Proverbs 22:1-16

Christian Standard Bible

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

² Rich and poor have this in common:^[a]
the Lord makes them all.^(B)

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

⁴ Humility, the fear of the Lord,
results in wealth, honor, and life.^(D)

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

⁶ Start a youth out on his way;^(F)
even when he grows 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^[b] 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.

¹³ The slacker says, “There’s a lion outside!
I’ll be killed in the public square!” ^(O)

¹⁴ The mouth of the forbidden woman is a deep pit;
a man cursed by the Lord will fall into it.^(P)

¹⁵ Foolishness is bound to the heart of a youth;
a rod of discipline will separate it from him.^(Q)

¹⁶ Oppressing the poor to enrich oneself,
and giving to the rich—both lead only to poverty.^(R)