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 rather to be chosen than great riches; And better is good-will than silver and gold.
2 Rich and poor people have this in common— Yahweh is the maker of all of them.
The rich and the poor meet together; The LORD is the Maker of them all.
3 A prudent man sees trouble and hides himself, but the naive go on and suffer because of it.
The prudent man seeth the evil, and hideth himself; But the simple rush on, and are punished.
4 The reward for humility and fear of Yahweh is riches, honor, and life.
By humility and the fear of the LORD Are riches and honor and life.
5 Thorns and snares lie in the path of the perverse; whoever guards his life will keep 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 Teach a child the way he should go and when he is old he will not turn away from that instruction.
Train up a child in accordance with his way, And 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 the lender.
8 He who sows injustice will reap trouble and the rod of his fury will fade away.
He who soweth iniquity shall reap calamity, And the rod of his punishment is prepared.
9 The one who has a generous eye will be blessed, for he shares his bread with the poor.
He who hath a bountiful eye shall be blessed, Because he giveth of his bread to the poor.
10 Drive away the mocker, and out goes strife; disputes and insults will cease.
Cast out the scoffer, and contention will go out; Yea, strife and reproach will cease.
11 The one who loves a pure heart and whose speech is gracious, he will have the king for his friend.
He who loveth purity of heart, Grace is upon his lips, and the king will be his friend.
12 The eyes of Yahweh keep watch over knowledge, but he overthrows the words of the treacherous.
The eyes of the LORD watch over knowledge; But he overthroweth the words of the treacherous.
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 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 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 discipline drives it far away.
Folly is bound to the heart of a child; But the rod of correction will drive it far from him.
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 wealth, And he that giveth to the rich, shall surely come to want.
17 Incline your ear and listen to the words of the wise and apply your heart to my knowledge,
Incline thine ear, and hear the words of the wise, And give heed to my instruction!
18 for it will be pleasant for you if you keep them within you, if all of them are ready on your lips.
For it will be a pleasant thing, if thou keep them in thy bosom, When they are altogether established upon 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, I have this day given to thee instruction, yea, to thee.
20 Have I not written for you thirty sayings of instruction and knowledge,
Behold, I have written to thee excellent things Concerning counsel and knowledge;
21 to teach you truth in these trustworthy words, so you may give trustworthy answers to those who sent you?
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 Do not rob the poor because he is poor, or crush the needy at the gate,
Rob not the poor man, because he is poor, Nor crush thou the destitute at the gate;
23 for Yahweh will plead their case, and he will rob of life those who robbed them.
For the LORD will maintain their cause, And despoil their spoilers of life.
24 Do not make a friend of someone who is ruled by anger and you must not go with one who rages,
Make no friendship with a passionate man, Nor be the companion of a man prone to wrath;
25 or you will learn his ways and you will take bait for your soul.
Lest thou learn his ways, And take to thyself a snare.
26 Do not be one who strikes hands in making a pledge, or who puts up security for debts.
Be not thou one of those who strike hands, Of those who are sureties for debts.
27 If you lack the means to pay, what could stop someone from taking away your bed from under you?
When thou hast nothing to pay, Why should thy bed be taken from under thee?
28 Do not remove the ancient boundary stone that your fathers have set.
Remove not the ancient landmark, Which thy fathers have made.
29 Do you see a man skilled at his work? He will stand before kings; he will not stand before common people.
Seest thou a man diligent in his business? He shall be the minister of kings; He shall not serve obscure men.
