Proverbs 22

1 A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches, and loving favour rather than silver and gold.

A good name is to be chosen over great riches and favor is better than silver and gold.

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

Rich and poor people have this in common— Yahweh is the maker of all of them.

3 A prudent man foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself: but the simple pass on, and are punished.

A prudent man sees trouble and hides himself, but the naive go on and suffer because of it.

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

The reward for humility and fear of Yahweh is riches, honor, and life.

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

Thorns and snares lie in the path of the perverse; whoever guards his life will keep far from them.

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

Teach a child the way he should go and when he is old he will not turn away from that instruction.

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

Rich people rule over poor people and one who borrows is a slave to the one who lends.

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

He who sows injustice will reap trouble and the rod of his fury will fade away.

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

The one who has a generous eye will be blessed, for he shares his bread with the poor.

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

Drive away the mocker, and out goes strife; disputes and insults will cease.

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

The one who loves a pure heart and whose speech is gracious, he will have the king for his friend.

12 The eyes of Yhwh preserve knowledge, and he overthroweth the words of the transgressor.

The eyes of Yahweh keep watch over knowledge, but he overthrows the words of the treacherous.

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

The lazy person says, “There is a lion in the street! I will be killed in the open places.”

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

The mouth of an adulteress is a deep pit; Yahweh's anger is stirred up against anyone who falls into it.

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

Foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child, but the rod of discipline drives it far away.

16 He that oppresseth the poor to increase his riches, and he that giveth to the rich, shall surely come to want.

The one who oppresses poor people to increase his wealth, or gives to rich people, will come to poverty.

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

Incline your ear and listen to the words of the wise and apply your heart to my knowledge,

18 For it is a pleasant thing if thou keep them within thee; they shall withal be fitted in thy lips.

for it will be pleasant for you if you keep them within you, if all of them are ready on your lips.

19 That thy trust may be in Yhwh, I have made known to thee this day, even to thee.

So your trust may be in Yahweh, I teach them to you today—even to you.

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

Have I not written for you thirty sayings of instruction and knowledge,

21 That I might make thee know the certainty of the words of truth; that thou mightest answer the words of truth to them that send unto thee?

to teach you truth in these trustworthy words, so you may give trustworthy answers to those who sent you?

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

Do not rob the poor because he is poor, or crush the needy at the gate,

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

for Yahweh will plead their case, and he will rob of life those who robbed them.

24 Make no friendship with an angry man; and with a furious man thou shalt not go:

Do not make a friend of someone who is ruled by anger and you must not go with one who rages,

25 Lest thou learn his ways, and get a snare to thy soul.

or you will learn his ways and you will take bait for your soul.

26 Be not thou one of them that strike hands, or of them that are sureties for debts.

Do not be one who strikes hands in making a pledge, or who puts up security for debts.

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

If you lack the means to pay, what could stop someone from taking away your bed from under you?

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

Do not remove the ancient boundary stone that your fathers have set.

29 Seest thou a man diligent in his business? he shall stand before kings; he shall not stand before mean men.

Do you see a man skilled at his work? He will stand before kings; he will not stand before common people.