Proverbs 22
1 A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches; And better is good-will than silver and gold.
A fair name is better than much wealth, and good favour is above silver and gold.
2 The rich and the poor meet together; The LORD is the Maker of them all.
The rich and the poor meet together; but the Lord made them both.
3 The prudent man seeth the evil, and hideth himself; But the simple rush on, and are punished.
An intelligent man seeing a bad man severely punished is himself instructed, but fools pass by and are punished.
4 By humility and the fear of the LORD Are 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 deceitful; He that will preserve his life will be far from them.
Thistles and snares are in perverse ways; but he that keeps his soul will refrain from them.
6 Train up a child in accordance with his way, And when he is old he will not depart from it.
7 The rich ruleth over the poor, And the borrower is servant to the lender.
The rich will rule over the poor, and servants will lend to their own masters.
8 He who soweth iniquity shall reap calamity, And the rod of his punishment is prepared.
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 He who hath a bountiful eye shall be blessed, Because he giveth 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 honour; but he takes away the life of them that posses [them].
10 Cast out the scoffer, and contention will go out; Yea, strife and reproach will cease.
Cast out a pestilent person from the council, and strife shall go out with him; for when he sits in the council he dishonours all.
11 He who loveth purity of heart, Grace is upon his lips, and the king will be 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 the LORD watch over knowledge; But he overthroweth the words of the treacherous.
But the eyes of the Lord preserve discretion; but the transgressor despises [wise] words.
13 The slothful man saith, “There is a lion without; I shall be slain in the streets.”
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; He with whom the LORD is angry shall fall therein.
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 to the heart of a child; But the rod of correction will drive 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 that oppresseth the poor to increase his wealth, And he that giveth to the rich, shall surely come to want.
He that oppresses the poor, increases his own substance, yet gives to the rich so as to make it less.
17 Incline thine ear, and hear the words of the wise, And give heed to my instruction!
Incline thine ear to the words of wise men: hear also my word, and apply thine heart,
18 For it will be a pleasant thing, if thou keep them in thy bosom, When they are altogether established upon thy lips.
that thou mayest know that they are good: and if thou lay them to heart, they shall also gladden thee on thy lips.
19 That thy trust may be in the LORD, I have this day given to thee instruction, yea, to thee.
That thy hope may be in the Lord, and he may make thy way known to thee.
20 Behold, I have written to thee excellent things Concerning counsel and knowledge;
And do thou too repeatedly record them for thyself on the table of thine heart, for counsel and knowledge.
21 That I may make thee know rectitude, and words of truth; That thou mayst bring back words of truth to them that send thee.
I therefore teach thee truth, and knowledge good to hear; that thou mayest answer words of truth to them that question thee.
22 Rob not the poor man, because he is poor, Nor crush thou the destitute at the gate;
Do no violence to the poor, for he is needy: neither dishonour the helpless [man] in the gates.
23 For the LORD will maintain their cause, And despoil their spoilers of life.
For the Lord will plead his cause, and thou shalt deliver thy soul in safety.
24 Make no friendship with a passionate man, Nor be the companion of a man prone to wrath;
Be not companion to a furious man; neither lodge with a passionate man:
25 Lest thou learn his ways, And take to thyself a snare.
lest thou learn of his ways, and get snares to thy soul.
26 Be not thou one of those who strike hands, Of those who are sureties for debts.
Become not surety from respect of a man's person.
27 When thou hast nothing to pay, Why should thy bed be taken from under thee?
For if those have not whence to give compensation, they will take the bed [that is] under thee.
28 Remove not the ancient landmark, Which thy fathers have made.
Remove not the old landmarks, which thy fathers placed.
29 Seest thou a man diligent in his business? He shall be the minister of kings; He shall not serve 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.
