Proverbs 22

1A name is chosen rather than much wealth, Than silver and than gold--good grace.

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

2Rich and poor have met together, The Maker of them all <FI>is<Fi> Jehovah.

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

3The prudent hath seen the evil, and is hidden, And the simple have passed on, and are punished.

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

4The end of humility <FI>is<Fi> the fear of Jehovah, Riches, and honour, and life.

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

5Thorns--snares <FI>are<Fi> in the way of the perverse, Whoso is keeping his soul is far from them.

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

6Give instruction to a youth about his way, Even when he is old he turneth not from it.

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

7The rich over the poor ruleth, And a servant <FI>is<Fi> the borrower to the lender.

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

8Whoso is sowing perverseness reapeth sorrow, And the rod of his anger weareth out.

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

9The good of eye--he is blessed, For he hath given of his bread to the poor.

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.

10Cast out a scorner--and contention goeth out, And strife and shame cease.

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

11Whoso is loving cleanness of heart, Grace <FI>are<Fi> his lips, a king <FI>is<Fi> his friend.

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

12The eyes of Jehovah have kept knowledge, And He overthroweth the words of the treacherous.

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

13The slothful hath said, `A lion <FI>is<Fi> without, In the midst of the broad places I am slain.'

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

14A deep pit <FI>is<Fi> the mouth of strange women, The abhorred of Jehovah falleth there.

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

15Folly is bound up in the heart of a youth, The rod of chastisement putteth it far from him.

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

16He is oppressing the poor to multiply to him, He is giving to the rich--only to want.

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

17Incline thine ear, and hear words of the wise, And thy heart set to my knowledge,

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

18For they are pleasant when thou dost keep them in thy heart, They are prepared together for thy lips.

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

19That thy trust may be in Jehovah, I caused thee to know to-day, even thou.

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

20Have I not written to thee three times With counsels and knowledge?

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

21To cause thee to know the certainty of sayings of truth, To return sayings of truth to those sending thee.

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

22Rob not the poor because he <FI>is<Fi> poor, And bruise not the afflicted in the gate.

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

23For Jehovah pleadeth their cause, And hath spoiled the soul of their spoilers.

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

24Shew not thyself friendly with an angry man, And with a man of fury go not in,

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

25Lest thou learn his paths, And have received a snare to thy soul.

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

26Be not thou among those striking hands, Among sureties <FI>for<Fi> burdens.

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

27If thou hast nothing to pay, Why doth he take thy bed from under thee?

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

28Remove not a border of olden times, That thy fathers have made.

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

29Hast thou seen a man speedy in his business? Before kings he doth station himself, He stations not himself before obscure men!

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