Proverbs 22
1 A name is chosen rather than much wealth, Than silver and than gold — good grace.
A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches; And better is good-will than silver and gold.
2 Rich and poor have met together, The Maker of them all [is] Jehovah.
The rich and the poor meet together; The LORD 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 prudent man seeth the evil, and hideth himself; But the simple rush on, and are punished.
4 The end of humility [is] the fear of Jehovah, Riches, and honour, and life.
By humility and the fear of the LORD Are riches and 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 way of the deceitful; He that will preserve his life will be far from them.
6 Give instruction to a youth about his way, Even when he is old he turneth not from it.
Train up a child in accordance with his way, 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 ruleth 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.
He who soweth iniquity shall reap calamity, And the rod of his punishment is prepared.
9 The good of eye — he is blessed, For he hath given of his bread to the poor.
He who hath a bountiful eye shall be blessed, Because he giveth of his bread to the poor.
10 Cast out a scorner — and contention goeth out, And strife and shame cease.
Cast out the scoffer, and contention will go out; Yea, strife and reproach will cease.
11 Whoso is loving cleanness of heart, Grace [are] his lips, a king [is] his friend.
He who loveth purity of heart, Grace is upon his lips, and the king will be 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; But he overthroweth the words of the treacherous.
13 The slothful hath said, 'A lion [is] without, In the midst of the broad places I am slain.'
The slothful man saith, “There is a lion without; I shall be slain in the streets.”
14 A deep pit [is] the mouth of strange women, The abhorred of Jehovah falleth there.
The mouth of strange women is a deep pit; He with whom the LORD is angry shall fall therein.
15 Folly is bound up in the heart of a youth, The rod of chastisement putteth it far from him.
Folly is bound to the heart of a child; But the rod of correction will drive it far from him.
16 He is oppressing the poor to multiply to him, He is giving to the rich — only to want.
He that oppresseth the poor to increase his wealth, And he that giveth to the rich, shall surely come to want.
17 Incline thine ear, and hear words of the wise, And thy heart set to my knowledge,
Incline thine ear, and hear the words of the wise, And give heed 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 will be a pleasant thing, if thou keep them in thy bosom, When they are altogether established upon thy lips.
19 That thy trust may be in Jehovah, I caused thee to know to-day, even thou.
That thy trust may be in the LORD, I have this day given to thee instruction, yea, to thee.
20 Have I not written to thee three times With counsels and knowledge?
Behold, I have written to thee excellent things Concerning counsel and knowledge;
21 To cause thee to know the certainty of sayings of truth, To return sayings of truth to those sending thee.
That I may make thee know rectitude, and words of truth; That thou mayst bring back words of truth to them that send thee.
22 Rob not the poor because he [is] poor, And bruise not the afflicted in the gate.
Rob not the poor man, because he is poor, Nor crush thou the destitute at the gate;
23 For Jehovah pleadeth their cause, And hath spoiled the soul of their spoilers.
For the LORD will maintain their cause, And despoil their spoilers of life.
24 Shew not thyself friendly with an angry man, And with a man of fury go not in,
Make no friendship with a passionate man, Nor be the companion of a man prone to wrath;
25 Lest thou learn his paths, And have received a snare to thy soul.
Lest thou learn his ways, And take to thyself a snare.
26 Be not thou among those striking hands, Among sureties [for] burdens.
Be not thou one of those who strike hands, Of those who are sureties for debts.
27 If thou hast nothing to pay, Why doth he take thy bed from under thee?
When thou hast nothing to pay, Why should thy bed be taken from under thee?
28 Remove not a border of olden times, That thy fathers have made.
Remove not the ancient landmark, Which thy fathers have made.
29 Hast thou seen a man speedy in his business? Before kings he doth station himself, He stations not himself before obscure men!
Seest thou a man diligent in his business? He shall be the minister of kings; He shall not serve obscure men.
