22:1 A good name is more desirable than great riches; to be esteemed is better than silver or gold.
22:2 Rich and poor have this in common: The LORD is the Maker of them all.
22:3 A prudent man sees danger and takes refuge, but the simple keep going and suffer for it.
22:4 Humility and the fear of the LORD bring wealth and honor and life.
22:5 In the paths of the wicked lie thorns and snares, but he who guards his soul stays far from them.
22:6 Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it.
22:7 The rich rule over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender.
22:8 He who sows wickedness reaps trouble, and the rod of his fury will be destroyed.
22:9 A generous man will himself be blessed, for he shares his food with the poor.
22:10 Drive out the mocker, and out goes strife; quarrels and insults are ended.
22:11 He who loves a pure heart and whose speech is gracious will have the king for his friend.
22:12 The eyes of the LORD keep watch over knowledge, but he frustrates the words of the unfaithful.
22:13 The sluggard says, “There is a lion outside!” or, “I will be murdered in the streets!”
22:14 The mouth of an adulteress is a deep pit; he who is under the LORD’S wrath will fall into it.
22:15 Folly is bound up in the heart of a child, but the rod of discipline will drive it far from him.
22:16 He who oppresses the poor to increase his wealth and he who gives gifts to the rich–both come to poverty.
22:17 Pay attention and listen to the sayings of the wise; apply your heart to what I teach,
22:18 for it is pleasing when you keep them in your heart and have all of them ready on your lips.
22:19 So that your trust may be in the LORD, I teach you today, even you.
22:20 Have I not written thirty sayings for you, sayings of counsel and knowledge,
22:21 teaching you true and reliable words, so that you can give sound answers to him who sent you?
22:22 Do not exploit the poor because they are poor and do not crush the needy in court,
22:23 for the LORD will take up their case and will plunder those who plunder them.
22:24 Do not make friends with a hot-tempered man, do not associate with one easily angered,
22:25 or you may learn his ways and get yourself ensnared.
22:26 Do not be a man who strikes hands in pledge or puts up security for debts;
22:27 if you lack the means to pay, your very bed will be snatched from under you.
22:28 Do not move an ancient boundary stone set up by your forefathers.
22:29 Do you see a man skilled in his work? He will serve before kings; he will not serve before obscure men.
22:1 A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches, / And favor is better than silver and gold.
22:2 The rich and the poor have this in common: / Jehovah is the maker of them all.
22:3 A prudent man sees evil and hides himself, / But the simple pass on and suffer punishment for it.
22:4 The reward of humility and the fear of Jehovah / Are riches and honor and life.
22:5 Thorns and snares are in the way of the perverse; / He who guards his soul will keep far from them.
22:6 Train up a child according to the way he should go; / Even when he is old, he will not depart from it.
22:7 The rich man rules over the poor, / And the borrower is servant to the lender.
22:8 He who sows injustice will reap iniquity, / And the rod of his wrath will fail.
22:9 He who is generous will be blessed, / For he gives some of his bread to the poor.
22:10 Cast out the scorner, and contention will go out; / Indeed, strife and dishonor will cease.
22:11 He who loves pureness of heart / And whose speech is gracious will have the king as his friend.
22:12 The eyes of Jehovah preserve knowledge, / But He overthrows the words of the treacherous man.
22:13 The sluggard says, There is a lion outside! / I will be slain in the streets!
22:14 The mouth of strange women is a deep pit; / He with whom Jehovah is indignant will fall in there.
22:15 Foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child; / But the rod of correction will drive it far from him.
22:16 He who oppresses the poor to multiply his gain, / And he who gives to the rich will only come to want.
22:17 Incline your ear, and hear the words of the wise, / And apply your heart to my knowledge;
22:18 For it is a pleasant thing if you keep them within you; / Let them be ready on your lips.
22:19 So that your trust may be in Jehovah, / I have made them known to you today, even to you.
22:20 Have not I written to you excellent things / Of counsels and knowledge,
22:21 To make you know the certainty of the words of truth, / That you may answer back words of truth to those who send you?
22:22 Do not rob the poor, because he is poor; / Nor oppress the afflicted in the gate;
22:23 For Jehovah will plead their cause, / And rob the life of those who rob them.
22:24 Make no friendship with a man who is given to anger, / And with a wrathful man do not go;
22:25 Lest you learn his ways / And get a snare for your soul.
22:26 Do not be one of those who give their hand as a pledge / Or one of those who are a surety for debts.
22:27 If you have nothing with which to pay, / Why should your bed be taken away from under you?
22:28 Do not remove the ancient boundary marker, / Which your fathers have set up.
22:29 Do you see a man skilled in his work? / He will stand before kings; / He will not stand before obscure men.