Proverbs 22
22
1 A good name is better than many riches. And good esteem is above silver and gold.
2 The rich and poor have met one another. The Lord is the maker of them both.
3 The clever saw evil and hid himself. The innocent continued on and was afflicted with damage.
4 The end of moderation is the fear of the Lord, riches and glory and life.
5 Weapons and swords are on the way of the perverse. But he who guards his own soul withdraws far from them.
6 The proverb is: A youth is close to his way; even when he is old, he will not withdraw from it.
7 The rich rule over the poor. And the borrower is servant to the lender.
8 Whoever sows iniquity will reap evils, and by the rod of his own wrath he will be consumed.
9 Whoever is inclined to mercy shall be blessed, for from his bread he has given to the poor. Whoever gives gifts will acquire victory and honor. But he carries away the soul of the receiver.
10 Cast out the one who ridicules, and conflict will go out with him, and accusations and insults will cease.
11 Whoever loves cleanness of heart, because of the grace of his lips, will have the king as his friend.
12 The eyes of the Lord watch over knowledge. And the words of the iniquitous are supplanted.
13 The lazy one says: "There is a lion outside. I might be slain in the midst of the streets."
14 The mouth of a foreign woman is a deep pit; the Lord was angry with him who will fall into it.
15 Foolishness has been bound to the heart of a child, and a rod of discipline shall cause it to flee.
16 Whoever slanders the poor, so as to augment his own riches, will give it away to one who is richer, and will be in need.
17 Incline your ear, and listen to the words of the wise. Then apply your heart to my doctrine.
18 It shall be beautiful to you, if you preserve it in your inner self, and it shall overflow from your lips,
19 so that your confidence may be in the Lord. Therefore, I also have revealed it to you this day.
20 Behold, I have written it for you in three ways, and with meditations and knowledge,
21 so that I might reveal to you, firmly and with words of truth, in order to respond about these things to those who sent you.
22 Do not act with violence toward the pauper because he is poor. And do not weary the needy at the gate.
23 For the Lord will judge his case, and he will pierce those who have pierced his soul.
24 Do not be willing to be a friend to an angry man, and do not walk with a furious man,
25 lest perhaps you learn his ways, and take up a stumbling block to your soul.
26 Do not be willing to be with those who certify with their hands, and who offer themselves as a guarantee against debts.
27 For if you do not have the means to restore, what reason should there be for him to take the covering from your bed?
28 Do not cross beyond the ancient limits that your fathers have set.
29 Have you seen a man swift in his work? He shall stand in the sight of kings, and not before those who are disreputable.
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Proverbs 22
22
1If you have to choose between a good reputation and great wealth, choose a good reputation.
2The rich and the poor have this in common: the LORD made them both.
3Sensible people will see trouble coming and avoid it, but an unthinking person will walk right into it and regret it later.
4Obey the LORD, be humble, and you will get riches, honour, and a long life.
5If you love your life, stay away from the traps that catch the wicked along the way.
6Teach children how they should live, and they will remember it all their lives.
7Poor people are slaves of the rich. Borrow money and you are the lender's slave.
8If you sow the seeds of injustice, disaster will spring up, and your oppression of others will end.
9Be generous and share your food with the poor. You will be blessed for it.
10Get rid of a conceited person, and then there will be no more arguments, quarrelling, or calling of names.
11If you love purity of heart and graciousness of speech, the king will be your friend.
12The LORD sees to it that truth is kept safe by disproving the words of liars.
13Lazy people stay at home; they say a lion might get them if they go outside.
14Adultery is a trap — it catches those with whom the LORD is angry.
15Children just naturally do silly, careless things, but a good spanking will teach them how to behave.
16If you make gifts to rich people or oppress the poor to get rich, you will become poor yourself.
The Thirty Wise Sayings
17Listen, and I will teach you what the wise have said. Study their teachings, 18and you will be glad if you remember them and can quote them. 19I want you to put your trust in the LORD; that is why I am going to tell them to you now. 20I have written down thirty sayings for you. They contain knowledge and good advice, 21and will teach you what the truth really is. Then when you are sent to find it out, you will bring back the right answer.
The First Saying
22Don't take advantage of the poor just because you can; don't take advantage of those who stand helpless in court. 23The LORD will argue their case for them and threaten the life of anyone who threatens theirs.
The Second Saying
24Don't make friends with people who have hot, violent tempers. 25You might learn their habits and not be able to change.
The Third Saying
26Don't promise to be responsible for someone else's debts. 27If you should be unable to pay, they will take away even your bed.
The Fourth Saying
28Never move an old boundary mark that your ancestors established.
The Fifth Saying
29Show me someone who does a good job, and I will show you someone who is better than most and worthy of the company of kings.
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Good News Bible. Scripture taken from the Good News Bible (r) (Today's English Version Second Edition, UK/British Edition). Copyright © 1992 British & Foreign Bible Society. Used by permission.