Proverbs 22
International Children’s Bible
22 Being respected is more important than having great riches.
To be well thought of is better than owning silver or gold.
2 The rich and the poor are alike
in that the Lord made them all.
3 When a wise person sees danger ahead, he avoids it.
But a foolish person keeps going and gets into trouble.
4 Respecting the Lord and not being proud
will bring you wealth, honor and life.
5 The lives of evil people are like paths covered with thorns and traps.
People who protect themselves don’t have such problems.
6 Train a child how to live the right way.
Then even when he is old, he will still live that way.
7 The rich rule over the poor.
And borrowers become servants to those who lend.
8 A person who does evil things will receive trouble in return.
Then he won’t be cruel to others any longer.
9 A generous person will be blessed
because he shares his food with the poor.
10 Get rid of the person who makes fun of wisdom.
Then fighting, quarrels and insults will stop.
11 A person who loves innocent thoughts and kind words
will have even the king as a friend.
12 The Lord protects knowledge from being lost.
But he destroys false words.
13 The lazy person says, “There’s a lion outside!
I might get killed out in the street!”
14 The words of an unfaithful wife are like a deep trap.
Those who make the Lord angry will get caught by them.
15 Every child is full of foolishness.
But punishment can get rid of it.
16 The one who gets rich by being cruel to the poor will become poor.
And so will the one who gives presents to the wealthy.
Other Wise Sayings
17 Pay attention and listen to what wise people say.
Remember what I am teaching you.
18 It will be good to keep these things in mind.
Be prepared to repeat them.
19 I am teaching them to you now
so that you will put your trust in the Lord.
20 I have written down 30 sayings for you.
They give knowledge and good advice.
21 I am teaching you true and reliable words.
Then you can give true answers to anyone who asks.
22 Do not abuse poor people because they are poor.
And do not take away the rights of the needy in court.
23 The Lord will defend them in court.
And he will take the life of those who take away their rights.
24 Don’t make friends with someone who easily gets angry.
Don’t spend time with someone who has a bad temper.
25 If you do, you may learn to be like him.
Then you will be in real danger.
26 Don’t promise to pay what someone else owes.
And don’t give guarantees that you will pay what he owes.
27 If you cannot pay what he owes,
your own bed will be taken and sold.
28 Don’t move an old stone that shows where a person’s land is.
These stones were set up by your ancestors.
29 Do you see a man skilled in his work?
That man will work for kings.
He won’t have to work for ordinary people.
箴言 22
Chinese Union Version Modern Punctuation (Traditional)
勸世箴言
22 美名勝過大財，恩寵強如金銀。 2 富戶窮人在世相遇，都為耶和華所造。 3 通達人見禍藏躲，愚蒙人前往受害。 4 敬畏耶和華心存謙卑，就得富有、尊榮、生命為賞賜。 5 乖僻人的路上有荊棘和網羅，保守自己生命的必要遠離。 6 教養孩童，使他走當行的道，就是到老他也不偏離。 7 富戶管轄窮人，欠債的是債主的僕人。 8 撒罪孽的必收災禍，他逞怒的杖也必廢掉。 9 眼目慈善的就必蒙福，因他將食物分給窮人。 10 趕出褻慢人，爭端就消除，紛爭和羞辱也必止息。 11 喜愛清心的人，因他嘴上的恩言，王必與他為友。 12 耶和華的眼目眷顧聰明人，卻傾敗奸詐人的言語。 13 懶惰人說：「外頭有獅子，我在街上就必被殺！」 14 淫婦的口為深坑，耶和華所憎惡的必陷在其中。 15 愚蒙迷住孩童的心，用管教的杖可以遠遠趕除。 16 欺壓貧窮為要利己的，並送禮於富戶的，都必缺乏。
17 你須側耳聽受智慧人的言語，留心領會我的知識。 18 你若心中存記，嘴上咬定，這便為美。 19 我今日以此特別指教你，為要使你倚靠耶和華。 20 謀略和知識的美事，我豈沒有寫給你嗎？ 21 要使你知道真言的實理，你好將真言回覆那打發你來的人。
22 貧窮人，你不可因他貧窮就搶奪他的物，也不可在城門口欺壓困苦人。 23 因耶和華必為他辨屈，搶奪他的，耶和華必奪取那人的命。 24 好生氣的人，不可與他結交；暴怒的人，不可與他來往。 25 恐怕你效法他的行為，自己就陷在網羅裡。 26 不要與人擊掌，不要為欠債的作保。 27 你若沒有什麼償還，何必使人奪去你睡臥的床呢？ 28 你先祖所立的地界，你不可挪移。 29 你看見辦事殷勤的人嗎？他必站在君王面前，必不站在下賤人面前。
Proverbs 22
King James Version
22 A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches, and loving favour 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 on, and are punished.
4 By humility and the fear of the Lord are riches, and honour, and life.
5 Thorns and snares are in the way of the froward: he that doth keep his soul shall 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 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 out; 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 strange women is a deep pit: he that is abhorred of the Lord shall fall therein.
15 Foolishness is bound in 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; they shall withal be fitted in thy lips.
19 That thy trust may be in the Lord, I have made known to thee this day, even to thee.
20 Have not I written to thee excellent things in counsels 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 in the gate:
23 For the Lord will plead their cause, and spoil the soul of those that spoiled 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 to 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 mean men.
Proverbs 22
New King James Version
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.
3 A prudent man foresees evil and hides himself,
But the simple pass on and are (D)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.
7 The (F)rich rules over the poor,
And the borrower is servant to the lender.
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?
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
- Proverbs 22:6 Even
- Proverbs 22:8 trouble
- Proverbs 22:9 Lit. good
- Proverbs 22:21 Or send you
- Proverbs 22:26 Lit. strikes
- Proverbs 22:26 guaranty
- Proverbs 22:28 boundary
- Proverbs 22:29 is prompt in his business
- Proverbs 22:29 obscure
The Holy Bible, International Children’s Bible® Copyright© 1986, 1988, 1999, 2015 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission.
Copyright © 2011 by Global Bible Initiative
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.