Proverbs 22:20-29
Proverbs 22:20-29 New King James Version (NKJV)
Have I not written to you excellent things Of counsels and knowledge, That I may make you know the certainty of the words of truth, That you may answer words of truth To those who send to you? Do not rob the poor because he is poor, Nor oppress the afflicted at the gate; For the LORD will plead their cause, And plunder the soul of those who plunder them. Make no friendship with an angry man, And with a furious man do not go, Lest you learn his ways And set a snare for your soul. Do not be one of those who shakes hands in a pledge, One of those who is surety for debts; If you have nothing with which to pay, Why should he take away your bed from under you? Do not remove the ancient landmark Which your fathers have set. Do you see a man who excels in his work? He will stand before kings; He will not stand before unknown men.
Proverbs 22:20-29 New Living Translation (NLT)
I have written thirty sayings for you, filled with advice and knowledge. In this way, you may know the truth and take an accurate report to those who sent you. Don’t rob the poor just because you can, or exploit the needy in court. For the LORD is their defender. He will ruin anyone who ruins them. Don’t befriend angry people or associate with hot-tempered people, or you will learn to be like them and endanger your soul. Don’t agree to guarantee another person’s debt or put up security for someone else. If you can’t pay it, even your bed will be snatched from under you. Don’t cheat your neighbor by moving the ancient boundary markers set up by previous generations. Do you see any truly competent workers? They will serve kings rather than working for ordinary people.
Proverbs 22:17-29 The Message (MSG)
Listen 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. Don’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. Don’t hang out with angry people; don’t keep company with hotheads. Bad temper is contagious— don’t get infected. Don’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. Don’t stealthily move back the boundary lines staked out long ago by your ancestors. Observe people who are good at their work— skilled workers are always in demand and admired; they don’t take a backseat to anyone.
Proverbs 22:20-29 King James Version (KJV)
Have not I written to thee excellent things In counsels and knowledge, That I might make thee know the certainty of the words of truth; That thou mightest answer the words of truth to them that send unto thee? Rob not the poor, because he is poor: Neither oppress the afflicted in the gate: For the LORD will plead their cause, And spoil the soul of those that spoiled them. Make no friendship with an angry man; And with a furious man thou shalt not go: Lest thou learn his ways, And get a snare to thy soul. Be not thou one of them that strike hands, Or of them that are sureties for debts. If thou hast nothing to pay, Why should he take away thy bed from under thee? Remove not the ancient landmark, Which thy fathers have set. Seest thou a man diligent in his business? he shall stand before kings; He shall not stand before mean men.
Proverbs 22:20-29 New American Standard Bible - NASB 1995 (NASB1995)
Have I not written to you excellent things Of counsels and knowledge, To make you know the certainty of the words of truth That you may correctly answer him who sent you? Do not rob the poor because he is poor, Or crush the afflicted at the gate; For the LORD will plead their case And take the life of those who rob them. Do not associate with a man given to anger; Or go with a hot-tempered man, Or you will learn his ways And find a snare for yourself. Do not be among those who give pledges, Among those who become guarantors for debts. If you have nothing with which to pay, Why should he take your bed from under you? Do not move the ancient boundary Which your fathers have set. Do you see a man skilled in his work? He will stand before kings; He will not stand before obscure men.
Proverbs 22:20-29 New Century Version (NCV)
I have written thirty sayings for you, which give knowledge and good advice. I am teaching you true and reliable words so that you can give true answers to anyone who asks. Do not abuse poor people because they are poor, and do not take away the rights of the needy in court. The LORD will defend them in court and will take the life of those who take away their rights. Don’t make friends with quick-tempered people or spend time with those who have bad tempers. If you do, you will be like them. Then you will be in real danger. Don’t promise to pay what someone else owes, and don’t guarantee anyone’s loan. If you cannot pay the loan, your own bed may be taken right out from under you. Don’t move an old stone that marks a border, because those stones were set up by your ancestors. Do you see people skilled in their work? They will work for kings, not for ordinary people.
Proverbs 22:20-29 American Standard Version (ASV)
Have not I written unto thee excellent things Of counsels and knowledge, To make thee know the certainty of the words of truth, That thou mayest carry back words of truth to them that send thee? Rob not the poor, because he is poor; Neither oppress the afflicted in the gate: For Jehovah will plead their cause, And despoil of life those that despoil them. Make no friendship with a man that is given to anger; And with a wrathful man thou shalt not go: Lest thou learn his ways, And get a snare to thy soul. Be thou not one of them that strike hands, Or of them that are sureties for debts. If thou hast not wherewith to pay, Why should he take away thy bed from under thee? Remove not the ancient landmark, Which thy fathers have set. Seest thou a man diligent in his business? he shall stand before kings; He shall not stand before mean men.
Proverbs 22:20-29 New International Version (NIV)
Have I not written thirty sayings for you, sayings of counsel and knowledge, teaching you to be honest and to speak the truth, so that you bring back truthful reports to those you serve? Do not exploit the poor because they are poor and do not crush the needy in court, for the LORD will take up their case and will exact life for life. Do not make friends with a hot-tempered person, do not associate with one easily angered, or you may learn their ways and get yourself ensnared. Do not be one who shakes hands in pledge or puts up security for debts; if you lack the means to pay, your very bed will be snatched from under you. Do not move an ancient boundary stone set up by your ancestors. Do you see someone skilled in their work? They will serve before kings; they will not serve before officials of low rank.
Proverbs 22:20-29 Amplified Bible (AMP)
Have I not written to you excellent things In counsels and knowledge, To 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] ¶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] For the LORD will plead their case And take the life of those who rob them. [Zech 7:10; Mal 3:5] ¶Do not even associate with a man given to angry outbursts; Or go [along] with a hot-tempered man, Or you will learn his [undisciplined] ways And get yourself trapped [in a situation from which it is hard to escape]. ¶Do not be among those who give pledges [involving themselves in others’ finances], Or among those who become guarantors for others’ debts. If you have nothing with which to pay [another’s debt when he defaults], Why should his creditor take your bed from under you? ¶Do not move the ancient landmark [at the boundary of the property] Which your fathers have set. ¶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.
Proverbs 22:20-29 The Passion Translation (TPT)
Pay attention to these excellent sayings of three-fold things. For within my words you will discover true and reliable revelation. They will give you serenity so that you can reveal the truth of the word of the one who sends you. Never oppress the poor or pass laws with the motive of crushing the weak. For the Lord will rise to plead their case and humiliate the one who humiliates the poor. Walk away from an angry man or you’ll embrace a snare in your soul by becoming bad-tempered just like him. Why would you ever guarantee a loan for someone else or promise to be responsible for someone’s debts? For if you fail to pay you could lose your shirt! The previous generation has set boundaries in place. Don’t you dare move them just to benefit yourself. If you are uniquely gifted in your work, you will rise and be promoted. You won’t be held back— you’ll stand before kings!
Proverbs 22:20-29 English Standard Version 2016 (ESV)
Have I not written for you thirty sayings of counsel and knowledge, to make you know what is right and true, that you may give a true answer to those who sent you? Do not rob the poor, because he is poor, or crush the afflicted at the gate, for the LORD will plead their cause and rob of life those who rob them. Make no friendship with a man given to anger, nor go with a wrathful man, lest you learn his ways and entangle yourself in a snare. Be not one of those who give pledges, who put up security for debts. If you have nothing with which to pay, why should your bed be taken from under you? Do not move the ancient landmark that your fathers have set. Do you see a man skillful in his work? He will stand before kings; he will not stand before obscure men.