| 1 | A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches, and loving favor rather than silver and gold. |
| 2 | The rich and poor meet together; the Lord is the Maker of them all. |
| 3 | A prudent man sees the evil and hides himself, but the simple pass on and are punished [with suffering]. |
| 4 | The reward of humility
and
the reverent
and
worshipful fear of the Lord is riches and honor and life. |
| 5 | Thorns and snares are in the way of the obstinate
and
willful; he who guards himself will be far from them. |
| 6 | Train up a child in the way he should go [and in keeping with his individual gift or bent], and when he is old he will not depart from it. |
| 7 | The rich rule over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender. |
| 8 | He who sows iniquity will reap calamity
and
futility, and the rod of his wrath [with which he smites others] will fail. |
| 9 | He who has a bountiful eye shall be blessed, for he gives of his bread to the poor. |
| 10 | Drive out the scoffer, and contention will go out; yes, strife and abuse will cease. |
| 11 | He who loves purity
and
the pure in heart
and
who is gracious in speech—because of the grace of his lips will he have the king for his friend. |
| 12 | The eyes of the Lord keep guard over knowledge
and
him who has it, but He overthrows the words of the treacherous. |
| 13 | The sluggard says, There is a lion outside! I shall be slain in the streets! |
| 14 | The mouth of a loose woman is a deep pit [for ensnaring wild animals]; he with whom the Lord is indignant
and
who is abhorrent to Him will fall into it. |
| 15 | Foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child, but the rod of discipline will drive it far from him. |
| 16 | He who oppresses the poor to get gain for himself
and
he who gives to the rich—both will surely come to want. |
| 17 | Listen (consent and submit) to the words of the wise, and apply your mind to my knowledge; |
| 18 | For it will be pleasant if you keep them in your mind [believing them]; your lips will be accustomed to [confessing] them. |
| 19 | So that your trust (belief, reliance, support, and confidence) may be in the Lord, I have made known these things to you today, even to you. |
| 20 | Have I not written to you [long ago] excellent things in counsels and knowledge, |
| 21 | To make you know the certainty of the words of truth, that you may give a true answer to those who sent you? |
| 22 | Rob not the poor [being tempted by their helplessness], neither oppress the afflicted at the gate [where the city court is held], |
| 23 | For the Lord will plead their cause and deprive of life those who deprive [the poor or afflicted]. |
| 24 | Make no friendships with a man given to anger, and with a wrathful man do not associate, |
| 25 | Lest you learn his ways and get yourself into a snare. |
| 26 | Be not one of those who strike hands
and
pledge themselves, or of those who become security for another’s debts. |
| 27 | If you have nothing with which to pay, why should he take your bed from under you? |
| 28 | Remove not the ancient landmark which your fathers have set up. |
| 29 | Do you see a man diligent
and
skillful in his business? He will stand before kings; he will not stand before obscure men. |
Cross references:
-
Proverbs 22:2 : Job 31:15; Prov. 14:31.
-
Proverbs 22:6 : Eph. 6:4; II Tim. 3:15.
-
Proverbs 22:9 : II Cor. 9:6-10.
-
Proverbs 22:21 : Luke 1:3, 4.
-
Proverbs 22:22 : Exod. 23:6; Job 31:16, 21.
-
Proverbs 22:23 : Zech. 7:10; Mal. 3:5.
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