee.
20 Have I not written to you three times With counsels and knowledge?
Behold, I have written to thee excellent things Concerning counsel 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 may make thee know rectitude, and words of truth; That thou mayst 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 poor man, because he is poor, Nor crush thou the destitute at the gate;
23 For YHWH pleads their cause, And has spoiled the soul of their spoilers.
For the LORD will maintain their cause, And despoil their spoilers of life.
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 passionate man, Nor be the companion of a man prone to wrath;
25 Lest you learn his paths, And have received a snare to your soul.
Lest thou learn his ways, And take to thyself a snare.
26 Do not be among those striking hands, Among sureties [for] burdens.
Be not thou one of those who strike hands, Of those who are sureties for debts.
27 If you have nothing to pay, Why does he take your bed from under you?
When thou hast nothing to pay, Why should thy bed be taken 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 made.
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 be the minister of kings; He shall not serve obscure men.
