Proverbs 22
1 (Having a good reputation/Being honored by people) is better than having a lot of money; being well respected is better than having plenty of gold or silver [DOU].
More choice, is a name, than great riches, beyond silver and gold, is pleasant grace.
2 There is one thing that is true about both rich people and poor people: Yahweh is the one who created all of them.
The rich and the poor, meet together, the maker of them all, is Yahweh.
3 Those who have good sense realize [that there is something] dangerous ahead, and they avoid it; those who do not have good sense just keep going and later they will suffer because of doing that.
A prudent man, seeth calamity, and hideth himself, but, the simple, pass on, and suffer.
4 The reward that Yahweh gives to those who are humble and who revere him is that he causes them to be rich and honored and to live for a long time.
The reward of humility, is the reverence of Yahweh, riches, and honour, and life.
5 Because of the things that wicked people do, [they have difficulties/troubles] that will be like thorns and traps on the roads that they walk on [MET]; people who are careful/cautious will be able to stay away from those difficulties.
Thorns and snares, are in the way of the perverse, —he that guardeth his soul, shall be far from them.
6 If you train/teach children to do what is right, all during their life they will act/behave in that manner.
Train up a youth, in the direction of his duty, even when he becometh old, he will not depart from it.
7 Rich people rule over poor people harshly, and those who borrow money become like slaves [MET] of the people who lend [money to them].
The rich, over the poor, beareth rule, —and, slave, is the borrower to the lender.
8 [If you plant corn or rice, corn or rice will grow]; [similarly], if you act unjustly, you will have disasters [MET]; and if you try to harm/oppress people [because you are angry with them], you will not be able to harm them.
He that soweth perversity, shall reap trouble, and, the rod of his wrath, shall be ready.
9 [God] will bless those who are generous [IDM], those who give some of their food to poor [people].
A benevolent eye, the same, shall be blessed, —because he hath given of his bread to the poor.
10 If you get rid of those who make fun of [everything that is good], there will no more arguing or quarreling or insulting [other people].
Drive away the scoffer, that strife may depart, and quarrel, and contempt may cease.
11 If you always act sincerely [IDM] and always speak kindly, the king will be your friend.
Yahweh loveth the pure in heart, gracious are his lips, his friend is the king!
12 Yahweh [SYN] (watches over/takes care of) [those who have] good understanding/sense, but he ruins the plans/affairs of those who always try to deceive others.
The eyes of Yahweh, watch over knowledge, therefore hath he overturned the words of the treacherous.
13 Lazy people [remain in their houses]; they say, “A lion might attack me if I go out into the street [to go to work]!”
Saith the sluggard, A lion outside! Amidst the broadways, shall I be slain.
14 What (wives who commit adultery/immoral women) say [to men] [MTY] is [like] a deep pit [MET] [into which those men fall]; those with whom Yahweh is angry will fall into that pit.
A deep chasm, is the mouth of strange women, he with whom Yahweh is indignant, falleth there.
15 Children [SYN] naturally do things that are foolish, but if you punish/spank them [PRS], they [will] (stop doing foolish things/learn to behave as they should).
Foolishness, is bound up in the heart of a youth, the rod of correction, shall drive it far from him.
16 Those who oppress poor [people] in order to become rich, and those who give [a bribe] to rich [people in order that the rich people will do a favor for them], will just lose their money.
He that oppresseth the poor, to make increase for himself, giving to the rich, shall surely come to want.
17 [Now] listen [MTY] to what wise [people] have said; think carefully about what I am teaching you.
Incline thine ear and hear the words of wise men, then, thy heart, wilt thou apply to my teaching;
18 It will be good to (keep these things in your minds/always remember them), because if you do that, you will be able to quote/recite them [to others].
For sweet shall they be, when thou shalt keep them in thine inmost mind, they shall fit well together, upon thy lips.
19 [I want you to] trust in Yahweh, and that is the reason that I am telling them to you, now.
That in Yahweh may be thy trust, I have made them known to thee to-day, even to thee.
20 I have written [RHQ] 30 (sayings/things that wise people have said) from which you will receive good advice and you will be able you to know [many good/useful things].
Have I not written for thee noble things, with counsels and knowledge:
21 From them, you will learn what is right and what is true, in order that you will be able to bring back a good report to those who sent you [to school] (OR, give a good answer [to those who ask you questions]).
To cause thee to know the meaning of faithful sayings, that thou mayest give back faithful sayings to them who ask thee.
22 [It is easy to] rob poor [people] who are helpless [and cannot defend themselves, but] never [do that]; and do not oppress in court those who are needy/afflicted,
Do not rob the poor, because he is poor, neither crush thou the oppressed in the gate;
23 because Yahweh will speak to defend them, and he will punish those who steal things from others—by causing them to die.
For, Yahweh, will plead their cause, and will despoil their despoilers of life.
24 Do not become friends with those who often become angry, and do not associate with those who cannot control their temper/anger,
Do not have friendship with one given to anger, and, with a wrathful man, shall thou not enter in:
25 because you might start to act like they do and not be able to stop doing that.
Lest thou learn his ways, and take a snare to thy soul.
26 If someone borrows money, do not be one of those who promises to pay what that person owes he cannot pay it back,
Be not of them who strike hands, of them who are sureties for debts:
27 because if you cannot pay it back, people will surely [RHQ] [come and] take away [everything you own], even your bed.
If thou hast nothing to pay, why should one take away thy bed from under thee?
28 Do not [steal some of your neighbors’ land by] removing the boundary lines/markers that your ancestors placed/set.
Do not move back the ancient boundary, which thy father’s made.
29 Know/Learn [RHQ] this about those who do their work very skillfully: They will quit working for ordinary people and will start working for kings [because the kings will want people like that to work for them].
Seest thou a man prompt in his business? before kings, shall he stand, he shall not stand before men who are obscure.
