Proverbs 22
22
1A good name is more desirable than great riches;
to be esteemed is better than silver or gold.
2Rich and poor have this in common:
The Lord is the Maker of them all.
3The prudent see danger and take refuge,
but the simple keep going and pay the penalty.
4Humility is the fear of the Lord;
its wages are riches and honor and life.
5In the paths of the wicked are snares and pitfalls,
but those who would preserve their life stay far from them.
6Start children off on the way they should go,
and even when they are old they will not turn from it.
7The rich rule over the poor,
and the borrower is slave to the lender.
8Whoever sows injustice reaps calamity,
and the rod they wield in fury will be broken.
9The generous will themselves be blessed,
for they share their food with the poor.
10Drive out the mocker, and out goes strife;
quarrels and insults are ended.
11One who loves a pure heart and who speaks with grace
will have the king for a friend.
12The eyes of the Lord keep watch over knowledge,
but he frustrates the words of the unfaithful.
13The sluggard says, “There’s a lion outside!
I’ll be killed in the public square!”
14The mouth of an adulterous woman is a deep pit;
a man who is under the Lord’s wrath falls into it.
15Folly is bound up in the heart of a child,
but the rod of discipline will drive it far away.
16One who oppresses the poor to increase his wealth
and one who gives gifts to the rich—both come to poverty.
Thirty Sayings of the Wise
Saying 1
17Pay attention and turn your ear to the sayings of the wise;
apply your heart to what I teach,
18for it is pleasing when you keep them in your heart
and have all of them ready on your lips.
19So that your trust may be in the Lord,
I teach you today, even you.
20Have I not written thirty sayings for you,
sayings of counsel and knowledge,
21teaching you to be honest and to speak the truth,
so that you bring back truthful reports
to those you serve?
Saying 2
22Do not exploit the poor because they are poor
and do not crush the needy in court,
23for the Lord will take up their case
and will exact life for life.
Saying 3
24Do not make friends with a hot-tempered person,
do not associate with one easily angered,
25or you may learn their ways
and get yourself ensnared.
Saying 4
26Do not be one who shakes hands in pledge
or puts up security for debts;
27if you lack the means to pay,
your very bed will be snatched from under you.
Saying 5
28Do not move an ancient boundary stone
set up by your ancestors.
Saying 6
29Do you see someone skilled in their work?
They will serve before kings;
they will not serve before officials of low rank.
Currently Selected:
Proverbs 22: NIV
Highlight
Share
Copy
Want to have your highlights saved across all your devices? Sign up or sign in
The Holy Bible, New International Version® NIV®
Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.®
Used by Permission of Biblica, Inc.® All rights reserved worldwide.
Proverbs 22
22
1A good reputation is a much better choice than plenty of money; respect is better than silver and gold.
2The rich and the poor have this in common: the Lord created them all.
3If you're sensible you see danger coming and get out of the way; but stupid people just keep going and pay for it.
4The reward you receive for being humble and respecting the Lord is wealth, honor, and life.
5Thorns and traps lie in the path of crooked people; those who value their lives will stay away from them.
6Teach children the right way to live, and when they grow up they'll go on doing so.
7The rich rule the poor, and borrowers are slaves to their lenders.
8Those who sow injustice will reap disaster, and the angry beatings they inflict on others will be stopped.
9If you're generous, you'll be blessed, for you share your food with those in need.
10Get rid of the scornful, and you'll get rid of conflict too—no more arguments or insults!
11Anyone who loves sincerity#22:11. Literally, “purity of heart.” and a gracious way of speaking will have the king as their friend.
12The Lord watches over true knowledge, but counteracts the words of liars.
13Lazy people make claims like, “There's a lion outside! I might be killed if I go out there!”
14The seductive words of an immoral woman are a dangerous trap—if the Lord's angry#22:14. In other words, if you have a bad relationship with the Lord, you are prone to such sinful actions. with you, then you'll fall right in.
15Children are naturally foolish; physical correction helps them to see sense.
16If you oppress the poor to make yourself rich, or if you're generous to the rich, you'll end up poor yourself.#22:16. The translation and meaning of this verse is uncertain.
17Pay attention and listen to the words of the wise, and think carefully about my teachings—
18for it's good to keep them in mind so you can be ready to share them.
19I'm explaining this to you today so you can trust in the Lord—yes, you!
20Haven't I written down for you thirty sayings of advice and wisdom?
21They are to make it clear to you what's right and true, so you can give a truthful explanation to those who sent you.
22For you shouldn't steal from the poor just because they're poor; and you shouldn't crush those with limited means in court,
23for the Lord will plead their case, and he will take back whatever was stolen from them.
24Don't make friends with someone who gets upset easily; don't associate with angry people,
25in case you learn to be like them and make a mess of your life.#22:25. Literally, “get yourself caught in a trap.”
26Don't shake hands and guarantee someone's debt,
27for if you can't pay, why should your bed be taken away from beneath you?
28Don't move ancient boundary markers that your forefathers put in place.
29If you see someone skilled in what they do, they'll work for kings and not for ordinary people.
Currently Selected:
:
Highlight
Share
Copy
Want to have your highlights saved across all your devices? Sign up or sign in
Dr. Jonathan Gallagher. Released under Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 Unported License. Version 4.3. For corrections send email to jonathangallagherfbv@gmail.com