Proverbs 22

¹A good name is more desirable than great riches,

and loving favour is better than silver and gold.

²The rich and the poor have this in common:

The LORD is the maker of them all.

³A prudent man sees danger and hides himself;

but the simple pass on, and suffer for it.

⁴The result of humility and the fear of the LORD

is wealth, honour, and life.

⁵Thorns and snares are in the path of the wicked;

whoever guards his soul stays from them.

⁶Train up a child in the way he should go,

and when he is old he will not depart from it.

⁷The rich rule over the poor.

The borrower is servant to the lender.

⁸He who sows wickedness reaps trouble,

and the rod of his fury will be destroyed.

⁹He who has a generous eye will be blessed,

for he shares his food with the poor.

¹⁰Drive out the mocker, and strife will go out;

yes, quarrels and insults will stop.

¹¹He who loves purity of heart and speaks gracefully

is the king’s friend.

¹²The LORD’s eyes watch over knowledge,

but he frustrates the words of the unfaithful.

¹³The sluggard says, “There is a lion outside!

I will be killed in the streets!”

¹⁴The mouth of an adulteress is a deep pit.

He who is under the LORD’s wrath will fall into it.

¹⁵Folly is bound up in the heart of a child;

the rod of discipline drives it far from him.

¹⁶Whoever oppresses the poor for his own increase and whoever gives to the rich,

both come to poverty.

¹⁷Turn your ear, and listen to the words of the wise.

Apply your heart to my teaching.

¹⁸For it is a pleasant thing if you keep them within you,

if all of them are ready on your lips.

¹⁹I teach you today, even you,

so that your trust may be in the LORD.

²⁰Haven’t I written to you thirty excellent things

of counsel and knowledge,

²¹To teach you truth, reliable words,

to give sound answers to the ones who sent you?

²²Don’t exploit the poor because he is poor;

and don’t crush the needy in court;

²³for the LORD will plead their case,

and plunder the life of those who plunder them.

²⁴Don’t befriend a hot-tempered man.

Don’t associate with one who harbours anger,

²⁵lest you learn his ways

and ensnare your soul.

²⁶Don’t you be one of those who strike hands,

of those who are collateral for debts.

²⁷If you don’t have means to pay,

why should he take away your bed from under you?

²⁸Don’t move the ancient boundary stone

which your fathers have set up.

²⁹Do you see a man skilled in his work?

He will serve kings.

He won’t serve obscure men.