Proverbs 22
22
On Life and Conduct
1A good name [earned by honorable behavior, godly wisdom, moral courage, and personal integrity] is more desirable than great riches;
And favor is better than silver and gold.
2The rich and poor have a common bond;
The Lord is the Maker of them all. [Job 31:15; Prov 14:31]
3A prudent and far-sighted person sees the evil [of sin] and hides himself [from it],
But the naive continue on and are punished [by suffering the consequences of sin].
4The reward of humility [that is, having a realistic view of one’s importance] and the [reverent, worshipful] fear of the Lord
Is riches, honor, and life. [Prov 21:21]
5Thorns and snares are in the way of the obstinate [for their lack of honor and their wrong-doing traps them];
He who guards himself [with godly wisdom] will be far from them and avoid the consequences they suffer.
6Train up a child in the way he should go [teaching him to seek God’s wisdom and will for his abilities and talents],
Even when he is old he will not depart from it. [Eph 6:4; 2 Tim 3:15]
7The rich rules over the poor,
And the borrower is servant to the lender.
8He who sows injustice will reap [a harvest of] trouble,
And the rod of his wrath [with which he oppresses others] will fail.
9He who is generous will be blessed,
For he gives some of his food to the poor. [2 Cor 9:6-10]
10Drive out the scoffer, and contention will go away;
Even strife and dishonor will cease.
11He who loves purity of heart
And whose speech is gracious will have the king as his friend.
12The eyes of the Lord keep guard over knowledge and the one who has it,
But He overthrows the words of the treacherous.
13The lazy one [manufactures excuses and] says, “There is a lion outside!
I will be killed in the streets [if I go out to work]!”
14The mouth of an immoral woman is a deep pit [deep and inescapable];
He who is cursed by the Lord [because of his adulterous sin] will fall into it.
15Foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child;
The rod of discipline [correction administered with godly wisdom and lovingkindness] will remove it far from him.
16He who oppresses or exploits the poor to get more for himself
Or who gives to the rich [to gain influence and favor], will only come to poverty.
17¶Listen carefully and hear the #22:17 These verses (17-21) introduce a special collection of wisdom sayings compiled by Solomon.words of the wise,
And apply your mind to my knowledge;
18For it will be pleasant if you keep them in mind [incorporating them as guiding principles];
Let them be ready on your lips [to guide and strengthen yourself and others].
19So that your trust and reliance and confidence may be in the Lord,
I have taught these things to you today, even to you.
20Have I not written to you excellent things
In counsels and knowledge,
21To let you know the certainty of the words of truth,
That you may give a correct answer to him who sent you? [Luke 1:3, 4]
22¶Do not rob the poor because he is poor [and defenseless],
Nor crush the afflicted [by legal proceedings] at the gate [where the city court is held], [Ex 23:6; Job 31:16, 21]
23For the Lord will plead their case
And take the life of those who rob them. [Zech 7:10; Mal 3:5]
24¶Do not even associate with a man given to angry outbursts;
Or go [along] with a hot-tempered man,
25Or you will learn his [undisciplined] ways
And get yourself trapped [in a situation from which it is hard to escape].
26¶Do not be among those who give pledges [involving themselves in others’ finances],
Or among those who become guarantors for others’ debts.
27If you have nothing with which to pay [another’s debt when he defaults],
Why should his creditor take your bed from under you?
28¶Do not move the ancient landmark [at the boundary of the property]
Which your fathers have set.
29¶Do you see a man skillful and experienced in his work?
He will stand [in honor] before kings;
He will not stand before obscure men.
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Proverbs 22
22
1A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches,
And loving favor rather than silver and gold.
2The rich and the poor meet together:
Jehovah is the maker of them all.
3A prudent man seeth the evil, and hideth himself;
But the simple pass on, and suffer for it.
4The reward of humility and the fear of Jehovah
Is riches, and honor, and life.
5Thorns and snares are in the way of the perverse:
He that keepeth his soul shall be far from them.
6Train up a child in the way he should go,
And even when he is old he will not depart from it.
7The rich ruleth over the poor;
And the borrower is servant to the lender.
8He that soweth iniquity shall reap calamity;
And the rod of his wrath shall fail.
9He that hath a bountiful eye shall be blessed;
For he giveth of his bread to the poor.
10Cast out the scoffer, and contention will go out;
Yea, strife and ignominy will cease.
11He that loveth pureness of heart,
For the grace of his lips the king will be his friend.
12The eyes of Jehovah preserve him that hath knowledge;
But he overthroweth the words of the treacherous man.
13The sluggard saith, There is a lion without;
I shall be slain in the streets.
14The mouth of strange women is a deep pit;
He that is abhorred of Jehovah shall fall therein.
15Foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child;
But the rod of correction shall drive it far from him.
16He that oppresseth the poor to increase his gain,
And he that giveth to the rich, shall come only to want.
17Incline thine ear, and hear the words of the wise,
And apply thy heart unto my knowledge.
18For it is a pleasant thing if thou keep them within thee,
If they be established together upon thy lips.
19That thy trust may be in Jehovah,
I have made them known to thee this day, even to thee.
20Have not I written unto thee excellent things
Of counsels and knowledge,
21To make thee know the certainty of the words of truth,
That thou mayest carry back words of truth to them that send thee?
22Rob not the poor, because he is poor;
Neither oppress the afflicted in the gate:
23For Jehovah will plead their cause,
And despoil of life those that despoil them.
24Make no friendship with a man that is given to anger;
And with a wrathful man thou shalt not go:
25Lest thou learn his ways,
And get a snare to thy soul.
26Be thou not one of them that strike hands,
Or of them that are sureties for debts.
27If thou hast not wherewith to pay,
Why should he take away thy bed from under thee?
28Remove not the ancient landmark,
Which thy fathers have set.
29Seest thou a man diligent in his business? he shall stand before kings;
He shall not stand before mean men.
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