Proverbs 22
22
The Cure Comes Through Discipline
1A sterling reputation is better than striking it rich;
a gracious spirit is better than money in the bank.
2The rich and the poor shake hands as equals—
God made them both!
3A prudent person sees trouble coming and ducks;
a simpleton walks in blindly and is clobbered.
4The payoff for meekness and Fear-of-God
is plenty and honor and a satisfying life.
5The perverse travel a dangerous road, potholed and mud-slick;
if you know what’s good for you, stay clear of it.
6Point your kids in the right direction—
when they’re old they won’t be lost.
7The poor are always ruled over by the rich,
so don’t borrow and put yourself under their power.
8Whoever sows sin reaps weeds,
and bullying anger sputters into nothing.
9Generous hands are blessed hands
because they give bread to the poor.
10Kick out the troublemakers and things will quiet down;
you need a break from bickering and griping!
11 God loves the pure-hearted and well-spoken;
good leaders also delight in their friendship.
12 God guards knowledge with a passion,
but he’ll have nothing to do with deception.
13The loafer says, “There’s a lion on the loose!
If I go out I’ll be eaten alive!”
14The mouth of a prostitute is a bottomless pit;
you’ll fall in that pit if you’re on the outs with God.
15Young people are prone to foolishness and fads;
the cure comes through tough-minded discipline.
16Exploit the poor or glad-hand the rich—whichever,
you’ll end up the poorer for it.
The Thirty Precepts of the Sages
Don’t Move Back the Boundary Lines
17-21Listen carefully to my wisdom;
take to heart what I can teach you.
You’ll treasure its sweetness deep within;
you’ll give it bold expression in your speech.
To make sure your foundation is trust in God,
I’m laying it all out right now just for you.
I’m giving you thirty sterling principles—
tested guidelines to live by.
Believe me—these are truths that work,
and will keep you accountable
to those who sent you.
1
22-23Don’t walk on the poor just because they’re poor,
and don’t use your position to crush the weak,
Because God will come to their defense;
the life you took, he’ll take from you and give back to them.
2
24-25Don’t hang out with angry people;
don’t keep company with hotheads.
Bad temper is contagious—
don’t get infected.
3
26-27Don’t gamble on the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow,
pawning your house against a lucky chance.
The time will come when you have to pay up;
you’ll be left with nothing but the shirt on your back.
4
28Don’t stealthily move back the boundary lines
staked out long ago by your ancestors.
5
29Observe people who are good at their work—
skilled workers are always in demand and admired;
they don’t take a backseat to anyone.
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Proverbs 22: MSG
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THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language copyright © 1993, 2002, 2018 by Eugene H. Peterson. All rights reserved. Used by permission of NavPress. Represented by Tyndale House Publishers.
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.
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GOD'S WORD® Translation ©1995, 2003, 2013, 2014, 2019, 2020 by God's Word to the Nations Mission Society. All rights reserved.