Proverbs 22
1 A name is chosen rather than much wealth, Than silver and than gold — good grace.
A good name is more desirable than great riches, and loving favor is better than silver and gold.
2 Rich and poor have met together, The Maker of them all [is] Jehovah.
The rich and the poor have this in common: Jehovah is the maker of them all.
3 The prudent hath seen the evil, and is hidden, And the simple have passed on, and are punished.
The shrewd see danger and take cover, but the naive keep on going and suffer for it.
4 The end of humility [is] the fear of Jehovah, Riches, and honour, and life.
The result of humility and the fear of Jehovah is wealth, honor, and life.
5 Thorns — snares [are] in the way of the perverse, Whoso is keeping his soul is far from them.
Thorns and snares are in the path of the wicked: whoever guards his soul stays from them.
6 Give instruction to a youth about his way, Even when he is old he turneth not 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 over the poor ruleth, And a servant [is] the borrower to the lender.
The rich rule over the poor. The borrower is servant to the lender.
8 Whoso is sowing perverseness reapeth sorrow, And the rod of his anger weareth out.
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 The good of eye — he is blessed, For he hath given 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 a scorner — and contention goeth out, And strife and shame cease.
Drive out the mocker, and strife will go out; yes, quarrels and insults will stop.
11 Whoso is loving cleanness of heart, Grace [are] his lips, a king [is] his friend.
He who loves purity of heart and speaks gracefully is the king's friend.
12 The eyes of Jehovah have kept knowledge, And He overthroweth the words of the treacherous.
The eyes of Jehovah watch over knowledge; but he frustrates the words of the unfaithful.
13 The slothful hath said, 'A lion [is] without, In the midst of the broad places I am slain.'
The sluggard says, "There is a lion outside. I will be killed in the streets."
14 A deep pit [is] the mouth of strange women, The abhorred of Jehovah falleth there.
The mouth of an adulteress is a deep pit: he who is under Jehovah's wrath will fall into it.
15 Folly is bound up in the heart of a youth, The rod of chastisement putteth 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 is oppressing the poor to multiply to him, He is giving to the rich — only to want.
Whoever oppresses the poor for his own increase and whoever gives to the rich, both come to poverty.
17 Incline thine ear, and hear words of the wise, And thy heart set to my knowledge,
The words of the wise: Incline your ear and hear my words, and apply your heart to my instruction.
18 For they are pleasant when thou dost keep them in thy heart, They are prepared together for 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 Jehovah, I caused thee to know to-day, even thou.
That your trust may be in Jehovah, I teach you today, even you.
20 Have I not written to thee three times With counsels and knowledge?
Haven't I written to you thirty excellent things of counsel and knowledge,
21 To cause thee to know the certainty of sayings of truth, To return sayings of truth to those sending 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, And bruise not the afflicted in the gate.
Do not exploit the poor, because he is poor; and do not crush the needy in court;
23 For Jehovah pleadeth their cause, And hath spoiled the soul of their spoilers.
for Jehovah will plead their case, and plunder the life of those who plunder them.
24 Shew not thyself friendly with an angry man, And with a man of fury go not in,
Do not befriend a hot-tempered man, and do not associate with one who harbors anger:
25 Lest thou learn his paths, And have received a snare to thy soul.
lest you learn his ways, and ensnare your soul.
26 Be not thou among those striking hands, Among sureties [for] burdens.
Do not be one of those who strike hands, of those who are collateral for debts.
27 If thou hast nothing to pay, Why doth he take 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 a border of olden times, That thy fathers have made.
Do not move the ancient boundary stone, which your fathers have set up.
29 Hast thou seen a man speedy in his business? Before kings he doth station himself, He stations not himself before obscure men!
Do you see a man skilled in his work? He will serve kings. He won't serve obscure men.
