Proverbs 22

1 A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches, And loving favor rather than silver and gold.

2 The rich and the poor meet together: Jehovah is the maker of them all.

3 A prudent man seeth the evil, and hideth himself; But the simple pass on, and suffer for it.

4 The reward of humility and the fear of Jehovah Is riches, and honor, and life.

5 Thorns and snares are in the way of the perverse: He that keepeth his soul shall be 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.

7 The rich ruleth over the poor; And the borrower is servant to the lender.

8 He that soweth iniquity shall reap calamity; And the rod of his wrath shall fail.

9 He that hath a bountiful eye shall be blessed; For he giveth of his bread to the poor.

10 Cast out the scoffer, and contention will go out; Yea, strife and ignominy will cease.

11 He that loveth pureness of heart, For the grace of his lips the king will be his friend.

12 The eyes of Jehovah preserve him that hath knowledge; But he overthroweth the words of the treacherous man.

13 The sluggard saith, There is a lion without: I shall be slain in the streets.

14 The mouth of strange women is a deep pit: He that is abhorred of Jehovah shall fall therein.

15 Foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child; But the rod of correction shall drive it far from him.

16 He that oppresseth the poor to increase his gain, And he that giveth to the rich, shall come only to want.

17 Incline thine ear, and hear the words of the wise, And apply thy heart unto my knowledge.

18 For it is a pleasant thing if thou keep them within thee, If they be established together upon thy lips.

19 That thy trust may be in Jehovah, I have made them known to thee this day, even to thee.

20 Have not I written unto thee excellent things Of counsels 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?

22 Rob not the poor, because he is poor; Neither oppress the afflicted in the gate:

23 For Jehovah will plead their cause, And despoil of life those that despoil them.

24 Make no friendship with a man that is given to anger; And with a wrathful man thou shalt not go:

25 Lest thou learn this ways, And get a snare to thy soul.

26 Be thou not one of them that strike hands, Or of them that are sureties for debts.

27 If thou hast not wherewith to pay, Why should he take away thy bed from under thee?

28 Remove not the ancient landmark, 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.

Proverbs 22

The value of a good reputation

1 A good reputation and respect
are worth much more
than silver and gold.

2 The rich and the poor
are all created
by the Lord.

3 When you see trouble coming,
don't be stupid
and walk right into it—
be clever and hide.

4 Respect and serve the Lord!
Your reward will be wealth,
a long life, and honour.

5 Crooks walk down a road
full of thorny traps.
Stay away from there!

6 Teach your children
right from wrong,
and when they are grown
they will still do right.

7 The poor are ruled by the rich,
and those who borrow
are slaves of moneylenders.

8 Troublemakers get in trouble,
and their terrible anger
will get them nowhere.

9 The Lord blesses everyone
who freely gives food
to the poor.

10 Arguments and fights
will come to an end,
if you chase away those
who insult others.

11 The king is the friend of all
who are sincere
and speak with kindness.

12 The Lord watches over everyone
who shows good sense,
but he frustrates the plans
of deceitful liars.

13 Don't be so lazy that you say,
“If I go to work,
a lion will eat me!”

14 The words of a bad woman
are like a deep pit;
if you make the Lord angry,
you will fall right in.

15 All children are foolish,
but firm correction
will make them change.

16 Cheat the poor to make profit
or give gifts to the rich—
either way you lose.

Thirty wise sayings

17 Here are some sayings
of people with wisdom,
so listen carefully
as I teach.

18 You will be glad
that you know these sayings
and can recite them.

19 I am teaching them today,
so that you
may trust the Lord.

20 I have written thirty sayings
filled with sound advice.

21 You can trust them completely
to give you the right words
for those in charge of you.

—1—

22 Don't take advantage
of the poor
or cheat them in court.

23 The Lord is their defender,
and what you do to them,
he will do to you.

—2—

24 Don't make friends with anyone
who has a bad temper.

25 You might turn out like them
and get caught in a trap.

—3—

26 Don't guarantee to pay
someone else's debt.

27 If you don't have the money,
you might lose your bed.

—4—

28 Don't move a boundary markert
set up by your ancestors.

—5—

29 If you do your job well,
you will work for a ruler
and never be a slave.