Proverbs 22
1 More choice, is a name, than great riches, beyond silver and gold, is pleasant grace.
A good name is more to be desired than great wealth, and to be respected is better than silver and gold.
2 The rich and the poor, meet together, the maker of them all, is Yahweh.
The man of wealth and the poor man come face to face: the Lord is the maker of them all.
3 A prudent man, seeth calamity, and hideth himself, but, the simple, pass on, and suffer.
The sharp man sees the evil and takes cover: the simple go straight on and get into trouble.
4 The reward of humility, is the reverence of Yahweh, riches, and honour, and life.
The reward of a gentle spirit and the fear of the Lord is wealth and honour and life.
5 Thorns and snares, are in the way of the perverse, —he that guardeth his soul, shall be far from them.
Thorns and nets are in the way of the twisted: he who keeps watch over his soul will be far from them.
6 Train up a youth, in the direction of his duty, even when he becometh old, he will not depart from it.
If a child is trained up in the right way, even when he is old he will not be turned away from it.
7 The rich, over the poor, beareth rule, —and, slave, is the borrower to the lender.
The man of wealth has rule over the poor, and he who gets into debt is a servant to his creditor.
8 He that soweth perversity, shall reap trouble, and, the rod of his wrath, shall be ready.
By planting the seed of evil a man will get in the grain of sorrow, and the rod of his wrath will be broken.
9 A benevolent eye, the same, shall be blessed, —because he hath given of his bread to the poor.
He who is kind will have a blessing, for he gives of his bread to the poor.
10 Drive away the scoffer, that strife may depart, and quarrel, and contempt may cease.
Send away the man of pride, and argument will go out; truly fighting and shame will come to an end.
11 Yahweh loveth the pure in heart, gracious are his lips, his friend is the king!
He whose heart is clean is dear to the Lord; for the grace of his lips the king will be his friend.
12 The eyes of Yahweh, watch over knowledge, therefore hath he overturned the words of the treacherous.
The eyes of the Lord keep knowledge, but by him the acts of the false man will be overturned.
13 Saith the sluggard, A lion outside! Amidst the broadways, shall I be slain.
The hater of work says, There is a lion outside: I will be put to death in the streets.
14 A deep chasm, is the mouth of strange women, he with whom Yahweh is indignant, falleth there.
The mouth of strange women is a deep hole: he with whom the Lord is angry will go down into it.
15 Foolishness, is bound up in the heart of a youth, the rod of correction, shall drive it far from him.
Foolish ways are deep-seated in the heart of a child, but the rod of punishment will send them far from him.
16 He that oppresseth the poor, to make increase for himself, giving to the rich, shall surely come to want.
He who is cruel to the poor for the purpose of increasing his profit, and he who gives to the man of wealth, will only come to be in need.
17 Incline thine ear and hear the words of wise men, then, thy heart, wilt thou apply to my teaching;
Let your ear be bent down for hearing my words, and let your heart give thought to knowledge.
18 For sweet shall they be, when thou shalt keep them in thine inmost mind, they shall fit well together, upon thy lips.
For it is a delight to keep them in your heart, to have them ready on your lips.
19 That in Yahweh may be thy trust, I have made them known to thee to-day, even to thee.
So that your faith may be in the Lord, I have made them clear to you this day, even to you.
20 Have I not written for thee noble things, with counsels and knowledge:
Have I not put in writing for you thirty sayings, with wise suggestions and knowledge,
21 To cause thee to know the meaning of faithful sayings, that thou mayest give back faithful sayings to them who ask thee.
To make you see how certain are true words, so that you may give a true answer to those who put questions to you?
22 Do not rob the poor, because he is poor, neither crush thou the oppressed in the gate;
Do not take away the property of the poor man because he is poor, or be cruel to the crushed ones when they come before the judge:
23 For, Yahweh, will plead their cause, and will despoil their despoilers of life.
For the Lord will give support to their cause, and take the life of those who take their goods.
24 Do not have friendship with one given to anger, and, with a wrathful man, shall thou not enter in:
Do not be friends with a man who is given to wrath; do not go in the company of an angry man:
25 Lest thou learn his ways, and take a snare to thy soul.
For fear of learning his ways and making a net ready for your soul.
26 Be not of them who strike hands, of them who are sureties for debts:
Be not one of those who give their hands in an agreement, or of those who make themselves responsible for debts:
27 If thou hast nothing to pay, why should one take away thy bed from under thee?
If you have nothing with which to make payment, he will take away your bed from under you.
28 Do not move back the ancient boundary, which thy father’s made.
Let not the old landmark be moved which your fathers have put in place.
29 Seest thou a man prompt in his business? before kings, shall he stand, he shall not stand before men who are obscure.
Have you seen a man who is expert in his business? he will take his place before kings; his place will not be among low persons.
