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 better than great riches: and good favour is above silver and gold.
2 The rich and the poor meet 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 evil, and hideth himself: but the simple pass on, and suffer for it.
The prudent man saw the evil, and hid himself: the simple passed on, and suffered loss.
4 The reward of humility [and] the fear of the LORD [is] riches, and honour, and life.
The fruit of humility is the fear of the Lord, riches and glory and life.
5 Thorns [and] snares are in the way of the froward: he that keepeth his soul shall be far from them.
Arms and swords are in the way of the perverse: but he that keepeth his own soul departeth far from them.
6 Train up a child in the way he should go, and even when he is old he will not depart from it.
It is a proverb: A young man according to his way, even when he is old he will not depart from it.
7 The rich ruleth over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender.
The rich ruleth over the poor: and the borrower is servant to him that lendeth.
8 He that soweth iniquity shall reap calamity: and the rod of his wrath shall fail.
He that soweth iniquity shall reap evils, and with the rod of his anger he shall be consumed.
9 He that hath a bountiful eye shall be blessed; for he giveth of his bread to the poor.
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.
10 Cast out the scorner, and contention shall go out; yea, strife and ignominy shall cease.
Cast out the scoffer, and contention shall go out with him, and quarrels and reproaches shall cease.
11 He that loveth pureness of heart, [for] the grace of his lips the king shall be his friend.
He that loveth cleanness of heart, for the grace of his lips shall have the king for his friend.
12 The eyes of the LORD preserve [him that hath] knowledge, but he overthroweth the words of the treacherous man.
The eyes of the Lord preserve knowledge: and the words of the unjust are overthrown.
13 The sluggard saith, There is a lion without: I shall be murdered in the streets.
The slothful man saith: There is a lion without, I shall be slain in the midst of the streets.
14 The mouth of strange women is a deep pit: he that is abhorred of the LORD shall fall therein.
The mouth of a strange woman is a deep pit: he whom the Lord is angry with, shall fall into it.
15 Foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child; [but] the rod of correction shall drive it far from him.
Folly is bound up in the heart of a child, and the rod of correction shall drive it away.
16 He that oppresseth the poor to increase his [gain, and] he that giveth to the rich, [cometh] only to want.
He that oppresseth the poor, to increase his own riches, shall himself give to one that is richer, and shall be in need.
17 Incline thine ear, and hear the words of the wise, and apply thine heart unto my knowledge.
Incline thy ear, and hear the words of the wise: and apply thy heart to my doctrine:
18 For it is a pleasant thing if thou keep them within thee, if they be established together upon thy lips.
Which shall be beautiful for thee, if thou keep it in thy bowels, and it shall flow in thy lips:
19 That thy trust may be in the LORD, I have made [them] known to thee this day, even to thee.
That thy trust may be in the Lord, wherefore I have also shewn it to thee this day.
20 Have not I written unto thee excellent things of counsels and knowledge;
Behold I have described it to thee three manner of ways, in thoughts and knowledge:
21 To make thee know the certainty of the words of truth, that thou mayest carry back words of truth to them that send thee?
That I might shew thee the certainty, and the words of truth, to answer out of these to them that sent thee.
22 Rob not the poor, because he is poor, neither oppress the afflicted in the gate:
Do no violence to the poor, because he is poor: and do not oppress the needy in the gate:
23 For the LORD will plead their cause, and despoil of life those that despoil them.
Because the Lord will judge his cause, and will afflict them that have afflicted his soul.
24 Make no friendship with a man that is given to anger; and with a wrathful man thou shalt not go:
Be not a friend to an angry man, and do not walk with a furious man:
25 Lest thou learn his ways, and get a snare to thy soul.
Lest perhaps thou learn his ways, and take scandal to thy soul.
26 Be thou not one of them that strike hands, [or] of them that are sureties for debts:
Be not with them that fasten down their hands, and that offer themselves sureties for debts:
27 If thou hast not wherewith to pay, why should he take away thy bed from under thee?
For if thou have not wherewith to restore, what cause is there, that he should take the covering from thy bed?
28 Remove not the ancient landmark, which thy fathers have set.
Pass not beyond the ancient bounds which thy fathers have set.
29 Seest thou a man diligent in his business? he shall stand before kings; he shall not stand before mean men.
Hast thou seen a man swift in his work? he shall stand before kings, and shall not be before those that are obscure.
