Proverbs 22
1 A [good] name [is] rather to be chosen than great riches, [and] loving favor rather than silver and gold.
A good name is more desirable than great riches, and loving favor is better than silver and gold.
2 The rich and poor meet together: the LORD [is] the maker of them all.
The rich and the poor have this in common: The LORD is the maker of them all.
3 A prudent [man] foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself: but the simple pass on, and are punished.
The shrewd see danger and take cover, but the naive keep on going and suffer for it.
4 By humility [and] the fear of the LORD [are] riches, and honor, and life.
The result of humility and the fear of the LORD is wealth, honor, and life.
5 Thorns [and] snares [are] in the way of the froward: he that doth keep his soul shall be far from them.
Thorns and snares are in the path of the wicked: whoever guards his soul stays from them.
6 Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.
Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it.
7 The rich ruleth over the poor, and the borrower [is] servant to the lender.
The rich rule over the poor. The borrower is servant to the lender.
8 He that soweth iniquity shall reap vanity: and the rod of his anger shall fail.
He who sows wickedness reaps trouble, and the rod of his fury will fail. God blesses a cheerful and generous person, but the vanity of his deeds he will bring to an end.
9 He that hath a bountiful eye shall be blessed; for he giveth of his bread to the poor.
He who has a generous eye will be blessed; for he shares his food with the poor.
10 Cast out the scorner, and contention shall end; yes, strife and reproach shall cease.
Drive out the mocker, and strife will go out; yes, quarrels and insults will stop.
11 He that loveth pureness of heart, [for] the grace of his lips the king [shall be] his friend.
He who loves purity of heart and speaks gracefully is the king's friend.
12 The eyes of the LORD preserve knowledge, and he overthroweth the words of the transgressor.
The eyes of the LORD watch over knowledge; but he frustrates the words of the unfaithful.
13 The slothful [man] saith, [There is] a lion without, I shall be slain in the streets.
The sluggard says, "There is a lion outside. I will be killed in the streets."
14 The mouth of strange women [is] a deep pit: he that is abhorred by the LORD shall fall therein.
The mouth of an adulteress is a deep pit: he who is under the LORD's wrath will fall into it.
15 Foolishness [is] bound in the heart of a child; [but] the rod of correction shall drive it far from him.
Folly is bound up in the heart of a child: the rod of discipline drives it far from him.
16 He that oppresseth the poor to increase his [riches], [and] he that giveth to the rich, [shall] surely [come] to want.
Whoever oppresses the poor for his own increase and whoever gives to the rich, both come to poverty.
17 Bow down thy ear, and hear the words of the wise, and apply thy heart to my knowledge.
The words of the wise: Incline your ear and hear my words, and apply your heart to my instruction.
18 For [it is] a pleasant thing if thou keepest them within thee; they shall withal be fitted in thy lips.
For it is a pleasant thing if you keep them within you, if all of them are ready on your lips.
19 That thy trust may be in the LORD, I have made known to thee this day, even to thee.
That your trust may be in the LORD, I teach you today, even you.
20 Have not I written to thee excellent things in counsels and knowledge,
Haven't I written to you thirty excellent things of counsel and knowledge,
21 That I might make thee know the certainty of the words of truth; that thou mightest answer the words of truth to them that send to thee?
To teach you truth, reliable words, to give sound answers to the ones who sent you?
22 Rob not the poor, because he [is] poor: neither oppress the afflicted in the gate:
Do not exploit the poor, because he is poor; and do not crush the needy in court;
23 For the LORD will plead their cause, and spoil the soul of those that spoiled them.
for the LORD will plead their case, and plunder the life of those who plunder them.
24 Make no friendship with an angry man; and with a furious man thou shalt not go:
Do not befriend a hot-tempered man, and do not associate with one who harbors anger:
25 Lest thou learn his ways, and get a snare to thy soul.
lest you learn his ways, and ensnare your soul.
26 Be not thou [one] of them that strike hands, [or] of them that are sureties for debts.
Do not be one of those who strike hands, of those who are collateral for debts.
27 If thou hast nothing to pay, why should he take away thy bed from under thee?
If you do not have means to pay, why should he take away your bed from under you?
28 Remove not the ancient landmark, which thy fathers have set.
Do not move the ancient boundary stone, which your fathers have set up.
29 Seest thou a man diligent in his business? he shall stand before kings; he shall not stand before mean [men].
Do you see a man skilled in his work? He will serve kings. He won't serve obscure men.
