Proverbs 22:1-12

Holman Christian Standard Bible

22 A good name is to be chosen over great wealth;
favor is better than silver and gold.^(A)

² The rich and the poor have this in common:^[a]
the Lord made them both.^[b](B)

³ A sensible person sees danger and takes cover,
but the inexperienced keep going and are punished.^(C)

⁴ The result of humility is fear of the Lord,
along with wealth, honor, and life.^(D)

⁵ There are thorns and snares on the path of the crooked;^(E)
the one who guards himself stays far from them.

⁶ Teach a youth about the way he should go;^(F)
even when he is old he will not depart from it.

⁷ The rich rule over the poor,^(G)
and the borrower is a slave to the lender.^(H)

⁸ The one who sows injustice will reap disaster,^(I)
and the rod of his fury will be destroyed.

⁹ A generous person^[c] will be blessed,^(J)
for he shares his food with the poor.^(K)

¹⁰ Drive out a mocker,^(L) and conflict goes too;
then quarreling and dishonor will cease.^(M)

¹¹ The one who loves a pure heart
and gracious lips—the king is his friend.^(N)

¹² The Lord’s eyes keep watch over knowledge,
but He overthrows the words of the treacherous.