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 preferable to abundant riches, and good grace, to silver and to gold.
2 The rich and the poor have this in common: The LORD is the maker of them all.
The rich and poor meet together: the Lord is the maker them all.
3 A prudent man sees danger and hides himself; but the simple pass on, and suffer for it.
The prudent foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself; but the simple pass on, and are punished.
4 The result of humility and the fear of the LORD is wealth, honor, and life.
The reward of humility [and] the fear of the Lord are 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 on the way of a perverse man: he that doth guard his soul 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.
Train up the lad in accordance with his course: even when he groweth old, will he not depart from it.
7 The rich rule over the poor. The borrower is servant to the lender.
A rich man ruleth over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the man that lendeth.
8 He who sows wickedness reaps trouble, and the rod of his fury will be destroyed.
He that soweth injustice will reap wrong-doing; and the rod of God's wrath will not fail.
9 He who has a generous eye will be blessed, for he shares his food with the poor.
A man of a benevolent eye will indeed be blessed; for he giveth of his bread to the poor.
10 Drive out the mocker, and strife will go out; yes, quarrels and insults will stop.
Drive away the scorner, and strife will go off; and then will cease contention and dishonor.
11 He who loves purity of heart and speaks gracefully is the king’s friend.
He that loveth with a pure heart, and hath grace on his lips, will have the king as his friend.
12 The LORD’s eyes watch over knowledge, but he frustrates the words of the unfaithful.
The eyes of the Lord guard knowledge, and he overturneth the words of the treacherous.
13 The sluggard says, “There is a lion outside! I will be killed in the streets!”
The slothful saith, There is a lion without, in the midst of the streets shall I be murdered.
14 The mouth of an adulteress is a deep pit. He who is under the LORD’s wrath will fall into it.
A deep pit is the mouth of adulterous women: he that hath obtained the indignation of the Lord will fall thereinto.
15 Folly is bound up in the heart of a child; the rod of discipline drives it far from him.
When folly is bound fast to the heart of a lad, the rod of correction must remove it far from him.
16 Whoever oppresses the poor for his own increase and whoever gives to the rich, both come to poverty.
He that oppresseth the poor to increase his riches, [must at length] give to the rich, and come only to want.
17 Turn your ear, and listen to the words of the wise. Apply your heart to my teaching.
Incline thy ear, and hear the words of the wise, and apply thy heart unto 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 thy bosom, if they be altogether firmly seated 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 the Lord, have I made them known to thee this day, yea, even to thee.
20 Haven’t I written to you thirty excellent things of counsel and knowledge,
Have not I written for thee excellent things in counsels and knowledge,
21 To teach you truth, reliable words, to give sound answers to the ones who sent you?
That I might make thee know rectitude, the sayings of truth; that thou mightest bring back answers of truth to those that send thee?
22 Don’t exploit the poor because he is poor; and don’t crush the needy in court;
Rob not the poor, because he is poor, neither crush the afflicted in the gate;
23 for the LORD will plead their case, and plunder the life of those who plunder them.
For the Lord will plead their cause, and despoil the life of those that despoil them.
24 Don’t befriend a hot-tempered man. Don’t associate with one who harbors anger,
Make no friendship with a man given to anger; and with a man of fury thou must have no intercourse:
25 lest you learn his ways and ensnare your soul.
Lest thou learn his ways, and get a snare for thy own soul.
26 Don’t you be one of those who strike hands, of those who are collateral for debts.
Be not one of those that pledge their hand, or of those that 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 nothing 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 established.
29 Do you see a man skilled in his work? He will serve kings. He won’t serve obscure men.
Seest thou a man that is diligent in his work? before kings may he place himself: let him not place himself before obscure men.
