Proverbs 22

1  A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches,
and favor is better than silver or gold.
2  The rich and the poor meet together;
the Lord is the maker of them all.
3  The prudent sees danger and hides himself,
but the simple go on and suffer for it.
4  The reward for humility and fear of the Lord
is riches and honor and life.t
5  Thorns and snares are in the way of the crooked;
whoever guards his soul will keep far from them.
6  Train up a child in the way he should go;
even when he is old he will not depart from it.
7  The rich rules over the poor,
and the borrower is the slave of the lender.
8  Whoever sows injustice will reap calamity,
and the rod of his fury will fail.
9  Whoever has a bountifult eye will be blessed,
for he shares his bread with the poor.
10  Drive out a scoffer, and strife will go out,
and quarreling and abuse will cease.
11  He who loves purity of heart,
and whose speech is gracious, will have the king as his friend.
12  The eyes of the Lord keep watch over knowledge,
but he overthrows the words of the traitor.
13  The sluggard says, "There is a lion outside!
I shall be killed in the streets!"
14  The mouth of forbiddent women is a deep pit;
he with whom the Lord is angry will fall into it.
15  Folly is bound up in the heart of a child,
but the rod of discipline drives it far from him.
16  Whoever oppresses the poor to increase his own wealth,
or gives to the rich, will only come to poverty.

Words of the Wise

17  Incline your ear, and hear the words of the wise,
and apply your heart to my knowledge,
18  for it will be pleasant if you keep them within you,
if all of them are ready on your lips.
19  That your trust may be in the Lord,
I have made them known to you today, even to you.
20  Have I not written for you thirty sayings
of counsel and knowledge,
21  to make you know what is right and true,
that you may give a true answer to those who sent you?

22  Do not rob the poor, because he is poor,
or crush the afflicted at the gate,
23  for the Lord will plead their cause
and rob of life those who rob them.
24  Make no friendship with a man given to anger,
nor go with a wrathful man,
25  lest you learn his ways
and entangle yourself in a snare.
26  Be not one of those who give pledges,
who put up security for debts.
27  If you have nothing with which to pay,
why should your bed be taken from under you?
28  Do not move the ancient landmark
that your fathers have set.
29  Do you see a man skillful in his work?
He will stand before kings;
he will not stand before obscure men.

Proverbs 22

On Life and Conduct

1 A good name is to be more desired than great wealth,
Favor is better than silver and gold.

2 The rich and the poor have a common bond,
The LORD is the maker of them all.

3 The prudent sees the evil and hides himself,
But the naive go on, and are punished for it.

4 The reward of humility and the fear of the LORD
Are riches, honor and life.

5 Thorns and snares are in the way of the perverse;
He who guards himself will be far from them.

6 Train up a child in the way he should go,
Even when he is old he will not depart from it.

7 The rich rules over the poor,
And the borrower becomes the lender's slave.

8 He who sows iniquity will reap vanity,
And the rod of his fury will perish.

9 He who is generous will be blessed,
For he gives some of his food to the poor.

10 Drive out the scoffer, and contention will go out,
Even strife and dishonor will cease.

11 He who loves purity of heart
And whose speech is gracious, the king is his friend.

12 The eyes of the LORD 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!"

14 The mouth of an adulteress is a deep pit;
He who is cursed of the LORD will fall into it.

15 Foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child;
The rod of discipline will remove it far from him.

16 He who oppresses the poor to make more for himself
Or who gives to the rich, will only come to poverty.

17 Incline your ear and hear the words of the wise,
And apply your mind to my knowledge;

18 For it will be pleasant if you keep them within you,
That they may be ready on your lips.

19 So that your trust may be in the LORD,
I have taught you today, even you.

20 Have I not written to you excellent things
Of counsels and knowledge,

21 To make you know the certainty of the words of truth
That you may correctly answer him who sent you?

22 Do not rob the poor because he is poor,
Or crush the afflicted at the gate;

23 For the LORD will plead their case
And take the life of those who rob them.

24 Do not associate with a man given to anger;
Or go with a hot-tempered man,

25 Or you will learn his ways
And find a snare for yourself.

26 Do not be among those who give pledges,
Among those who become guarantors for debts.

27 If you have nothing with which to pay,
Why should he take your bed from under you?

28 Do not move the ancient boundary
Which your fathers have set.

29 Do you see a man skilled in his work?
He will stand before kings;
He will not stand before obscure men.