Proverbs 22

1 A [good] name is rather to be chosen than great riches, [and] loving favour rather than silver and gold.

A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches; And better is good-will 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 A prudent man seeth the evil, and hideth himself: but the simple pass on, and suffer for it.

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

4 The reward of humility [and] the fear of the LORD [is] riches, and honour, and life.

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

5 Thorns [and] snares are in the way of the froward: he that keepeth his soul shall be far from them.

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

6 Train up a child in the way he should go, and even when he is old he will not depart from it.

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 ruleth over the poor, And the borrower is servant to the lender.

8 He that soweth iniquity shall reap calamity: and the rod of his wrath shall fail.

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

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

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

10 Cast out the scorner, and contention shall go out; yea, strife and ignominy shall cease.

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

11 He that loveth pureness of heart, [for] the grace of his lips the king shall be his friend.

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

12 The eyes of the LORD preserve [him that hath] knowledge, but he overthroweth the words of the treacherous man.

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

13 The sluggard saith, There is a lion without: I shall be murdered in the streets.

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

14 The mouth of strange women is a deep pit: he that is abhorred of the LORD shall fall therein.

The mouth of strange women is a deep pit; He with whom the LORD is angry shall fall therein.

15 Foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child; [but] the rod of correction shall drive it far from him.

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

16 He that oppresseth the poor to increase his [gain, and] he that giveth to the rich, [cometh] only to want.

He that oppresseth the poor to increase his wealth, And he that giveth to the rich, shall surely come to want.

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

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

18 For it is a pleasant thing if thou keep them within thee, if they be established together upon thy lips.

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

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

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

20 Have not I written unto thee excellent things of counsels and knowledge;

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

21 To make thee know the certainty of the words of truth, that thou mayest carry back words of truth to them that send thee?

That I may make thee know rectitude, and words of truth; That thou mayst bring back words of truth to them that send thee.

22 Rob not the poor, because he is poor, neither oppress the afflicted in the gate:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

26 Be thou not one of them that strike hands, [or] of them that are sureties for debts:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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