Proverbs 22

1A good name is better than great riches: and good favour is above silver and gold.

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

2The rich and poor have met one another: the Lord is the maker of them both.

2The rich and poor meet together: the Lord is the maker of them all.

3The prudent man saw the evil, and hid himself: the simple passed on, and suffered loss.

3A prudent man foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself: but the simple pass on, and are punished.

4The fruit of humility is the fear of the Lord, riches and glory and life.

4By humility and the fear of the Lord are riches, and honour, and life.

5Arms and swords are in the way of the perverse: but he that keepeth his own soul, departeth far from them.

5Thorns and snares are in the way of the froward: he that doth keep his soul shall be far from them.

6It is a proverb: A young man according to his way, even when he is old, he will not depart from it.

6Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.

7The rich ruleth over the poor: and the borrower is servant to him that lendeth.

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

8He that soweth iniquity, shall reap evils, and with the rod of his anger he shall be consumed.

8He that soweth iniquity shall reap vanity: and the rod of his anger shall fail.

9He that is inclined to mercy, shall be blessed: for of his bread he hath given to the poor. He that maketh presents, shall purchase victory and honour: but he carrieth away the souls of the receivers.

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

10Cast out the scoffer, and contention shall go out with him, and quarrels and reproaches shall cease.

10Cast out the scorner, and contention shall go out; yea, strife and reproach shall cease.

11He that loveth cleanness of heart, for the grace of his lips shall have the king for his friend.

11He that loveth pureness of heart, for the grace of his lips the king shall be his friend.

12The eyes of the Lord preserve knowledge: and the words of the unjust are overthrown.

12The eyes of the Lord preserve knowledge, and he overthroweth the words of the transgressor.

13The slothful man saith: There is a lion without, I shall be slain in the midst of the streets.

13The slothful man saith, There is a lion without, I shall be slain in the streets.

14The mouth of a strange woman is a deep pit: he whom the Lord is angry with, shall fall into it.

14The mouth of strange women is a deep pit: he that is abhorred of the Lord shall fall therein.

15Folly is bound up in the heart of a child, and the rod of correction shall drive it away.

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

16He that oppresseth the poor, to increase his own riches, shall himself give to one that is richer, and shall be in need.

16He that oppresseth the poor to increase his riches, and he that giveth to the rich, shall surely come to want.

17Incline thy ear, and hear the words of the wise: and apply thy heart to my doctrine:

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

18Which shall be beautiful for thee, if thou keep it in thy bowels, and it shall flow in thy lips:

18For it is a pleasant thing if thou keep them within thee; they shall withal be fitted in thy lips.

19That thy trust may be in the Lord, wherefore I have also shewn it to thee this day.

19That thy trust may be in the Lord, I have made known to thee this day, even to thee.

20Behold I have described it to thee three manner of ways, in thoughts and knowledge:

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

21That I might shew thee the certainty, and the words of truth, to answer out of these to them that sent thee.

21That 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?

22Do no violence to the poor, because he is poor: and do not oppress the needy in the gate:

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

23Because the Lord will judge his cause: and will afflict them that have afflicted his soul.

23For the Lord will plead their cause, and spoil the soul of those that spoiled them.

24Be not a friend to an angry man, and do not walk with a furious man:

24Make no friendship with an angry man; and with a furious man thou shalt not go:

25Lest perhaps thou learn his ways, and take scandal to thy soul.

25Lest thou learn his ways, and get a snare to thy soul.

26Be not with them that fasten down their hands, and that offer themselves sureties for debts:

26Be not thou one of them that strike hands, or of them that are sureties for debts.

27For if thou have not wherewith to restore, what cause is there that he should take the covering from thy bed?

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

28Pass not beyond the ancient bounds which thy fathers have set.

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

29Hast thou seen a man swift in his work? he shall stand before kings, and shall not be before those that are obscure.

29Seest thou a man diligent in his business? he shall stand before kings; he shall not stand before mean men.