22:1 A good name1 is to be chosen2 rather than great wealth,
good favor3 more than silver or gold.
22:2 The rich and the poor meet together;4
the Lord is the Creator of them both.5
22:3 A shrewd person6 sees danger7 and hides himself,
but the naive keep right on going8 and suffer for it.9
22:4 The reward10 for humility11 and fearing the Lord12
is riches and honor and life.
22:5 Thorns and snares13 are in the path of the perverse,
but the one who guards himself keeps far from them.
22:6 Train14 a child15 in the way that he should go,16
and when he is old he will not turn from it.17
22:7 The rich rule over18 the poor,
and the borrower is servant to the lender.
22:8 The one who sows19 iniquity will reap trouble,
and the rod of his fury20 will end.
22:9 A generous person21 will be blessed,22
for he gives some of his food23 to the poor.
22:10 Drive out the scorner24 and contention will leave;
strife and insults will cease.25
22:11 The one who loves a pure heart26
and whose speech is gracious27—the king will be his friend.28
22:12 The eyes of the Lord29 guard knowledge,30
but he overthrows the words of the faithless person.31
22:13 The sluggard says, “There is a lion32 outside!
I will be killed in the middle of the streets!”33
22:14 The mouth34 of an adulteress is like35 a deep pit;36
the one against whom the Lord is angry37 will fall into it.38
22:15 Folly is bound up39 in the heart of a child,40
but the rod of discipline41 will drive it far from him.
22:16 The one who oppresses the poor to gain his own increase
and the one who gives to the rich42—both end up only in poverty.
The Sayings of the Wise43
22:17 Incline your ear44 and listen to the words of the wise,
and apply your heart to my knowledge.
22:18 For it is pleasing if45 you keep these sayings46 within you,
and47 they are ready on your lips.48
22:19 So that49 your confidence may be in the Lord,
I make them known to you today50—even you.
22:20 Have I not written thirty sayings51 for you,
sayings52 of counsel and knowledge,
22:21 to show you true and reliable words,53
so that you may give accurate answers54 to those who sent you?
22:22 Do not exploit55 a poor person because he is poor
and do not crush the needy in court,56
22:23 for the Lord will plead their case57
and will rob those who are robbing58 them.
22:24 Do not make friends with an angry person,59
and do not associate with a wrathful person,
22:25 lest you learn60 his ways
and entangle yourself in a snare.61
22:26 Do not be one who strikes hands in pledge
or who puts up security for debts.
22:27 If you do not have enough to pay,
your bed62 will be taken63 right out from under you!64
22:28 Do not move an ancient boundary stone65
which was put in place by your ancestors.66
22:29 Do you see a person skilled67 in his work?
He will take his position before kings;
he will not take his position68 before obscure people.69