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22 A good name is more desirable than great riches,
    and loving favor is better than silver and gold.
The rich and the poor have this in common:
    Yahweh is the maker of them all.
A prudent man sees danger and hides himself;
    but the simple pass on, and suffer for it.
The result of humility and the fear of Yahweh
    is wealth, honor, and life.
Thorns and snares are in the path of the wicked:
    whoever guards his soul stays from them.
Train up a child in the way he should go,
    and when he is old he will not depart from it.
The rich rule over the poor.
    The borrower is servant to the lender.
He who sows wickedness reaps trouble,
    and the rod of his fury will be destroyed.
He who has a generous eye will be blessed;
    for he shares his food with the poor.
10 Drive out the mocker, and strife will go out;
    yes, quarrels and insults will stop.
11 He who loves purity of heart and speaks gracefully
    is the king’s friend.
12 Yahweh’s eyes watch over knowledge;
    but he frustrates the words of the unfaithful.
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 under Yahweh’s wrath will fall into it.
15 Folly is bound up in the heart of a child:
    the rod of discipline drives it far from him.
16 Whoever oppresses the poor for his own increase and whoever gives to the rich,
    both come to poverty.

17 Turn your ear, and listen to the words of the wise.
    Apply your heart to my teaching.
18 For it is a pleasant thing if you keep them within you,
    if all of them are ready on your lips.
19 I teach you today, even you,
    So that your trust may be in Yahweh.
20 Haven’t I written to you thirty excellent things
    of counsel and knowledge,
21 To teach you truth, reliable words,
    to give sound answers to the ones who sent you?

22 Don’t exploit the poor, because he is poor;
    and don’t crush the needy in court;
23 for Yahweh will plead their case,
    and plunder the life of those who plunder them.

24 Don’t befriend a hot-tempered man,
    and don’t associate with one who harbors anger:
25 lest you learn his ways,
    and ensnare your soul.

26 Don’t you be one of those who strike hands,
    of those who are collateral for debts.
27 If you don’t have means to pay,
    why should he take away your bed from under you?

28 Don’t move the ancient boundary stone
    which your fathers have set up.

29 Do you see a man skilled in his work?
    He will serve kings.
    He won’t serve obscure men.

22 (A)A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches,
    and favor is better than silver or gold.
(B)The rich and the poor meet together;
    the Lord is (C)the Maker of them all.
(D)The prudent sees danger and hides himself,
    but the simple go on and suffer for it.
The reward for humility and fear of the Lord
    is (E)riches and honor and life.[a]
(F)Thorns and snares are in the way of the crooked;
    whoever (G)guards his soul will keep far from them.
(H)Train up a child in the way he should go;
    even when he is old he will not depart from it.
(I)The rich rules over the poor,
    and the borrower is the slave of the lender.
Whoever (J)sows injustice will reap calamity,
    and (K)the rod of his fury will fail.
(L)Whoever has a bountiful[b] eye will be blessed,
    for he (M)shares his bread with the poor.
10 (N)Drive out a scoffer, (O)and strife will go out,
    and (P)quarreling and abuse will cease.
11 He who (Q)loves purity of heart,
    and whose (R)speech is gracious, (S)will have the king as his friend.
12 The eyes of the Lord keep watch over knowledge,
    but he (T)overthrows the words of the traitor.
13 (U)The sluggard says, “There is a lion outside!
    I shall be killed in the streets!”
14 The mouth of (V)forbidden[c] women is (W)a deep pit;
    (X)he with whom the Lord is angry will fall into it.
15 Folly is bound up in the heart of a child,
    but (Y)the rod of discipline drives it far from him.
16 Whoever oppresses the poor to increase his own wealth,
    or gives to the rich, (Z)will only come to poverty.

Words of the Wise

17 (AA)Incline your ear, and hear (AB)the words of the wise,
    (AC)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 (AD)thirty sayings
    of counsel and knowledge,
21 to (AE)make you know what is right and true,
    that you may give a true answer to those who sent you?

22 (AF)Do not rob the poor, because he is poor,
    or (AG)crush the afflicted at (AH)the gate,
23 for (AI)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 (AJ)give pledges,
    who put up security for debts.
27 If you have nothing with which to pay,
    why should (AK)your bed be taken from under you?
28 Do not move the ancient (AL)landmark
    that your fathers have set.
29 Do you see a man skillful in his work?
    He will (AM)stand before kings;
    he will not stand before obscure men.

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 22:4 Or The reward for humility is the fear of the Lord, riches and honor and life
  2. Proverbs 22:9 Hebrew good
  3. Proverbs 22:14 Hebrew strange