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 better than many riches. And good esteem is above silver and gold.

2 The rich and poore meete together: the Lord is the maker of them all.

The rich and poor have met one another. The Lord is the maker of them both.

3 A prudent man seeth the plague, and hideth himselfe: but the foolish goe on still, and are punished.

The clever saw evil and hid himself. The innocent continued on and was afflicted with damage.

4 The rewarde of humilitie, and the feare of God is riches, and glory, and life.

The end of moderation is the fear of the Lord, riches and glory and life.

5 Thornes and snares are in the way of the frowarde: but he that regardeth his soule, will depart farre from them.

Weapons and swords are on the way of the perverse. But he who guards his own soul withdraws far from them.

6 Teache a childe in the trade of his way, and when he is olde, he shall not depart from it.

The proverb is: A youth is close to his way; even when he is old, he will not withdraw from it.

7 The rich ruleth the poore, and the borower is seruant to the man that lendeth.

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

8 He that soweth iniquitie, shall reape affliction, and the rodde of his anger shall faile.

Whoever sows iniquity will reap evils, and by the rod of his own wrath he will be consumed.

9 He that hath a good eye, he shalbe blessed: for he giueth of his bread vnto the poore.

Whoever is inclined to mercy shall be blessed, for from his bread he has given to the poor. Whoever gives gifts will acquire victory and honor. But he carries away the soul of the receiver.

10 Cast out the scorner, and strife shall go out: so contention and reproche shall cease.

Cast out the one who ridicules, and conflict will go out with him, and accusations and insults will cease.

11 Hee that loueth purenesse of heart for the grace of his lippes, the King shalbe his friend.

Whoever loves cleanness of heart, because of the grace of his lips, will have the king as his friend.

12 The eyes of the Lord preserue knowledge: but hee ouerthroweth the wordes of the transgressour.

The eyes of the Lord watch over knowledge. And the words of the iniquitous are supplanted.

13 The slouthfull man saith, A lyon is without, I shall be slaine in the streete.

The lazy one says: “There is a lion outside. I might be slain in the midst of 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 a foreign woman is a deep pit; the Lord was angry with him who will fall into it.

15 Foolishnesse is bounde in the heart of a childe: but the rodde of correction shall driue it away from him.

Foolishness has been bound to the heart of a child, and a rod of discipline shall cause it to flee.

16 Hee that oppresseth the poore to increase him selfe, and giueth vnto the riche, shall surely come to pouertie.

Whoever slanders the poor, so as to augment his own riches, will give it away to one who is richer, and will be in need.

17 Incline thine eare, and heare the wordes of the wise, and apply thine heart vnto my knowledge.

Incline your ear, and listen to the words of the wise. Then apply your heart to my doctrine.

18 For it shalbe pleasant, if thou keepe them in thy bellie, and if they be directed together in thy lippes.

It shall be beautiful to you, if you preserve it in your inner self, and it shall overflow from your lips,

19 That thy confidence may be in the Lord, I haue shewed thee this day: thou therefore take heede.

so that your confidence may be in the Lord. Therefore, I also have revealed it to you this day.

20 Haue not I written vnto thee three times in counsels and knowledge,

Behold, I have written it for you in three ways, and with meditations 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?

so that I might reveal to you, firmly and with words of truth, in order to respond about these things to those who sent you.

22 Robbe not the poore, because hee is poore, neither oppresse the afflicted in iudgement.

Do not act with violence toward the pauper because he is poor. And do not weary the needy at the gate.

23 For the Lord will defende their cause, and spoyle the soule of those that spoyle them.

For the Lord will judge his case, and he will pierce those who have pierced his soul.

24 Make no friendship with an angrie man, neither goe with the furious man,

Do not be willing to be a friend to an angry man, and do not walk with a furious man,

25 Least thou learne his wayes, and receiue destruction to thy soule.

lest perhaps you learn his ways, and take up a stumbling block to your soul.

26 Be not thou of them that touch the hand, nor among them that are suretie for debts.

Do not be willing to be with those who certify with their hands, and who offer themselves as a guarantee against debts.

27 If thou hast nothing to paye, why causest thou that he should take thy bed from vnder thee?

For if you do not have the means to restore, what reason should there be for him to take the covering from your bed?

28 Thou shalt not remooue the ancient bounds which thy fathers haue made.

Do not cross beyond the ancient limits that your fathers have set.

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 swift in his work? He shall stand in the sight of kings, and not before those who are disreputable.