< Proverbs 22 >

1 A name is chosen rather than much wealth, Than silver and than gold—good grace.
A good name is to be chosen over great riches and favor is better than silver and gold.
2 Rich and poor have met together, YHWH [is] the Maker of them all.
Rich and poor people have this in common— Yahweh is the maker of all of them.
3 The prudent has seen the evil, and is hidden, And the simple have passed on, and are punished.
A prudent man sees trouble and hides himself, but the naive go on and suffer because of it.
4 The end of humility [is] the fear of YHWH, riches, and honor, and life.
The reward for humility and fear of Yahweh is riches, 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 lie in the path of the perverse; whoever guards his life will keep far from them.
6 Give instruction to a youth about his way, Even when he is old he does not turn from it.
Teach a child the way he should go and when he is old he will not turn away from that instruction.
7 The rich rules over the poor, And a servant [is] the borrower to the lender.
Rich people rule over poor people and one who borrows is a slave to the one who lends.
8 Whoever is sowing perverseness reaps sorrow, And the rod of his anger wears out.
He who sows injustice will reap trouble and the rod of his fury will fade away.
9 The good of eye—he is blessed, For he has given of his bread to the poor.
The one who has a generous eye will be blessed, for he shares his bread with the poor.
10 Cast out a scorner—and contention goes out, And strife and shame cease.
Drive away the mocker, and out goes strife; disputes and insults will cease.
11 Whoever is loving cleanness of heart, His lips [are] grace, A king [is] his friend.
The one who loves a pure heart and whose speech is gracious, he will 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 Yahweh keep watch over knowledge, but he overthrows 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 lazy person says, “There is a lion in the street! I will be killed in the open places.”
14 The mouth of strange women [is] a deep pit, The abhorred of YHWH falls there.
The mouth of an adulteress is a deep pit; Yahweh's anger is stirred up against anyone who falls into it.
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 discipline drives it far away.
16 He [who] is oppressing the poor to multiply his [riches], Is giving to the rich—only to want.
The one who oppresses poor people to increase his wealth, or gives to rich people, will come to poverty.
17 Incline your ear, and hear words of the wise, And set your heart to my knowledge,
Incline your ear and listen to the words of the wise and apply your heart to my knowledge,
18 For they are pleasant when you keep them in your heart, They are prepared together for your lips.
for it will be pleasant for you if you keep them within you, if all of them are ready on your lips.
19 That your trust may be in YHWH, I caused you to know today, even you.
So your trust may be in Yahweh, I teach them to you today—even to you.
20 Have I not written to you three times With counsels and knowledge?
Have I not written for you thirty sayings of instruction and knowledge,
21 To cause you to know the certainty of sayings of truth, To return sayings of truth to those sending you.
to teach you truth in these trustworthy words, so you may give trustworthy answers to those who sent you?
22 Do not rob the poor because he [is] poor, And do not bruise the afflicted in the gate.
Do not rob the poor because he is poor, or crush the needy at the gate,
23 For YHWH pleads their cause, And has spoiled the soul of their spoilers.
for Yahweh will plead their case, and he will rob of life those who robbed them.
24 Do not show yourself friendly with an angry man, And do not go in with a man of fury,
Do not make a friend of someone who is ruled by anger and you must not go with one who rages,
25 Lest you learn his paths, And have received a snare to your soul.
or you will learn his ways and you will take bait for your soul.
26 Do not be among those striking hands, Among sureties [for] burdens.
Do not be one who strikes hands in making a pledge, or who puts up security for debts.
27 If you have nothing to pay, Why does he take your bed from under you?
If you lack the means to pay, what could stop someone from taking away your bed from under you?
28 Do not remove a border of ancient times, That your fathers have made.
Do not remove the ancient boundary stone that 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!
Do you see a man skilled at his work? He will stand before kings; he will not stand before common people.

< Proverbs 22 >