Proverbs 22

1 A [good] name is rather to be chosen than great riches; loving favour rather 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 poor meet together; Jehovah is the maker of them all.

The rich and poor meet together: the LORD is the maker of them all.

3 A prudent [man] seeth the evil, and hideth himself; but the simple pass on, and are punished.

A prudent man forsees the evil, and hides himself: but the simple pass on, and are punished.

4 The reward of humility [and] the fear of Jehovah is riches, and honour, and life.

By humility and the fear of the LORD are riches, and honour, and life.

5 Thorns [and] snares are in the way of the perverse: he that keepeth his soul holdeth himself far from them.

Thorns and snares are in the way of the perverse: he that does keep his soul shall be far from them.

6 Train up the child according to the tenor of his way, and when he is old he will not depart from it.

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

7 The rich ruleth over the poor; and the borrower is servant to the lender.

The rich rules over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender.

8 He that soweth unrighteousness shall reap iniquity, and the rod of his wrath shall have an end.

He that sows iniquity shall reap vanity: and the rod of his anger shall fail.

9 He that hath a bountiful eye shall be blessed, for he giveth of his bread to the poor.

He that has a bountiful eye shall be blessed; for he gives of his bread to the poor.

10 Cast out the scorner, and contention will depart, and strife and ignominy shall cease.

Cast out the scorner, and contention shall go out; yea, strife and reproach shall cease.

11 He that loveth pureness of heart, upon whose lips is grace, the king is his friend.

He that loves pureness of heart, for the grace of his lips the king shall be his friend.

12 The eyes of Jehovah preserve knowledge; but he overthroweth the words of the unfaithful.

The eyes of the LORD preserve knowledge, and he overthrows the words of the transgressor.

13 The sluggard saith, There is a lion without, I shall be killed in the streets!

The slothful man says, There is a lion without, I shall be slain in the streets.

14 The mouth of strange women is a deep ditch: he with whom Jehovah is displeased shall fall therein.

The mouth of strange women is a deep pit: he that is abhorred of the LORD shall fall therein.

15 Folly is bound in the heart of a child; the rod of correction shall drive it far from him.

Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child; but the rod of correction shall drive it far from him.

16 He that oppresseth the poor, it is to enrich him; he that giveth to the rich, [bringeth] only to want.

He that oppresses the poor to increase his riches, and he that gives to the rich, shall surely come to lack.

17 Incline thine ear, and hear the words of the wise, and apply thy heart unto my knowledge.

Bow down your ear, and hear the words of the wise, and apply your heart unto my knowledge.

18 For it is a pleasant thing if thou keep them within thee: they shall be together fitted on thy lips.

For it is a pleasant thing if you keep them within you; they shall likewise be fitted in your lips.

19 That thy confidence may be in Jehovah, I have made [them] known to thee this day, even to thee.

That your trust may be in the LORD, I have made known to you this day, even to you.

20 Have not I written to thee excellent things, in counsels and knowledge,

Have not I written to you excellent things in counsels and knowledge,

21 that I might make thee know the certainty of the words of truth; that thou mightest carry back words of truth to them that send thee?

That I might make you know the certainty of the words of truth; that you might answer the words of truth to them that send unto you?

22 Rob not the poor, because he is poor, neither oppress the afflicted in the gate;

Rob not the poor, because he is poor: neither oppress the afflicted in the gate:

23 for Jehovah will plead their cause, and despoil the soul of those that despoil them.

For the LORD will plead their cause, and spoil the soul of those that spoiled them.

24 Make no friendship with an angry man, and go not with a furious man;

Make no friendship with an angry man; and with a furious man you shall not go:

25 lest thou learn his paths, and get a snare to thy soul.

Lest you learn his ways, and get a snare to your soul.

26 Be not of them that strike hands, of them that are sureties for debts:

Be not you one of them that shake hands, or of them that are sureties for debts.

27 if thou hast nothing to pay, why should he take away thy bed from under thee?

If you have nothing to pay, why should he take away your bed from under you?

28 Remove not the ancient landmark which thy fathers have set.

Remove not the ancient landmark, which your fathers have set.

29 Hast thou seen a man diligent in his work? He shall stand before kings; he shall not stand before the mean.

See you a man diligent in his business? he shall stand before kings; he shall not stand before mean men.