Proverbs 22

1 A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches; And better is good-will than silver and gold.

A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches, and loving favour rather than 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 — the LORD is the maker of them all.

3 The prudent man seeth the evil, and hideth himself; But the simple rush on, and are punished.

A prudent man seeth the evil, and hideth himself; but the thoughtless pass on, and are punished.

4 By humility and the fear of the LORD Are riches and honor and life.

The reward of humility is the fear of the LORD, even riches, and honour, and life.

5 Thorns and snares are in the way of the deceitful; He that will preserve his life will be far from them.

Thorns and snares are in the way of the froward; he that keepeth his soul holdeth himself far from them.

6 Train up a child in accordance with his way, And when he is old he will not depart from it.

Train up a child in the way he should go, and even 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 ruleth over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender.

8 He who soweth iniquity shall reap calamity, And the rod of his punishment is prepared.

He that soweth iniquity shall reap vanity; and the rod of his wrath shall fail.

9 He who hath a bountiful eye shall be blessed, Because he giveth of his bread to the poor.

He that hath a bountiful eye shall be blessed; for he giveth of his bread to the poor.

10 Cast out the scoffer, and contention will go out; Yea, strife and reproach will cease.

Cast out the scorner, and contention will go out; yea, strife and shame will cease.

11 He who loveth purity of heart, Grace is upon his lips, and the king will be his friend.

He that loveth pureness of heart, that hath grace in his lips, the king shall be his friend.

12 The eyes of the LORD watch over knowledge; But he overthroweth the words of the treacherous.

The eyes of the LORD preserve him that hath knowledge, but He overthroweth the words of the faithless man.

13 The slothful man saith, “There is a lion without; I shall be slain in the streets.”

The sluggard saith: 'There is a lion without; I shall be slain 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 strange women is a deep pit: he that is abhorred of the LORD shall fall therein.

15 Folly is bound to the heart of a child; But the rod of correction will drive it far from him.

Foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child; but the rod of correction shall drive it 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.

One may oppress the poor, yet will their gain increase; one may give to the rich, yet will want come.

17 Incline thine ear, and hear the words of the wise, And give heed to my instruction!

Incline thine ear, and hear the words of the wise, and apply thy heart unto my knowledge.

18 For it will be a pleasant thing, if thou keep them in thy bosom, When they are altogether established upon thy lips.

For it is a pleasant thing if thou keep them within thee; let them be established altogether upon thy lips.

19 That thy trust may be in the LORD, I have this day given to thee instruction, yea, to thee.

That thy trust may be in the LORD, I have made them known to thee this day, even to thee.

20 Behold, I have written to thee excellent things Concerning counsel and knowledge;

Have not I written unto thee excellent things of counsels 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.

That I might make thee know the certainty of the words of truth, that thou mightest bring back words of truth to them that send thee?

22 Rob not the poor man, because he is poor, Nor crush thou the destitute at the gate;

Rob not the weak, because he is weak, neither crush the poor in the gate;

23 For the LORD will maintain their cause, And despoil their spoilers of life.

For the LORD will plead their cause, and despoil of life those that despoil them.

24 Make no friendship with a passionate man, Nor be the companion of a man prone to wrath;

Make no friendship with a man that is given to anger; and with a wrathful man thou shalt not go;

25 Lest thou learn his ways, And take to thyself a snare.

Lest thou learn his ways, and get a snare to thy soul.

26 Be not thou one of those who strike hands, Of those who are sureties for debts.

Be thou not of them that strike hands, or of them that are sureties for debts;

27 When thou hast nothing to pay, Why should thy bed be taken from under thee?

If thou hast not wherewith to pay, why should he take away thy bed from under thee?

28 Remove not the ancient landmark, Which thy fathers have made.

Remove not the ancient landmark, which thy fathers have set.

29 Seest thou a man diligent in his business? He shall be the minister of kings; He shall not serve obscure men.

Seest thou a man diligent in his business? he shall stand before kings; he shall not stand before mean men.