Proverbs 22
1 A good name is to be chosen over great riches and favor is better than silver and gold.
(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].
2 Rich and poor people have this in common— Yahweh is the maker of all of them.
There is one thing that is true about both rich people and poor people: Yahweh is the one who created all of them.
3 A prudent man sees trouble and hides himself, but the naive go on and suffer because of it.
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.
4 The reward for humility and fear of Yahweh is riches, honor, and life.
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.
5 Thorns and snares lie in the path of the perverse; whoever guards his life will keep far from them.
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.
6 Teach a child the way he should go and when he is old he will not turn away from that instruction.
If you train/teach children to do what is right, all during their life they will act/behave in that manner.
7 Rich people rule over poor people and one who borrows is a slave to the one who lends.
Rich people rule over poor people harshly, and those who borrow money become like slaves [MET] of the people who lend [money to them].
8 He who sows injustice will reap trouble and the rod of his fury will fade away.
[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.
9 The one who has a generous eye will be blessed, for he shares his bread with the poor.
[God] will bless those who are generous [IDM], those who give some of their food to poor [people].
10 Drive away the mocker, and out goes strife; disputes and insults will cease.
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].
11 The one who loves a pure heart and whose speech is gracious, he will have the king for his friend.
If you always act sincerely [IDM] and always speak kindly, the king will be your friend.
12 The eyes of Yahweh keep watch over knowledge, but he overthrows the words of the treacherous.
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.
13 The lazy person says, “There is a lion in the street! I will be killed in the open places.”
Lazy people [remain in their houses]; they say, “A lion might attack me if I go out into the street [to go to work]!”
14 The mouth of an adulteress is a deep pit; Yahweh's anger is stirred up against anyone who falls into it.
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.
15 Foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child, but the rod of discipline drives it far away.
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).
16 The one who oppresses poor people to increase his wealth, or gives to rich people, will come to poverty.
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.
17 Incline your ear and listen to the words of the wise and apply your heart to my knowledge,
[Now] listen [MTY] to what wise [people] have said; think carefully about what I am teaching you.
18 for it will be pleasant for you if you keep them within you, if all of them are ready on your lips.
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].
19 So your trust may be in Yahweh, I teach them to you today—even to you.
[I want you to] trust in Yahweh, and that is the reason that I am telling them to you, now.
20 Have I not written for you thirty sayings of instruction and knowledge,
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].
21 to teach you truth in these trustworthy words, so you may give trustworthy answers to those who sent you?
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]).
22 Do not rob the poor because he is poor, or crush the needy at the gate,
[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,
23 for Yahweh will plead their case, and he will rob of life those who robbed them.
because Yahweh will speak to defend them, and he will punish those who steal things from others—by causing them to die.
24 Do not make a friend of someone who is ruled by anger and you must not go with one who rages,
Do not become friends with those who often become angry, and do not associate with those who cannot control their temper/anger,
25 or you will learn his ways and you will take bait for your soul.
because you might start to act like they do and not be able to stop doing that.
26 Do not be one who strikes hands in making a pledge, or who puts up security for debts.
If someone borrows money, do not be one of those who promises to pay what that person owes he cannot pay it back,
27 If you lack the means to pay, what could stop someone from taking away your bed from under you?
because if you cannot pay it back, people will surely [RHQ] [come and] take away [everything you own], even your bed.
28 Do not remove the ancient boundary stone that your fathers have set.
Do not [steal some of your neighbors’ land by] removing the boundary lines/markers that your ancestors placed/set.
29 Do you see a man skilled at his work? He will stand before kings; he will not stand before common people.
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].
