Proverbs 22
1 A good name is more desirable than great riches, and loving favor is better than silver and gold.
(Having a good reputation/Being honored by people) is better than having a lot of money; being well respected is better than having plenty of gold or silver [DOU].
2 The rich and the poor have this in common: Yahweh is the maker of them all.
There is one thing that is true about both rich people and poor people: Yahweh is the one who created all of them.
3 A prudent man sees danger and hides himself; but the simple pass on, and suffer for it.
Those who have good sense realize [that there is something] dangerous ahead, and they avoid it; those who do not have good sense just keep going and later they will suffer because of doing that.
4 The result of humility and the fear of Yahweh is wealth, honor, and life.
The reward that Yahweh gives to those who are humble and who revere him is that he causes them to be rich and honored and to live for a long time.
5 Thorns and snares are in the path of the wicked; whoever guards his soul stays far from them.
Because of the things that wicked people do, [they have difficulties/troubles] that will be like thorns and traps on the roads that they walk on [MET]; people who are careful/cautious will be able to stay away from those difficulties.
6 Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it.
If you train/teach children to do what is right, all during their life they will act/behave in that manner.
7 The rich rule over the poor. The borrower is servant to the lender.
Rich people rule over poor people harshly, and those who borrow money become like slaves [MET] of the people who lend [money to them].
8 He who sows wickedness reaps trouble, and the rod of his fury will be destroyed.
[If you plant corn or rice, corn or rice will grow]; [similarly], if you act unjustly, you will have disasters [MET]; and if you try to harm/oppress people [because you are angry with them], you will not be able to harm them.
9 He who has a generous eye will be blessed, for he shares his food with the poor.
[God] will bless those who are generous [IDM], those who give some of their food to poor [people].
10 Drive out the mocker, and strife will go out; yes, quarrels and insults will stop.
If you get rid of those who make fun of [everything that is good], there will no more arguing or quarreling or insulting [other people].
11 He who loves purity of heart and speaks gracefully is the king’s friend.
If you always act sincerely [IDM] and always speak kindly, the king will be your friend.
12 Yahweh’s eyes watch over knowledge, but he frustrates the words of the unfaithful.
Yahweh [SYN] (watches over/takes care of) [those who have] good understanding/sense, but he ruins the plans/affairs of those who always try to deceive others.
13 The sluggard says, “There is a lion outside! I will be killed in the streets!”
Lazy people [remain in their houses]; they say, “A lion might attack me if I go out into the street [to go to work]!”
14 The mouth of an adulteress is a deep pit. He who is under Yahweh’s wrath will fall into it.
What (wives who commit adultery/immoral women) say [to men] [MTY] is [like] a deep pit [MET] [into which those men fall]; those with whom Yahweh is angry will fall into that pit.
15 Folly is bound up in the heart of a child; the rod of discipline drives it far from him.
Children [SYN] naturally do things that are foolish, but if you punish/spank them [PRS], they [will] (stop doing foolish things/learn to behave as they should).
16 Whoever oppresses the poor for his own increase and whoever gives to the rich, both come to poverty.
Those who oppress poor [people] in order to become rich, and those who give [a bribe] to rich [people in order that the rich people will do a favor for them], will just lose their money.
17 Turn your ear, and listen to the words of the wise. Apply your heart to my teaching.
[Now] listen [MTY] to what wise [people] have said; think carefully about what I am teaching you.
18 For it is a pleasant thing if you keep them within you, if all of them are ready on your lips.
It will be good to (keep these things in your minds/always remember them), because if you do that, you will be able to quote/recite them [to others].
19 I teach you today, even you, so that your trust may be in Yahweh.
[I want you to] trust in Yahweh, and that is the reason that I am telling them to you, now.
20 Haven’t I written to you thirty excellent things of counsel and knowledge,
I have written [RHQ] 30 (sayings/things that wise people have said) from which you will receive good advice and you will be able you to know [many good/useful things].
21 To teach you truth, reliable words, to give sound answers to the ones who sent you?
From them, you will learn what is right and what is true, in order that you will be able to bring back a good report to those who sent you [to school] (OR, give a good answer [to those who ask you questions]).
22 Don’t exploit the poor because he is poor; and don’t crush the needy in court;
[It is easy to] rob poor [people] who are helpless [and cannot defend themselves, but] never [do that]; and do not oppress in court those who are needy/afflicted,
23 for Yahweh will plead their case, and plunder the life of those who plunder them.
because Yahweh will speak to defend them, and he will punish those who steal things from others—by causing them to die.
24 Don’t befriend a hot-tempered man. Don’t associate with one who harbors anger,
Do not become friends with those who often become angry, and do not associate with those who cannot control their temper/anger,
25 lest you learn his ways and ensnare your soul.
because you might start to act like they do and not be able to stop doing that.
26 Don’t you be one of those who strike hands, of those who are collateral for debts.
If someone borrows money, do not be one of those who promises to pay what that person owes he cannot pay it back,
27 If you don’t have means to pay, why should he take away your bed from under you?
because if you cannot pay it back, people will surely [RHQ] [come and] take away [everything you own], even your bed.
28 Don’t move the ancient boundary stone which your fathers have set up.
Do not [steal some of your neighbors’ land by] removing the boundary lines/markers that your ancestors placed/set.
29 Do you see a man skilled in his work? He will serve kings. He won’t serve obscure men.
Know/Learn [RHQ] this about those who do their work very skillfully: They will quit working for ordinary people and will start working for kings [because the kings will want people like that to work for them].
