Proverbs 22
1 More choice, is a name, than great riches, beyond silver and gold, is pleasant grace.
A good name is better than many riches. And good esteem is above silver and gold.
2 The rich and the poor, meet together, the maker of them all, is Yahweh.
The rich and poor have met one another. The Lord is the maker of them both.
3 A prudent man, seeth calamity, and hideth himself, but, the simple, pass on, and suffer.
The clever saw evil and hid himself. The innocent continued on and was afflicted with damage.
4 The reward of humility, is the reverence of Yahweh, riches, and honour, and life.
The end of moderation is the fear of the Lord, riches and glory and life.
5 Thorns and snares, are in the way of the perverse, —he that guardeth his soul, shall be far from them.
Weapons and swords are on the way of the perverse. But he who guards his own soul withdraws far from them.
6 Train up a youth, in the direction of his duty, even when he becometh old, he will 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, over the poor, beareth rule, —and, slave, is the borrower to the lender.
The rich rule over the poor. And the borrower is servant to the lender.
8 He that soweth perversity, shall reap trouble, and, the rod of his wrath, shall be ready.
Whoever sows iniquity will reap evils, and by the rod of his own wrath he will be consumed.
9 A benevolent eye, the same, shall be blessed, —because he hath given of his bread to the poor.
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 Drive away the scoffer, that strife may depart, and quarrel, and contempt may cease.
Cast out the one who ridicules, and conflict will go out with him, and accusations and insults will cease.
11 Yahweh loveth the pure in heart, gracious are his lips, his friend is the king!
Whoever loves cleanness of heart, because of the grace of his lips, will have the king as his friend.
12 The eyes of Yahweh, watch over knowledge, therefore hath he overturned the words of the treacherous.
The eyes of the Lord watch over knowledge. And the words of the iniquitous are supplanted.
13 Saith the sluggard, A lion outside! Amidst the broadways, shall I be slain.
The lazy one says: “There is a lion outside. I might be slain in the midst of the streets.”
14 A deep chasm, is the mouth of strange women, he with whom Yahweh is indignant, falleth there.
The mouth of a foreign woman is a deep pit; the Lord was angry with him who will fall into it.
15 Foolishness, is bound up in the heart of a youth, the rod of correction, shall drive it far from him.
Foolishness has been bound to the heart of a child, and a rod of discipline shall cause it to flee.
16 He that oppresseth the poor, to make increase for himself, giving to the rich, shall surely come to want.
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 ear and hear the words of wise men, then, thy heart, wilt thou apply to my teaching;
Incline your ear, and listen to the words of the wise. Then apply your heart to my doctrine.
18 For sweet shall they be, when thou shalt keep them in thine inmost mind, they shall fit well together, upon thy lips.
It shall be beautiful to you, if you preserve it in your inner self, and it shall overflow from your lips,
19 That in Yahweh may be thy trust, I have made them known to thee to-day, even to thee.
so that your confidence may be in the Lord. Therefore, I also have revealed it to you this day.
20 Have I not written for thee noble things, with counsels and knowledge:
Behold, I have written it for you in three ways, and with meditations and knowledge,
21 To cause thee to know the meaning of faithful sayings, that thou mayest give back faithful sayings to them who ask 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 Do not rob the poor, because he is poor, neither crush thou the oppressed in the gate;
Do not act with violence toward the pauper because he is poor. And do not weary the needy at the gate.
23 For, Yahweh, will plead their cause, and will despoil their despoilers of life.
For the Lord will judge his case, and he will pierce those who have pierced his soul.
24 Do not have friendship with one given to anger, and, with a wrathful man, shall thou not enter in:
Do not be willing to be a friend to an angry man, and do not walk with a furious man,
25 Lest thou learn his ways, and take a snare to thy soul.
lest perhaps you learn his ways, and take up a stumbling block to your soul.
26 Be not of them who strike hands, of them who are sureties 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 pay, why should one take away thy bed from under 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 Do not move back the ancient boundary, which thy father’s made.
Do not cross beyond the ancient limits that your fathers have set.
29 Seest thou a man prompt in his business? before kings, shall he stand, he shall not stand before men who are obscure.
Have you seen a man swift in his work? He shall stand in the sight of kings, and not before those who are disreputable.
