Proverbs 22

1 A good name is more desirable than great riches, and loving favor is better than silver and gold.

A good name is to be chosen over great riches and favor is better than silver and gold.

2 The rich and the poor have this in common: The LORD is the maker of them all.

Rich and poor people have this in common— Yahweh is the maker of all of them.

3 The shrewd see danger and take cover, but the naive keep on going and suffer for it.

A prudent man sees trouble and hides himself, but the naive go on and suffer because of it.

4 The result of humility and the fear of the LORD is wealth, honor, and life.

The reward for humility and fear of Yahweh is riches, honor, and life.

5 Thorns and snares are in the path of the wicked: whoever guards his soul stays from them.

Thorns and snares lie in the path of the perverse; whoever guards his life will keep far from them.

6 Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it.

Teach a child the way he should go and when he is old he will not turn away from that instruction.

7 The rich rule over the poor. The borrower is servant to the lender.

Rich people rule over poor people and one who borrows is a slave to the one who lends.

8 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.

He who sows injustice will reap trouble and the rod of his fury will fade away.

9 He who has a generous eye will be blessed; for he shares his food with the poor.

The one who has a generous eye will be blessed, for he shares his bread with the poor.

10 Drive out the mocker, and strife will go out; yes, quarrels and insults will stop.

Drive away the mocker, and out goes strife; disputes and insults will cease.

11 He who loves purity of heart and speaks gracefully is the king's friend.

The one who loves a pure heart and whose speech is gracious, he will have the king for his friend.

12 The eyes of the LORD watch over knowledge; but he frustrates the words of the unfaithful.

The eyes of Yahweh keep watch over knowledge, but he overthrows the words of the treacherous.

13 The sluggard says, "There is a lion outside. I will be killed in the streets."

The lazy person says, “There is a lion in the street! I will be killed in the open places.”

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 an adulteress is a deep pit; Yahweh's anger is stirred up against anyone who falls into it.

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 discipline drives it far away.

16 Whoever oppresses the poor for his own increase and whoever gives to the rich, both come to poverty.

The one who oppresses poor people to increase his wealth, or gives to rich people, will come to poverty.

17 The words of the wise: Incline your ear and hear my words, and apply your heart to my instruction.

Incline your ear and listen to the words of the wise and apply your heart to 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 will be pleasant for you if you keep them within you, if all of them are ready on your lips.

19 That your trust may be in the LORD, I teach you today, even you.

So your trust may be in Yahweh, I teach them to you today—even to you.

20 Haven't I written to you thirty excellent things of counsel and knowledge,

Have I not written for you thirty sayings of instruction and knowledge,

21 To teach you truth, reliable words, to give sound answers to the ones who sent you?

to teach you truth in these trustworthy words, so you may give trustworthy answers to those who sent you?

22 Do not exploit the poor, because he is poor; and do not crush the needy in court;

Do not rob the poor because he is poor, or crush the needy at the gate,

23 for the LORD will plead their case, and plunder the life of those who plunder them.

for Yahweh will plead their case, and he will rob of life those who robbed them.

24 Do not befriend a hot-tempered man, and do not associate with one who harbors anger:

Do not make a friend of someone who is ruled by anger and you must not go with one who rages,

25 lest you learn his ways, and ensnare your soul.

or you will learn his ways and you will take bait for your soul.

26 Do not be one of those who strike hands, of those who are collateral for debts.

Do not be one who strikes hands in making a pledge, or who puts up security for debts.

27 If you do not have means to pay, why should he take away your bed from under you?

If you lack the means to pay, what could stop someone from taking away your bed from under you?

28 Do not move the ancient boundary stone, which your fathers have set up.

Do not remove the ancient boundary stone that your fathers have set.

29 Do you see a man skilled in his work? He will serve kings. He won't serve obscure men.

Do you see a man skilled at his work? He will stand before kings; he will not stand before common people.