Proverbs 22
1 A good name is more desirable than great riches, and loving favour is better than silver and gold.
A [good] name is rather to be chosen than great riches, [and] loving favour rather than silver and gold.
2 The rich and the poor have this in common: The LORD is the maker of them all.
The rich and the poor meet together: the LORD is the maker of them all.
3 A prudent man sees danger and hides himself; but the simple pass on, and suffer for it.
A prudent man seeth the evil, and hideth himself: but the simple pass on, and suffer for it.
4 The result of humility and the fear of the LORD is wealth, honour, and life.
The reward of humility [and] the fear of the LORD [is] riches, and honour, and life.
5 Thorns and snares are in the path of the wicked; whoever guards his soul stays far from them.
Thorns [and] snares are in the way of the froward: he that keepeth his soul shall be far 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 up a child in the way he should go, and even when he is old he will not depart from it.
7 The rich rule over the poor. The borrower is servant to the lender.
The rich ruleth over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender.
8 He who sows wickedness reaps trouble, and the rod of his fury will be destroyed.
He that soweth iniquity shall reap calamity: and the rod of his wrath shall fail.
9 He who has a generous eye will be blessed, for he shares his food with the poor.
He that hath a bountiful eye shall be blessed; for he giveth of his bread to the poor.
10 Drive out the mocker, and strife will go out; yes, quarrels and insults will stop.
Cast out the scorner, and contention shall go out; yea, strife and ignominy shall cease.
11 He who loves purity of heart and speaks gracefully is the king’s friend.
He that loveth pureness of heart, [for] the grace of his lips the king shall be his friend.
12 The LORD’s eyes watch over knowledge, but he frustrates the words of the unfaithful.
The eyes of the LORD preserve [him that hath] knowledge, but he overthroweth the words of the treacherous man.
13 The sluggard says, “There is a lion outside! I will be killed in the streets!”
The sluggard saith, There is a lion without: I shall be murdered in the streets.
14 The mouth of an adulteress is a deep pit. He who is under the LORD’s wrath will fall into it.
The mouth of strange women is a deep pit: he that is abhorred of the LORD shall fall therein.
15 Folly is bound up in the heart of a child; the rod of discipline drives it far from him.
Foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child; [but] the rod of correction shall drive it far from him.
16 Whoever oppresses the poor for his own increase and whoever gives to the rich, both come to poverty.
He that oppresseth the poor to increase his [gain, and] he that giveth to the rich, [cometh] only to want.
17 Turn your ear, and listen to the words of the wise. Apply your heart to my teaching.
Incline thine ear, and hear the words of the wise, and apply thine heart unto my knowledge.
18 For it is a pleasant thing if you keep them within you, if all of them are ready on your lips.
For it is a pleasant thing if thou keep them within thee, if they be established together upon thy lips.
19 I teach you today, even you, so that your trust may be in the LORD.
That thy trust may be in the LORD, I have made [them] known to thee this day, even to thee.
20 Haven’t I written to you thirty excellent things of counsel and knowledge,
Have not I written unto thee excellent things of counsels and knowledge;
21 To teach you truth, reliable words, to give sound answers to the ones who sent you?
To make thee know the certainty of the words of truth, that thou mayest carry back words of truth to them that send thee?
22 Don’t exploit the poor because he is poor; and don’t crush the needy in court;
Rob not the poor, because he is poor, neither oppress the afflicted in the gate:
23 for the LORD will plead their case, and plunder the life of those who plunder them.
For the LORD will plead their cause, and despoil of life those that despoil them.
24 Don’t befriend a hot-tempered man. Don’t associate with one who harbours anger,
Make no friendship with a man that is given to anger; and with a wrathful man thou shalt not go:
25 lest you learn his ways and ensnare your soul.
Lest thou learn his ways, and get a snare to thy soul.
26 Don’t you be one of those who strike hands, of those who are collateral for debts.
Be thou not one of them that strike hands, [or] of them that are sureties for debts:
27 If you don’t have means to pay, why should he take away your bed from under you?
If thou hast not wherewith to pay, why should he take away thy bed from under thee?
28 Don’t move the ancient boundary stone which your fathers have set up.
Remove not the ancient landmark, which thy fathers have set.
29 Do you see a man skilled in his work? He will serve kings. He won’t serve obscure men.
Seest thou a man diligent in his business? he shall stand before kings; he shall not stand before mean men.
