Proverbs 22

1 A good name is better than many riches. And good esteem is above silver and gold.

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

2 The rich and poor have met one another. The Lord is the maker of them both.

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

3 The clever saw evil and hid himself. The innocent continued on and was afflicted with damage.

A prudent man foresees the evil, and hides himself: but the simple pass on, and are punished.

4 The end of moderation is the fear of the Lord, riches and glory and life.

By humility and the fear of the LORD are riches, and honor, and life.

5 Weapons and swords are on the way of the perverse. But he who guards his own soul withdraws far from them.

Thorns and snares are in the way of the fraudulent: he that does keep his soul shall be far from them.

6 The proverb is: A youth is close to his way; even when he is old, he will not withdraw from it.

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

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

The rich rules over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender.

8 Whoever sows iniquity will reap evils, and by the rod of his own wrath he will be consumed.

He that sows iniquity shall reap vanity: and the rod of his anger shall fail.

9 Whoever is inclined to mercy shall be blessed, for from his bread he has given to the poor. Whoever gives gifts will acquire victory and honor. But he carries away the soul of the receiver.

He that has a bountiful eye shall be blessed; for he gives of his bread to the poor.

10 Cast out the one who ridicules, and conflict will go out with him, and accusations and insults will cease.

Cast out the scorner, and contention shall go out; yes, strife and reproach shall cease.

11 Whoever loves cleanness of heart, because of the grace of his lips, will have the king as his friend.

He that loves pureness of heart, for the grace of his lips the king shall be his friend.

12 The eyes of the Lord watch over knowledge. And the words of the iniquitous are supplanted.

The eyes of the LORD preserve knowledge, and he overthrows the words of the transgressor.

13 The lazy one says: “There is a lion outside. I might be slain in the midst of the streets.”

The slothful man says, There is a lion without, I shall be slain in the streets.

14 The mouth of a foreign woman is a deep pit; the Lord was angry with him who will fall into it.

The mouth of strange women is a deep pit: he that is abhorred of the LORD shall fall therein.

15 Foolishness has been bound to the heart of a child, and a rod of discipline shall cause it to flee.

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

16 Whoever slanders the poor, so as to augment his own riches, will give it away to one who is richer, and will be in need.

He that oppresses the poor to increase his riches, and he that gives to the rich, shall surely come to want.

17 Incline your ear, and listen to the words of the wise. Then apply your heart to my doctrine.

Bow down your ear, and hear the words of the wise, and apply your heart to my knowledge.

18 It shall be beautiful to you, if you preserve it in your inner self, and it shall overflow from your lips,

For it is a pleasant thing if you keep them within you; they shall with be fitted in your lips.

19 so that your confidence may be in the Lord. Therefore, I also have revealed it to you this day.

That your trust may be in the LORD, I have made known to you this day, even to you.

20 Behold, I have written it for you in three ways, and with meditations and knowledge,

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

21 so that I might reveal to you, firmly and with words of truth, in order to respond about these things to those who sent you.

That I might make you know the certainty of the words of truth; that you might answer the words of truth to them that send to you?

22 Do not act with violence toward the pauper because he is poor. And do not weary the needy at the gate.

Rob not the poor, because he is poor: neither oppress the afflicted in the gate:

23 For the Lord will judge his case, and he will pierce those who have pierced his soul.

For the LORD will plead their cause, and spoil the soul of those that spoiled them.

24 Do not be willing to be a friend to an angry man, and do not walk with a furious man,

Make no friendship with an angry man; and with a furious man you shall not go:

25 lest perhaps you learn his ways, and take up a stumbling block to your soul.

Lest you learn his ways, and get a snare to your soul.

26 Do not be willing to be with those who certify with their hands, and who offer themselves as a guarantee against debts.

Be not you one of them that strike hands, or of them that are sureties for debts.

27 For if you do not have the means to restore, what reason should there be for him to take the covering from your bed?

If you have nothing to pay, why should he take away your bed from under you?

28 Do not cross beyond the ancient limits that your fathers have set.

Remove not the ancient landmark, which your fathers have set.

29 Have you seen a man swift in his work? He shall stand in the sight of kings, and not before those who are disreputable.

See you a man diligent in his business? he shall stand before kings; he shall not stand before mean men.