Proverbs 22
1 A good name is more desirable than great riches, and loving favor is better than silver and gold.
A good reputation is a much better choice than plenty of money; respect is better than silver and gold.
2 The rich and the poor have this in common: Jehovah is the maker of them all.
The rich and the poor have this in common: the Lord created them all.
3 The shrewd see danger and take cover, but the naive keep on going and suffer for it.
If you're sensible you see danger coming and get out of the way; but stupid people just keep going and pay for it.
4 The result of humility and the fear of Jehovah is wealth, honor, and life.
The reward you receive for being humble and respecting the Lord is wealth, honor, and life.
5 Thorns and snares are in the path of the wicked: whoever guards his soul stays from them.
Thorns and traps lie in the path of crooked people; those who value their lives will stay away from them.
6 Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it.
Teach children the right way to live, and when they grow up they'll go on doing so.
7 The rich rule over the poor. The borrower is servant to the lender.
The rich rule the poor, and borrowers are slaves to their lenders.
8 He who sows wickedness reaps trouble, and the rod of his fury will fail. God blesses a cheerful and generous person, but the vanity of his deeds he will bring to an end.
Those who sow injustice will reap disaster, and the angry beatings they inflict on others will be stopped.
9 He who has a generous eye will be blessed; for he shares his food with the poor.
If you're generous, you'll be blessed, for you share your food with those in need.
10 Drive out the mocker, and strife will go out; yes, quarrels and insults will stop.
Get rid of the scornful, and you'll get rid of conflict too—no more arguments or insults!
11 He who loves purity of heart and speaks gracefully is the king's friend.
Anyone who loves sincerity and a gracious way of speaking will have the king as their friend.
12 The eyes of Jehovah watch over knowledge; but he frustrates the words of the unfaithful.
The Lord watches over true knowledge, but counteracts the words of liars.
13 The sluggard says, "There is a lion outside. I will be killed in the streets."
Lazy people make claims like, “There's a lion outside! I might be killed if I go out there!”
14 The mouth of an adulteress is a deep pit: he who is under Jehovah's wrath will fall into it.
The seductive words of an immoral woman are a dangerous trap—if the Lord's angry with you, then you'll fall right in.
15 Folly is bound up in the heart of a child: the rod of discipline drives it far from him.
Children are naturally foolish; physical correction helps them to see sense.
16 Whoever oppresses the poor for his own increase and whoever gives to the rich, both come to poverty.
If you oppress the poor to make yourself rich, or if you're generous to the rich, you'll end up poor yourself.
17 The words of the wise: Incline your ear and hear my words, and apply your heart to my instruction.
Pay attention and listen to the words of the wise, and think carefully about my teachings—
18 For it is a pleasant thing if you keep them within you, if all of them are ready on your lips.
for it's good to keep them in mind so you can be ready to share them.
19 That your trust may be in Jehovah, I teach you today, even you.
I'm explaining this to you today so you can trust in the Lord—yes, you!
20 Haven't I written to you thirty excellent things of counsel and knowledge,
Haven't I written down for you thirty sayings of advice and wisdom?
21 To teach you truth, reliable words, to give sound answers to the ones who sent you?
They are to make it clear to you what's right and true, so you can give a truthful explanation to those who sent you.
22 Do not exploit the poor, because he is poor; and do not crush the needy in court;
For you shouldn't steal from the poor just because they're poor; and you shouldn't crush those with limited means in court,
23 for Jehovah will plead their case, and plunder the life of those who plunder them.
for the Lord will plead their case, and he will take back whatever was stolen from them.
24 Do not befriend a hot-tempered man, and do not associate with one who harbors anger:
Don't make friends with someone who gets upset easily; don't associate with angry people,
25 lest you learn his ways, and ensnare your soul.
in case you learn to be like them and make a mess of your life.
26 Do not be one of those who strike hands, of those who are collateral for debts.
Don't shake hands and guarantee someone's debt,
27 If you do not have means to pay, why should he take away your bed from under you?
for if you can't pay, why should your bed be taken away from beneath you?
28 Do not move the ancient boundary stone, which your fathers have set up.
Don't move ancient boundary markers that your forefathers put in place.
29 Do you see a man skilled in his work? He will serve kings. He won't serve obscure men.
If you see someone skilled in what they do, they'll work for kings and not for ordinary people.
