Proverbs 22

1A [good] name is rather to be chosen than great riches; loving favour rather than silver and gold.

1A good name is more to be desired than great wealth, and to be respected is better than silver and gold.

2The rich and poor meet together; Jehovah is the maker of them all.

2The man of wealth and the poor man come face to face: the Lord is the maker of them all.

3A prudent [man] seeth the evil, and hideth himself; but the simple pass on, and are punished.

3The sharp man sees the evil and takes cover: the simple go straight on and get into trouble.

4The reward of humility [and] the fear of Jehovah is riches, and honour, and life.

4The reward of a gentle spirit and the fear of the Lord is wealth and honour and life.

5Thorns [and] snares are in the way of the perverse: he that keepeth his soul holdeth himself far from them.

5Thorns and nets are in the way of the twisted: he who keeps watch over his soul will be far from them.

6Train up the child according to the tenor of his way, and when he is old he will not depart from it.

6If a child is trained up in the right way, even when he is old he will not be turned away from it.

7The rich ruleth over the poor; and the borrower is servant to the lender.

7The man of wealth has rule over the poor, and he who gets into debt is a servant to his creditor.

8He that soweth unrighteousness shall reap iniquity, and the rod of his wrath shall have an end.

8By planting the seed of evil a man will get in the grain of sorrow, and the rod of his wrath will be broken.

9He that hath a bountiful eye shall be blessed, for he giveth of his bread to the poor.

9He who is kind will have a blessing, for he gives of his bread to the poor.

10Cast out the scorner, and contention will depart, and strife and ignominy shall cease.

10Send away the man of pride, and argument will go out; truly fighting and shame will come to an end.

11He that loveth pureness of heart, upon whose lips is grace, the king is his friend.

11He whose heart is clean is dear to the Lord; for the grace of his lips the king will be his friend.

12The eyes of Jehovah preserve knowledge; but he overthroweth the words of the unfaithful.

12The eyes of the Lord keep knowledge, but by him the acts of the false man will be overturned.

13The sluggard saith, There is a lion without, I shall be killed in the streets!

13The hater of work says, There is a lion outside: I will be put to death in the streets.

14The mouth of strange women is a deep ditch: he with whom Jehovah is displeased shall fall therein.

14The mouth of strange women is a deep hole: he with whom the Lord is angry will go down into it.

15Folly is bound in the heart of a child; the rod of correction shall drive it far from him.

15Foolish ways are deep-seated in the heart of a child, but the rod of punishment will send them far from him.

16He that oppresseth the poor, it is to enrich him; he that giveth to the rich, [bringeth] only to want.

16He who is cruel to the poor for the purpose of increasing his profit, and he who gives to the man of wealth, will only come to be in need.

17Incline thine ear, and hear the words of the wise, and apply thy heart unto my knowledge.

17Let your ear be bent down for hearing my words, and let your heart give thought to knowledge.

18For it is a pleasant thing if thou keep them within thee: they shall be together fitted on thy lips.

18For it is a delight to keep them in your heart, to have them ready on your lips.

19That thy confidence may be in Jehovah, I have made [them] known to thee this day, even to thee.

19So that your faith may be in the Lord, I have made them clear to you this day, even to you.

20Have not I written to thee excellent things, in counsels and knowledge,

20Have I not put in writing for you thirty sayings, with wise suggestions and knowledge,

21that I might make thee know the certainty of the words of truth; that thou mightest carry back words of truth to them that send thee?

21To make you see how certain are true words, so that you may give a true answer to those who put questions to you?

22Rob not the poor, because he is poor, neither oppress the afflicted in the gate;

22Do not take away the property of the poor man because he is poor, or be cruel to the crushed ones when they come before the judge:

23for Jehovah will plead their cause, and despoil the soul of those that despoil them.

23For the Lord will give support to their cause, and take the life of those who take their goods.

24Make no friendship with an angry man, and go not with a furious man;

24Do not be friends with a man who is given to wrath; do not go in the company of an angry man:

25lest thou learn his paths, and get a snare to thy soul.

25For fear of learning his ways and making a net ready for your soul.

26Be not of them that strike hands, of them that are sureties for debts:

26Be not one of those who give their hands in an agreement, or of those who make themselves responsible for debts:

27if thou hast nothing to pay, why should he take away thy bed from under thee?

27If you have nothing with which to make payment, he will take away your bed from under you.

28Remove not the ancient landmark which thy fathers have set.

28Let not the old landmark be moved which your fathers have put in place.

29Hast thou seen a man diligent in his work? He shall stand before kings; he shall not stand before the mean.

29Have you seen a man who is expert in his business? he will take his place before kings; his place will not be among low persons.