Proverbs 22
1 A good name is better than great riches: and good favour is above silver and gold.
A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches; And better is good-will than silver and gold.
2 The rich and poor have met one another: the Lord is the maker of them both.
The rich and the poor meet together; The LORD is the Maker of them all.
3 The prudent man saw the evil, and hid himself: the simple passed on, and suffered loss.
The prudent man seeth the evil, and hideth himself; But the simple rush on, and are punished.
4 The fruit of humility is the fear of the Lord, riches and glory and life.
By humility and the fear of the LORD Are riches and honor and life.
5 Arms and swords are in the way of the perverse: but he that keepeth his own soul departeth 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 It is a proverb: A young man according to his way, even when he is old he will not depart 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 ruleth over the poor: and the borrower is servant to him that lendeth.
The rich ruleth over the poor, And the borrower is servant to the lender.
8 He that soweth iniquity shall reap evils, and with the rod of his anger he shall be consumed.
He who soweth iniquity shall reap calamity, And the rod of his punishment is prepared.
9 He that is inclined to mercy shall be blessed: for of his bread he hath given to the poor. He that maketh presents shall purchase victory and honour: but he carrieth away the souls of the receivers.
He who hath a bountiful eye shall be blessed, Because he giveth of his bread to the poor.
10 Cast out the scoffer, and contention shall go out with him, and quarrels and reproaches shall cease.
Cast out the scoffer, and contention will go out; Yea, strife and reproach will cease.
11 He that loveth cleanness of heart, for the grace of his lips shall have the king for his friend.
He who loveth purity of heart, Grace is upon his lips, and the king will be his friend.
12 The eyes of the Lord preserve knowledge: and the words of the unjust are overthrown.
The eyes of the LORD watch over knowledge; But he overthroweth the words of the treacherous.
13 The slothful man saith: There is a lion without, I shall be slain in the midst of the streets.
The slothful man saith, “There is a lion without; I shall be slain in the streets.”
14 The mouth of a strange woman is a deep pit: he whom the Lord is angry with, shall fall into it.
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 child, and the rod of correction shall drive it away.
Folly is bound to the heart of a child; But the rod of correction will drive it far from him.
16 He that oppresseth the poor, to increase his own riches, shall himself give to one that is richer, and shall be in need.
He that oppresseth the poor to increase his wealth, And he that giveth to the rich, shall surely come to want.
17 Incline thy ear, and hear the words of the wise: and apply thy heart to my doctrine:
Incline thine ear, and hear the words of the wise, And give heed to my instruction!
18 Which shall be beautiful for thee, if thou keep it in thy bowels, and it shall flow in 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 the Lord, wherefore I have also shewn it to thee this day.
That thy trust may be in the LORD, I have this day given to thee instruction, yea, to thee.
20 Behold I have described it to thee three manner of ways, in thoughts and knowledge:
Behold, I have written to thee excellent things Concerning counsel and knowledge;
21 That I might shew thee the certainty, and the words of truth, to answer out of these to them that sent 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 Do no violence to the poor, because he is poor: and do not oppress the needy in the gate:
Rob not the poor man, because he is poor, Nor crush thou the destitute at the gate;
23 Because the Lord will judge his cause, and will afflict them that have afflicted his soul.
For the LORD will maintain their cause, And despoil their spoilers of life.
24 Be not a friend to an angry man, and do not walk with a furious man:
Make no friendship with a passionate man, Nor be the companion of a man prone to wrath;
25 Lest perhaps thou learn his ways, and take scandal to thy soul.
Lest thou learn his ways, And take to thyself a snare.
26 Be not with them that fasten down their hands, and that offer themselves sureties for debts:
Be not thou one of those who strike hands, Of those who are sureties for debts.
27 For if thou have not wherewith to restore, what cause is there, that he should take the covering from thy bed?
When thou hast nothing to pay, Why should thy bed be taken from under thee?
28 Pass not beyond the ancient bounds which thy fathers have set.
Remove not the ancient landmark, Which thy fathers have made.
29 Hast thou seen a man swift in his work? he shall stand before kings, and shall not be before those that are obscure.
Seest thou a man diligent in his business? He shall be the minister of kings; He shall not serve obscure men.
