Proverbs 22
1 A good name is to be chosen over great riches and favor is better than silver and gold.
A good name is better than great riches: and good favour is above silver and gold.
2 Rich and poor people have this in common— Yahweh is the maker of all of them.
The rich and poor have met one another: the Lord is the maker of them both.
3 A prudent man sees trouble and hides himself, but the naive go on and suffer because of it.
The prudent man saw the evil, and hid himself: the simple passed on, and suffered loss.
4 The reward for humility and fear of Yahweh is riches, honor, and life.
The fruit of humility is the fear of the Lord, riches and glory and life.
5 Thorns and snares lie in the path of the perverse; whoever guards his life will keep far from them.
Arms and swords are in the way of the perverse: but he that keepeth his own soul departeth far from them.
6 Teach a child the way he should go and when he is old he will not turn away from that instruction.
It is a proverb: A young man according to his way, even when he is old he will not depart from it.
7 Rich people rule over poor people and one who borrows is a slave to the one who lends.
The rich ruleth over the poor: and the borrower is servant to him that lendeth.
8 He who sows injustice will reap trouble and the rod of his fury will fade away.
He that soweth iniquity shall reap evils, and with the rod of his anger he shall be consumed.
9 The one who has a generous eye will be blessed, for he shares his bread with the poor.
He that is inclined to mercy shall be blessed: for of his bread he hath given to the poor. He that maketh presents shall purchase victory and honour: but he carrieth away the souls of the receivers.
10 Drive away the mocker, and out goes strife; disputes and insults will cease.
Cast out the scoffer, and contention shall go out with him, and quarrels and reproaches shall cease.
11 The one who loves a pure heart and whose speech is gracious, he will have the king for his friend.
He that loveth cleanness of heart, for the grace of his lips shall have the king for his friend.
12 The eyes of Yahweh keep watch over knowledge, but he overthrows the words of the treacherous.
The eyes of the Lord preserve knowledge: and the words of the unjust are overthrown.
13 The lazy person says, “There is a lion in the street! I will be killed in the open places.”
The slothful man saith: There is a lion without, I shall be slain in the midst of the streets.
14 The mouth of an adulteress is a deep pit; Yahweh's anger is stirred up against anyone who falls into it.
The mouth of a strange woman is a deep pit: he whom the Lord is angry with, shall fall into it.
15 Foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child, but the rod of discipline drives it far away.
Folly is bound up in the heart of a child, and the rod of correction shall drive it away.
16 The one who oppresses poor people to increase his wealth, or gives to rich people, will come to poverty.
He that oppresseth the poor, to increase his own riches, shall himself give to one that is richer, and shall be in need.
17 Incline your ear and listen to the words of the wise and apply your heart to my knowledge,
Incline thy ear, and hear the words of the wise: and apply thy heart to my doctrine:
18 for it will be pleasant for you if you keep them within you, if all of them are ready on your lips.
Which shall be beautiful for thee, if thou keep it in thy bowels, and it shall flow in thy lips:
19 So your trust may be in Yahweh, I teach them to you today—even to you.
That thy trust may be in the Lord, wherefore I have also shewn it to thee this day.
20 Have I not written for you thirty sayings of instruction and knowledge,
Behold I have described it to thee three manner of ways, in thoughts and knowledge:
21 to teach you truth in these trustworthy words, so you may give trustworthy answers to those who sent you?
That I might shew thee the certainty, and the words of truth, to answer out of these to them that sent thee.
22 Do not rob the poor because he is poor, or crush the needy at the gate,
Do no violence to the poor, because he is poor: and do not oppress the needy in the gate:
23 for Yahweh will plead their case, and he will rob of life those who robbed them.
Because the Lord will judge his cause, and will afflict them that have afflicted his soul.
24 Do not make a friend of someone who is ruled by anger and you must not go with one who rages,
Be not a friend to an angry man, and do not walk with a furious man:
25 or you will learn his ways and you will take bait for your soul.
Lest perhaps thou learn his ways, and take scandal to thy soul.
26 Do not be one who strikes hands in making a pledge, or who puts up security for debts.
Be not with them that fasten down their hands, and that offer themselves sureties for debts:
27 If you lack the means to pay, what could stop someone from taking away your bed from under you?
For if thou have not wherewith to restore, what cause is there, that he should take the covering from thy bed?
28 Do not remove the ancient boundary stone that your fathers have set.
Pass not beyond the ancient bounds which thy fathers have set.
29 Do you see a man skilled at his work? He will stand before kings; he will not stand before common people.
Hast thou seen a man swift in his work? he shall stand before kings, and shall not be before those that are obscure.
