Proverbs 22
22
1You should want a good name more than you want great riches.
To be highly respected is better than having silver or gold.
2The Lord made rich people and poor people.
That’s what they have in common.
3Wise people see danger and go to a safe place.
But childish people keep going and suffer for it.
4Being humble comes from having respect for the Lord.
This will bring you wealth and honor and life.
5Thorns and traps lie in the paths of evil people.
But those who value their lives stay far away from them.
6Start children off on the right path.
And even when they are old, they will not turn away from it.
7Rich people rule over those who are poor.
Borrowers are slaves to lenders.
8Anyone who plants evil gathers a harvest of trouble.
Their power to treat others badly will be destroyed.
9Those who give freely will be blessed.
That’s because they share their food with those who are poor.
10If you drive away those who make fun of others, fighting also goes away.
Arguing and unkind words will stop.
11A person who has a pure and loving heart and speaks kindly
will be a friend of the king.
12The eyes of the Lord keep watch over knowledge.
But he does away with the words of those who aren’t faithful.
13People who don’t want to work say, “There’s a lion outside!”
Or they say, “I’ll be murdered if I go out into the streets!”
14The mouth of a woman who commits adultery is like a deep pit.
Any man the Lord is angry with falls into it.
15Children are going to do foolish things.
But correcting them will drive that foolishness far away.
16You might treat poor people badly or give gifts to rich people.
Trying to get rich in these ways will instead make you poor.
30 Sayings of Wise People
Saying 1
17Pay attention and listen to the sayings of wise people.
Apply your heart to the sayings I teach.
18It is pleasing when you keep them in your heart.
Have all of them ready on your lips.
19You are the one I am teaching today.
That’s because I want you to trust in the Lord.
20I have written 30 sayings for you.
They will give you knowledge and good advice.
21I am teaching you to be honest and to speak the truth.
Then you can give honest reports to those you serve.
Saying 2
22Don’t take advantage of poor people just because they are poor.
Don’t treat badly those who are in need by taking them to court.
23The Lord will stand up for them in court.
He will require the lives of people who have taken the lives of those in need.
Saying 3
24Don’t be a friend of a person who has a bad temper.
Don’t go around with a person who gets angry easily.
25You might learn their habits.
And then you will be trapped by them.
Saying 4
26Don’t agree to pay for what someone else owes.
And don’t agree to pay their bills for them.
27If you don’t have the money to pay,
your bed will be taken right out from under you!
Saying 5
28Don’t move old boundary stones
set up by your people of long ago.
Saying 6
29Do you see someone who does good work?
That person will serve kings.
That person won’t serve officials of lower rank.
Currently Selected:
Proverbs 22: NIrV
Highlight
Share
Copy
Want to have your highlights saved across all your devices? Sign up or sign in
Holy Bible, New International Reader’s Version®, NIrV®
Copyright © 1995, 1996, 1998, 2014 by Biblica, Inc.®
Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Proverbs 22
22
1A good name is more desirable than great wealth.
Respect is better than silver or gold.
2The rich and the poor have this in common:
the Lord is the maker of them all.
3Sensible people foresee trouble and hide ⌞from it⌟,
but gullible people go ahead and suffer ⌞the consequence⌟.
4On the heels of humility (the fear of the Lord)
are riches and honor and life.
5A devious person has thorns and traps ahead of him.
Whoever guards himself will stay far away from them.
6Train a child in the way he should go,
and even when he is old he will not turn away from it.
7A rich person rules poor people,
and a borrower is a slave to a lender.
8Whoever plants injustice will harvest trouble,
and this weapon of his own fury will be destroyed.
9Whoever is generous will be blessed
because he has shared his food with the poor.
10Drive out a mocker, and conflict will leave.
Quarreling and abuse will stop.
11Whoever loves a pure heart and whoever speaks graciously
has a king as his friend.
12The Lord’s eyes watch over knowledge,
but he overturns the words of a treacherous person.
13A lazy person says,
“There’s a lion outside!
I’ll be murdered in the streets!”
14The mouth of an adulterous woman is a deep pit.
The one who is cursed by the Lord will fall into it.
15Foolishness is firmly attached to a child’s heart.
Spanking will remove it far from him.
16Oppressing the poor for profit
⌞or⌟ giving to the rich
certainly leads to poverty.
Listen to My Advice
17Open your ears, and hear the words of wise people,
and set your mind on the knowledge I give you.
18It is pleasant if you keep them in mind
⌞so that⌟ they will be on the tip of your tongue,
19so that your trust may be in the Lord.
Today I have made them known to you, especially to you.
20Didn’t I write to you previously with advice and knowledge
21in order to teach you the words of truth
so that you can give an accurate report to those who send you?
Living with Your Neighbor
22Do not rob the poor because they are poor
or trample on the rights of an oppressed person at the city gate,
23because the Lord will plead their case
and will take the lives of those who rob them.
24Do not be a friend of one who has a bad temper,
and never keep company with a hothead,
25or you will learn his ways
and set a trap for yourself.
26Do not be ⌞found⌟ among those who make deals with a handshake,
among those who guarantee other people’s loans.
27If you have no money to pay back a loan,
why should your bed be repossessed?
28Do not move an ancient boundary marker
that your ancestors set in place.
29Do you see a person who is efficient in his work?
He will serve kings.
He will not serve unknown people.
Currently Selected:
:
Highlight
Share
Copy
Want to have your highlights saved across all your devices? Sign up or sign in
GOD'S WORD® Translation ©1995, 2003, 2013, 2014, 2019, 2020 by God's Word to the Nations Mission Society. All rights reserved.