Proverbs 22
1 A good name is to be chosen aboue great riches, and louing fauour is aboue siluer and aboue golde.
A good name is more to be desired than great wealth, and to be respected is better than silver and gold.
2 The rich and poore meete together: the Lord is the maker of them all.
The man of wealth and the poor man come face to face: the Lord is the maker of them all.
3 A prudent man seeth the plague, and hideth himselfe: but the foolish goe on still, and are punished.
The sharp man sees the evil and takes cover: the simple go straight on and get into trouble.
4 The rewarde of humilitie, and the feare of God is riches, and glory, and life.
The reward of a gentle spirit and the fear of the Lord is wealth and honour and life.
5 Thornes and snares are in the way of the frowarde: but he that regardeth his soule, will depart farre from them.
Thorns and nets are in the way of the twisted: he who keeps watch over his soul will be far from them.
6 Teache a childe in the trade of his way, and when he is olde, he shall not depart from it.
If a child is trained up in the right way, even when he is old he will not be turned away from it.
7 The rich ruleth the poore, and the borower is seruant to the man that lendeth.
The man of wealth has rule over the poor, and he who gets into debt is a servant to his creditor.
8 He that soweth iniquitie, shall reape affliction, and the rodde of his anger shall faile.
By planting the seed of evil a man will get in the grain of sorrow, and the rod of his wrath will be broken.
9 He that hath a good eye, he shalbe blessed: for he giueth of his bread vnto the poore.
He who is kind will have a blessing, for he gives of his bread to the poor.
10 Cast out the scorner, and strife shall go out: so contention and reproche shall cease.
Send away the man of pride, and argument will go out; truly fighting and shame will come to an end.
11 Hee that loueth purenesse of heart for the grace of his lippes, the King shalbe his friend.
He whose heart is clean is dear to the Lord; for the grace of his lips the king will be his friend.
12 The eyes of the Lord preserue knowledge: but hee ouerthroweth the wordes of the transgressour.
The eyes of the Lord keep knowledge, but by him the acts of the false man will be overturned.
13 The slouthfull man saith, A lyon is without, I shall be slaine in the streete.
The hater of work says, There is a lion outside: I will be put to death in the streets.
14 The mouth of strage women is as a deepe pit: he with whom the Lord is angry, shall fall therein.
The mouth of strange women is a deep hole: he with whom the Lord is angry will go down into it.
15 Foolishnesse is bounde in the heart of a childe: but the rodde of correction shall driue it away from him.
Foolish ways are deep-seated in the heart of a child, but the rod of punishment will send them far from him.
16 Hee that oppresseth the poore to increase him selfe, and giueth vnto the riche, shall surely come to pouertie.
He who is cruel to the poor for the purpose of increasing his profit, and he who gives to the man of wealth, will only come to be in need.
17 Incline thine eare, and heare the wordes of the wise, and apply thine heart vnto my knowledge.
Let your ear be bent down for hearing my words, and let your heart give thought to knowledge.
18 For it shalbe pleasant, if thou keepe them in thy bellie, and if they be directed together in thy lippes.
For it is a delight to keep them in your heart, to have them ready on your lips.
19 That thy confidence may be in the Lord, I haue shewed thee this day: thou therefore take heede.
So that your faith may be in the Lord, I have made them clear to you this day, even to you.
20 Haue not I written vnto thee three times in counsels and knowledge,
Have I not put in writing for you thirty sayings, with wise suggestions and knowledge,
21 That I might shewe thee the assurance of the wordes of trueth to answere the wordes of trueth to them that sende to thee?
To make you see how certain are true words, so that you may give a true answer to those who put questions to you?
22 Robbe not the poore, because hee is poore, neither oppresse the afflicted in iudgement.
Do not take away the property of the poor man because he is poor, or be cruel to the crushed ones when they come before the judge:
23 For the Lord will defende their cause, and spoyle the soule of those that spoyle them.
For the Lord will give support to their cause, and take the life of those who take their goods.
24 Make no friendship with an angrie man, neither goe with the furious man,
Do not be friends with a man who is given to wrath; do not go in the company of an angry man:
25 Least thou learne his wayes, and receiue destruction to thy soule.
For fear of learning his ways and making a net ready for your soul.
26 Be not thou of them that touch the hand, nor among them that are suretie for debts.
Be not one of those who give their hands in an agreement, or of those who make themselves responsible for debts:
27 If thou hast nothing to paye, why causest thou that he should take thy bed from vnder thee?
If you have nothing with which to make payment, he will take away your bed from under you.
28 Thou shalt not remooue the ancient bounds which thy fathers haue made.
Let not the old landmark be moved which your fathers have put in place.
29 Thou seest that a diligent man in his businesse standeth before Kings, and standeth not before the base sort.
Have you seen a man who is expert in his business? he will take his place before kings; his place will not be among low persons.
