Proverbs 22
[1] A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches,
and favor is better than silver or gold.
[2] The rich and the poor meet together;
the LORD is the Maker of them all.
[3] The prudent sees danger and hides himself,
but the simple go on and suffer for it.
[4] The reward for humility and fear of the LORD
is riches and honor and life.
[5] Thorns and snares are in the way of the crooked;
whoever guards his soul will keep far from them.
[6] Train up a child in the way he should go;
even when he is old he will not depart from it.
[7] The rich rules over the poor,
and the borrower is the slave of the lender.
[8] Whoever sows injustice will reap calamity,
and the rod of his fury will fail.
[9] Whoever has a bountiful eye will be blessed,
for he shares his bread with the poor.
[10] Drive out a scoffer, and strife will go out,
and quarreling and abuse will cease.
[11] He who loves purity of heart,
and whose speech is gracious, will have the king as his friend.
[12] The eyes of the LORD keep watch over knowledge,
but he overthrows the words of the traitor.
[13] The sluggard says, “There is a lion outside!
I shall be killed in the streets!”
[14] The mouth of forbidden women is a deep pit;
he with whom the LORD is angry will fall into it.
[15] Folly is bound up in the heart of a child,
but the rod of discipline drives it far from him.
[16] Whoever oppresses the poor to increase his own wealth,
or gives to the rich, will only come to poverty.
Words of the Wise
[17] Incline your ear, and hear the words of the wise,
and apply your heart to my knowledge,
[18] for it will be pleasant if you keep them within you,
if all of them are ready on your lips.
[19] That your trust may be in the LORD,
I have made them known to you today, even to you.
[20] Have I not written for you thirty sayings
of counsel and knowledge,
[21] to make you know what is right and true,
that you may give a true answer to those who sent you?
[22] Do not rob the poor, because he is poor,
or crush the afflicted at the gate,
[23] for the LORD will plead their cause
and rob of life those who rob them.
[24] Make no friendship with a man given to anger,
nor go with a wrathful man,
[25] lest you learn his ways
and entangle yourself in a snare.
[26] Be not one of those who give pledges,
who put up security for debts.
[27] If you have nothing with which to pay,
why should your bed be taken from under you?
[28] Do not move the ancient landmark
that your fathers have set.
[29] Do you see a man skillful in his work?
He will stand before kings;
he will not stand before obscure men. (ESV)
