Proverbs 22
22
1 A reputation#Literally “name” is to be chosen rather than#Literally “from” great riches;
favor is better than silver and gold.#Literally “from silver and from gold, favor is better”
2Rich and poor have much in common;
Yahweh is the maker of all of them.
3The clever sees danger and hides,
but the simple go on and suffer.
4The reward of humility is the fear of Yahweh—
wealth and honor and life.
5Thorns and snares are in the way of the perverse;
he who guards himself#Or “soul,” or “life” will keep away from them.
6Train the child concerning his way;#Literally “on the mouth of his way”
even when he is old, he will not stray from it.
7The rich will rule over the poor,
and the borrower is a slave of the lender.#Literally “the borrower belonging to a man”
8He who sows injustice will reap calamity,
and the rod of his anger will fail.
9He who is generous#Literally “the generous of eye” will be blessed,
for he gives to the poor from his own bread.
10Drive out a scoffer and strife will go out;
quarrel and abuse will cease.
11He who loves purity of heart
and hasgracious speech,#Literally “grace of his lips” his friend is the king.
12The eyes of Yahweh keep watch over knowledge,
but he will overthrow the words of the faithless.
13A lazy person says “A lion in the street!
In the middle of the highway, I shall be killed!”
14A deep pit is the mouth of an adulteress,#Literally “a strange woman”
he with whom Yahweh is angry will fall there.
15Folly is bound up in the heart#Or “mind” of a boy;#Or “young man,” or “adolescent”
the rod of discipline will drive it#That is, folly from him.
16He who oppresses the poor in order to enrich himself,
or gives to the rich, will come to poverty.#Literally “only loss”
Words of the Wise
17Incline your ear and hear the words of the wise;
you shall apply your heart#Or “mind” to my teaching.
18For it is pleasant if you guard them within you;#Literally “in your belly/womb”
together they will be ready upon your lips.
19In order for your trust to be in Yahweh,
I have made them known to you today#Literally “the day”—even#Or “only” you.
20Have I not written for you thirty sayings
with admonitions and knowledge?
21In order to show you what is right—sayings of truth—
in order to return a true saying to him who sent you.
22Do not rob the poor because he is poor,
and do not crush the afflicted at the gate;
23For Yahweh will plead their case
and despoil those who despoil them of life.#Or “soul,” or “inner self”
24Do not befriend an owner#Or “master” of anger,#Literally “nostril”
and with a man of wrath you shall not associate;
25lest you learn his way
and become entangled in a snare to yourself.#Or “soul,” or “inner self”
26Do not be with those who give a pledge#Literally “strike a hand”
by becoming#Literally “in the becomings of” surety.
27If there is nothing for you to pay,#Or “complete”
why will he take your bed from under you?
28Do not remove an ancient boundary marker
which your ancestors#Or “fathers” made.
29A man who is skillful in his work, you shall see:
before kings, he will serve;
he will not serve before the commoners.
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