Proverbs 22
New Life Version
22 A good name is to be chosen instead of many riches. Favor is better than silver and gold.
2 The rich and the poor meet together. The Lord is the maker of them all. 3 A wise man sees sin and hides himself, but the foolish go on, and are punished for it.
4 The reward for not having pride and having the fear of the Lord is riches, honor and life.
5 Thorns and traps are in the way of the sinful. He who watches himself will stay far from them.
6 Bring up a child by teaching him the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn away from it.
7 The rich rules over the poor. The man who uses something that belongs to someone else is ruled by the one who let him use it.
8 He who plants sin will gather trouble, and the heavy stick of his anger will break.
9 He who gives much will be honored, for he gives some of his food to the poor.
10 Send away the man who laughs at the truth, and arguing, fighting and shame will stop.
11 He who loves a pure heart and is kind in his speaking has the king as his friend.
12 The eyes of the Lord keep watch over much learning, but He destroys the words of the man who is not faithful.
13 The lazy man says, “There is a lion outside! I will be killed in the streets!”
14 The mouth of a sinful woman is a deep hole. He with whom the Lord is angry will fall into it.
15 A foolish way is held in the heart of a child, but the punishing stick will send it far from him.
16 He who makes it hard for the poor by getting more for himself, or who gives to the rich, will become poor himself.
17 Turn your ear and hear the words of the wise, and open your mind to what they teach. 18 For it will be pleasing if you keep them in your heart, so they may be ready on your lips. 19 I have taught you today, even you, so that your trust may be in the Lord. 20 Have I not written to you great things of wise teaching and much learning 21 to show you that the words of truth are sure, so you may give a true answer to him who sent you?
22 Do not rob the poor because he is poor, or crush those who suffer at the gate. 23 For the Lord will stand by them and help them, and take the life of those who rob them.
24 Do not have anything to do with a man given to anger, or go with a man who has a bad temper. 25 Or you might learn his ways and get yourself into a trap.
26 Do not be among those who make promises and put themselves up as trust for what others owe. 27 If you have nothing with which to pay, why should he take your bed from under you?
28 Do not take away the old land-mark which your fathers have set.
29 Do you see a man who is good at his work? He will stand in front of kings. He will not stand in front of men who are not important.
Proverbs 22
King James Version
22 A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches, and loving favour rather than silver and gold.
2 The rich and poor meet together: the Lord is the maker of them all.
3 A prudent man foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself: but the simple pass on, and are punished.
4 By humility and the fear of the Lord are riches, and honour, and life.
5 Thorns and snares are in the way of the froward: he that doth keep 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.
7 The rich ruleth over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender.
8 He that soweth iniquity shall reap vanity: and the rod of his anger 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 scorner, and contention shall go out; yea, strife and reproach shall cease.
11 He that loveth pureness of heart, for the grace of his lips the king shall be his friend.
12 The eyes of the Lord preserve knowledge, and he overthroweth the words of the transgressor.
13 The slothful man 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 the Lord shall fall therein.
15 Foolishness is bound 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 riches, and he that giveth to the rich, shall surely come to want.
17 Bow down thine ear, and hear the words of the wise, and apply thine heart unto my knowledge.
18 For it is a pleasant thing if thou keep them within thee; they shall withal be fitted in thy lips.
19 That thy trust may be in the Lord, I have made known to thee this day, even to thee.
20 Have not I written to thee excellent things in counsels and knowledge,
21 That I might make thee know the certainty of the words of truth; that thou mightest answer the words of truth to them that send unto thee?
22 Rob not the poor, because he is poor: neither oppress the afflicted in the gate:
23 For the Lord will plead their cause, and spoil the soul of those that spoiled them.
24 Make no friendship with an angry man; and with a furious man thou shalt not go:
25 Lest thou learn his ways, and get a snare to thy soul.
26 Be not thou one of them that strike hands, or of them that are sureties for debts.
27 If thou hast nothing 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.
Copyright © 1969, 2003 by Barbour Publishing, Inc.