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 to be chosen over great riches and favor is better than silver and gold.
2 The rich and the poor meet together; The LORD 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 man seeth the evil, and hideth himself; But the simple rush on, and are punished.
A prudent man sees trouble and hides himself, but the naive go on and suffer because of it.
4 By humility and the fear of the LORD Are 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 deceitful; He that will preserve his life will be far from them.
Thorns and snares lie in the path of the perverse; whoever guards his life will keep far from them.
6 Train up a child in accordance with his way, And when he is old he will not depart 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 ruleth over the poor, And the borrower is servant to the lender.
Rich people rule over poor people and one who borrows is a slave to the one who lends.
8 He who soweth iniquity shall reap calamity, And the rod of his punishment is prepared.
He who sows injustice will reap trouble and the rod of his fury will fade away.
9 He who hath a bountiful eye shall be blessed, Because he giveth 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 the scoffer, and contention will go out; Yea, strife and reproach will cease.
Drive away the mocker, and out goes strife; disputes and insults will cease.
11 He who loveth purity of heart, Grace is upon his lips, and the king will be 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 the LORD watch over knowledge; But he overthroweth the words of the treacherous.
The eyes of Yahweh keep watch over knowledge, but he overthrows the words of the treacherous.
13 The slothful man saith, “There is a lion without; I shall be slain in the streets.”
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; He with whom the LORD is angry shall fall therein.
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 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 discipline drives it far away.
16 He that oppresseth the poor to increase his wealth, And he that giveth to the rich, shall surely come to want.
The one who oppresses poor people to increase his wealth, or gives to rich people, will come to poverty.
17 Incline thine ear, and hear the words of the wise, And give heed to my instruction!
Incline your ear and listen to the words of the wise and apply your heart to 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 will be pleasant for you if you keep them within you, if all of them are ready on your lips.
19 That thy trust may be in the LORD, I have this day given to thee instruction, yea, to thee.
So your trust may be in Yahweh, I teach them to you today—even to you.
20 Behold, I have written to thee excellent things Concerning counsel and knowledge;
Have I not written for you thirty sayings of instruction 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.
to teach you truth in these trustworthy words, so you may give trustworthy answers to those who sent you?
22 Rob not the poor man, because he is poor, Nor crush thou the destitute at the gate;
Do not rob the poor because he is poor, or crush the needy at the gate,
23 For the LORD will maintain their cause, And despoil their spoilers of life.
for Yahweh will plead their case, and he will rob of life those who robbed them.
24 Make no friendship with a passionate man, Nor be the companion of a man prone to wrath;
Do not make a friend of someone who is ruled by anger and you must not go with one who rages,
25 Lest thou learn his ways, And take to thyself a snare.
or you will learn his ways and you will take bait for your soul.
26 Be not thou one of those who strike hands, Of those who are sureties for debts.
Do not be one who strikes hands in making a pledge, or who puts up security for debts.
27 When thou hast nothing to pay, Why should thy bed be taken from under thee?
If you lack the means to pay, what could stop someone from taking away your bed from under you?
28 Remove not the ancient landmark, Which thy fathers have made.
Do not remove the ancient boundary stone that your 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.
Do you see a man skilled at his work? He will stand before kings; he will not stand before common people.
