Proverbs 22
Modern English Version
22 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 this in common,
the Lord is the maker of them all.
3 A prudent man foresees the evil and hides himself,
but the simple pass on and are punished.
4 By humility and the fear of the Lord
are riches, and honor, and life.
5 Thorns and snares are in the way of the perverse;
he who guards his soul will 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 rules over the poor,
and the borrower is servant to the lender.
8 He who sows iniquity will reap vanity,
and the rod of his anger will fail.
9 He who has a bountiful eye will be blessed,
for he gives of his bread to the poor.
10 Cast out the scorner, and contention will go out;
yes, strife and reproach will cease.
11 He who loves pureness of heart, for the grace of his lips
the king will be his friend.
12 The eyes of the Lord preserve knowledge,
and He overthrows the words of the transgressor.
13 The slothful man says, “There is a lion without!
I will be slain in the streets!”
14 The mouth of an immoral woman is a deep pit;
he who is detested by the Lord will fall therein.
15 Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child,
but the rod of correction will drive it far from him.
16 He who oppresses the poor to increase his riches,
and he who gives to the rich, will surely come to want.
Thirty Sayings of the Wise
Saying One
17 Incline your ear and hear the words of the wise,
and apply your heart to my knowledge;
18 for it is a pleasant thing if you keep them within you;
they will readily be fitted in your lips.
19 That your trust may be in the Lord,
I have made known to you this day, even to you.
20 Have I not written to you excellent things
in counsels and knowledge,
21 that I might make you know the certainty of the words of truth,
that you might answer the words of truth
to those who send to you?
Saying Two
22 Do not rob 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 who spoiled them.
Saying Three
24 Make no friendship with an angry man,
and with a furious man you will not go,
25 lest you learn his ways
and get a snare to your soul.
Saying Four
26 Do not be one of those who shakes hands in a pledge,
or of those who use securities for debts;
27 if you have nothing to pay,
why should he take away your bed from under you?
Saying Five
28 Do not remove the ancient landmark
which your fathers have set.
Saying Six
29 Do you see a man diligent in his business?
He will stand before kings;
he will not stand before obscure men.
Proverbs 22
21st Century King James Version
22 A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches, and loving favor 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 by and are punished.
4 With humility and the fear of the Lord come riches and honor and life.
5 Thorns and snares are in the path of the froward; he that doth keep his soul shall stay 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 away; 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 a strange woman is a deep pit; he that is abhorred by the Lord shall fall therein.
15 Foolishness is bound into 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, that they may indeed be ready upon thy lips.
19 That thy trust may be in the Lord, I have made it known to thee this day, even to thee!
20 Have I not written to thee excellent things of counsel 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 at the gate;
23 for the Lord will plead their cause, and despoil the soul of those that despoiled 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 for 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 men of low estate.
The Holy Bible, Modern English Version. Copyright © 2014 by Military Bible Association. Published and distributed by Charisma House.
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