Proverbs 22
1 A name is chosen rather than much wealth, Than silver and than gold — good grace.
A good name is better than many riches. And good esteem is above silver and gold.
2 Rich and poor have met together, The Maker of them all [is] Jehovah.
The rich and poor have met one another. The Lord is the maker of them both.
3 The prudent hath seen the evil, and is hidden, And the simple have passed on, and are punished.
The clever saw evil and hid himself. The innocent continued on and was afflicted with damage.
4 The end of humility [is] the fear of Jehovah, Riches, and honour, and life.
The end of moderation is the fear of the Lord, riches and glory and life.
5 Thorns — snares [are] in the way of the perverse, Whoso is keeping his soul is far from them.
Weapons and swords are on the way of the perverse. But he who guards his own soul withdraws far from them.
6 Give instruction to a youth about his way, Even when he is old he turneth not from it.
The proverb is: A youth is close to his way; even when he is old, he will not withdraw from it.
7 The rich over the poor ruleth, And a servant [is] the borrower to the lender.
The rich rule over the poor. And the borrower is servant to the lender.
8 Whoso is sowing perverseness reapeth sorrow, And the rod of his anger weareth out.
Whoever sows iniquity will reap evils, and by the rod of his own wrath he will be consumed.
9 The good of eye — he is blessed, For he hath given of his bread to the poor.
Whoever is inclined to mercy shall be blessed, for from his bread he has given to the poor. Whoever gives gifts will acquire victory and honor. But he carries away the soul of the receiver.
10 Cast out a scorner — and contention goeth out, And strife and shame cease.
Cast out the one who ridicules, and conflict will go out with him, and accusations and insults will cease.
11 Whoso is loving cleanness of heart, Grace [are] his lips, a king [is] his friend.
Whoever loves cleanness of heart, because of the grace of his lips, will have the king as his friend.
12 The eyes of Jehovah have kept knowledge, And He overthroweth the words of the treacherous.
The eyes of the Lord watch over knowledge. And the words of the iniquitous are supplanted.
13 The slothful hath said, 'A lion [is] without, In the midst of the broad places I am slain.'
The lazy one says: “There is a lion outside. I might be slain in the midst of the streets.”
14 A deep pit [is] the mouth of strange women, The abhorred of Jehovah falleth there.
The mouth of a foreign woman is a deep pit; the Lord was angry with him who will fall into it.
15 Folly is bound up in the heart of a youth, The rod of chastisement putteth it far from him.
Foolishness has been bound to the heart of a child, and a rod of discipline shall cause it to flee.
16 He is oppressing the poor to multiply to him, He is giving to the rich — only to want.
Whoever slanders the poor, so as to augment his own riches, will give it away to one who is richer, and will be in need.
17 Incline thine ear, and hear words of the wise, And thy heart set to my knowledge,
Incline your ear, and listen to the words of the wise. Then apply your heart to my doctrine.
18 For they are pleasant when thou dost keep them in thy heart, They are prepared together for thy lips.
It shall be beautiful to you, if you preserve it in your inner self, and it shall overflow from your lips,
19 That thy trust may be in Jehovah, I caused thee to know to-day, even thou.
so that your confidence may be in the Lord. Therefore, I also have revealed it to you this day.
20 Have I not written to thee three times With counsels and knowledge?
Behold, I have written it for you in three ways, and with meditations and knowledge,
21 To cause thee to know the certainty of sayings of truth, To return sayings of truth to those sending thee.
so that I might reveal to you, firmly and with words of truth, in order to respond about these things to those who sent you.
22 Rob not the poor because he [is] poor, And bruise not the afflicted in the gate.
Do not act with violence toward the pauper because he is poor. And do not weary the needy at the gate.
23 For Jehovah pleadeth their cause, And hath spoiled the soul of their spoilers.
For the Lord will judge his case, and he will pierce those who have pierced his soul.
24 Shew not thyself friendly with an angry man, And with a man of fury go not in,
Do not be willing to be a friend to an angry man, and do not walk with a furious man,
25 Lest thou learn his paths, And have received a snare to thy soul.
lest perhaps you learn his ways, and take up a stumbling block to your soul.
26 Be not thou among those striking hands, Among sureties [for] burdens.
Do not be willing to be with those who certify with their hands, and who offer themselves as a guarantee against debts.
27 If thou hast nothing to pay, Why doth he take thy bed from under thee?
For if you do not have the means to restore, what reason should there be for him to take the covering from your bed?
28 Remove not a border of olden times, That thy fathers have made.
Do not cross beyond the ancient limits that your fathers have set.
29 Hast thou seen a man speedy in his business? Before kings he doth station himself, He stations not himself before obscure men!
Have you seen a man swift in his work? He shall stand in the sight of kings, and not before those who are disreputable.
