Proverbs 22
1 A good name is to be chosen aboue great riches, and louing fauour is aboue siluer and aboue golde.
A good reputation is a much better choice than plenty of money; respect is better than silver and gold.
2 The rich and poore meete together: the Lord is the maker of them all.
The rich and the poor have this in common: the Lord created them all.
3 A prudent man seeth the plague, and hideth himselfe: but the foolish goe on still, and are punished.
If you're sensible you see danger coming and get out of the way; but stupid people just keep going and pay for it.
4 The rewarde of humilitie, and the feare of God is riches, and glory, and life.
The reward you receive for being humble and respecting the Lord is wealth, honor, 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 traps lie in the path of crooked people; those who value their lives will stay away from them.
6 Teache a childe in the trade of his way, and when he is olde, he shall not depart from it.
Teach children the right way to live, and when they grow up they'll go on doing so.
7 The rich ruleth the poore, and the borower is seruant to the man that lendeth.
The rich rule the poor, and borrowers are slaves to their lenders.
8 He that soweth iniquitie, shall reape affliction, and the rodde of his anger shall faile.
Those who sow injustice will reap disaster, and the angry beatings they inflict on others will be stopped.
9 He that hath a good eye, he shalbe blessed: for he giueth of his bread vnto the poore.
If you're generous, you'll be blessed, for you share your food with those in need.
10 Cast out the scorner, and strife shall go out: so contention and reproche shall cease.
Get rid of the scornful, and you'll get rid of conflict too—no more arguments or insults!
11 Hee that loueth purenesse of heart for the grace of his lippes, the King shalbe his friend.
Anyone who loves sincerity and a gracious way of speaking will have the king as their friend.
12 The eyes of the Lord preserue knowledge: but hee ouerthroweth the wordes of the transgressour.
The Lord watches over true knowledge, but counteracts the words of liars.
13 The slouthfull man saith, A lyon is without, I shall be slaine in the streete.
Lazy people make claims like, “There's a lion outside! I might be killed if I go out there!”
14 The mouth of strage women is as a deepe pit: he with whom the Lord is angry, shall fall therein.
The seductive words of an immoral woman are a dangerous trap—if the Lord's angry with you, then you'll fall right in.
15 Foolishnesse is bounde in the heart of a childe: but the rodde of correction shall driue it away from him.
Children are naturally foolish; physical correction helps them to see sense.
16 Hee that oppresseth the poore to increase him selfe, and giueth vnto the riche, shall surely come to pouertie.
If you oppress the poor to make yourself rich, or if you're generous to the rich, you'll end up poor yourself.
17 Incline thine eare, and heare the wordes of the wise, and apply thine heart vnto my knowledge.
Pay attention and listen to the words of the wise, and think carefully about my teachings—
18 For it shalbe pleasant, if thou keepe them in thy bellie, and if they be directed together in thy lippes.
for it's good to keep them in mind so you can be ready to share them.
19 That thy confidence may be in the Lord, I haue shewed thee this day: thou therefore take heede.
I'm explaining this to you today so you can trust in the Lord—yes, you!
20 Haue not I written vnto thee three times in counsels and knowledge,
Haven't I written down for you thirty sayings of advice and wisdom?
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?
They are to make it clear to you what's right and true, so you can give a truthful explanation to those who sent you.
22 Robbe not the poore, because hee is poore, neither oppresse the afflicted in iudgement.
For you shouldn't steal from the poor just because they're poor; and you shouldn't crush those with limited means in court,
23 For the Lord will defende their cause, and spoyle the soule of those that spoyle them.
for the Lord will plead their case, and he will take back whatever was stolen from them.
24 Make no friendship with an angrie man, neither goe with the furious man,
Don't make friends with someone who gets upset easily; don't associate with angry people,
25 Least thou learne his wayes, and receiue destruction to thy soule.
in case you learn to be like them and make a mess of your life.
26 Be not thou of them that touch the hand, nor among them that are suretie for debts.
Don't shake hands and guarantee someone's debt,
27 If thou hast nothing to paye, why causest thou that he should take thy bed from vnder thee?
for if you can't pay, why should your bed be taken away from beneath you?
28 Thou shalt not remooue the ancient bounds which thy fathers haue made.
Don't move ancient boundary markers that your forefathers put in place.
29 Thou seest that a diligent man in his businesse standeth before Kings, and standeth not before the base sort.
If you see someone skilled in what they do, they'll work for kings and not for ordinary people.
