Proverbs 22
1 A good name is more desirable than great riches, and loving favor is better than silver and gold.
A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches, loving favor rather than silver and gold.
2 The rich and the poor have this in common: The LORD is the maker of them all.
The rich and the poor meet together. Jehovah is the maker of them all.
3 A prudent man sees danger and hides himself; but the simple pass on, and suffer for it.
A prudent man sees the evil, and hides himself, but the simple pass on, and suffer for it.
4 The result of humility and the fear of the LORD is wealth, honor, and life.
The reward of humility and the fear of Jehovah is riches and honor and life.
5 Thorns and snares are in the path of the wicked; whoever guards his soul stays far from them.
Thorns and snares are in the way of a perverse man. He who keeps his soul shall be 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.
Train up a child in the way he should go, and even when he is old he will not depart from it.
7 The rich rule over the poor. The borrower is servant to the lender.
The rich rule over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender.
8 He who sows wickedness reaps trouble, and the rod of his fury will be destroyed.
He who sows iniquity shall reap calamity, and the rod of his wrath shall fail.
9 He who has a generous eye will be blessed, for he shares his food with the poor.
He who has a bountiful eye shall be blessed, for he gives of his bread to the poor.
10 Drive out the mocker, and strife will go out; yes, quarrels and insults will stop.
Cast out the scoffer, and contention will go out, yea, strife and reproach will cease.
11 He who loves purity of heart and speaks gracefully is the king’s friend.
He who loves pureness of heart, for the grace of his lips, the king will be his friend.
12 The LORD’s eyes watch over knowledge, but he frustrates the words of the unfaithful.
The eyes of Jehovah preserve knowledge, but he overthrows the words of the treacherous man.
13 The sluggard says, “There is a lion outside! I will be killed in the streets!”
The sluggard says, There is a lion outside. I shall be slain in the streets.
14 The mouth of an adulteress is a deep pit. He who is under the LORD’s wrath will fall into it.
The mouth of interloping women is a deep pit. He who is abhorred of Jehovah shall fall in it.
15 Folly is bound up in the heart of a child; the rod of discipline drives it far from him.
Foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child, but the rod of correction shall drive it far from him.
16 Whoever oppresses the poor for his own increase and whoever gives to the rich, both come to poverty.
He who oppresses a poor man to his increase, and he who gives to a rich man, comes only to want.
17 Turn your ear, and listen to the words of the wise. Apply your heart to my teaching.
Incline thine ear, and hear the words of the wise, and apply thy heart to my knowledge.
18 For it is a pleasant thing if you keep them within you, if all of them are ready on your lips.
For it is a pleasant thing if thou keep them within thee, if they be established together upon thy lips.
19 I teach you today, even you, so that your trust may be in the LORD.
That thy trust may be in Jehovah, I have made them known to thee this day, even to thee.
20 Haven’t I written to you thirty excellent things of counsel and knowledge,
Have I not written to thee excellent things of counsels and knowledge,
21 To teach you truth, reliable words, to give sound answers to the ones who sent you?
to make thee know the certainty of the words of truth, that thou may carry back words of truth to those who send thee?
22 Don’t exploit the poor because he is poor; and don’t crush the needy in court;
Do not rob a poor man, because he is poor, nor oppress an afflicted man in the gate.
23 for the LORD will plead their case, and plunder the life of those who plunder them.
For Jehovah will plead their cause, and despoil of life those who despoil them.
24 Don’t befriend a hot-tempered man. Don’t associate with one who harbors anger,
Make no friendship with a man who is given to anger, and thou shall not go with a wrathful man,
25 lest you learn his ways and ensnare your soul.
lest thou learn this ways, and get a snare to thy soul.
26 Don’t you be one of those who strike hands, of those who are collateral for debts.
Be thou not one of those who strike hands, or of those who are sureties for debts.
27 If you don’t have means to pay, why should he take away your bed from under you?
If thou have not wherewith to pay, why should he take away thy bed from under thee?
28 Don’t move the ancient boundary stone which your fathers have set up.
Remove not the ancient landmark, which thy fathers have set.
29 Do you see a man skilled in his work? He will serve kings. He won’t serve obscure men.
See thou a man diligent in his business? He shall stand before kings; he shall not stand before obscure men.
