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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.

The Value of a Good Name

22 A (A)good name is to be chosen rather than great riches,
Loving favor rather than silver and gold.

The (B)rich and the poor have this in common,
The (C)Lord is the maker of them all.

A prudent man foresees evil and hides himself,
But the simple pass on and are (D)punished.

By humility and the fear of the Lord
Are riches and honor and life.

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

(E)Train up a child in the way he should go,
[a]And when he is old he will not depart from it.

The (F)rich rules over the poor,
And the borrower is servant to the lender.

He who sows iniquity will reap (G)sorrow,[b]
And the rod of his anger will fail.

(H)He who has a [c]generous eye will be (I)blessed,
For he gives of his bread to the poor.

10 (J)Cast out the scoffer, and contention will leave;
Yes, strife and reproach will cease.

11 (K)He who loves purity of heart
And has grace on his lips,
The king will be his friend.

12 The eyes of the Lord preserve knowledge,
But He overthrows the words of the faithless.

13 (L)The lazy man says, “There is a lion outside!
I shall be slain in the streets!”

14 (M)The mouth of an immoral woman is a deep pit;
(N)He who is abhorred by the Lord will fall there.

15 Foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child;
(O)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 poverty.

Sayings of the Wise

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;
Let them all be fixed upon your lips,
19 So that your trust may be in the Lord;
I have instructed you today, even you.
20 Have I not written to you excellent things
Of counsels and knowledge,
21 (P)That I may make you know the certainty of the words of truth,
(Q)That you may answer words of truth
To those who [d]send to you?

22 Do not rob the (R)poor because he is poor,
Nor oppress the afflicted at the gate;
23 (S)For the Lord will plead their cause,
And plunder the soul of those who plunder them.

24 Make no friendship with an angry man,
And with a (T)furious man do not go,
25 Lest you learn his ways
And set a snare for your soul.

26 (U)Do not be one of those who [e]shakes hands in a pledge,
One of those who is [f]surety for debts;
27 If you have nothing with which to pay,
Why should he take away your bed from under you?

28 (V)Do not remove the ancient [g]landmark
Which your fathers have set.

29 Do you see a man who [h]excels in his work?
He will stand before kings;
He will not stand before [i]unknown men.

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 22:6 Even
  2. Proverbs 22:8 trouble
  3. Proverbs 22:9 Lit. good
  4. Proverbs 22:21 Or send you
  5. Proverbs 22:26 Lit. strikes
  6. Proverbs 22:26 guaranty
  7. Proverbs 22:28 boundary
  8. Proverbs 22:29 is prompt in his business
  9. Proverbs 22:29 obscure