Proverbs, 22

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

1. A good name is better than great wealth; fame is preferable to silver or gold.

2. The rich and poor meet together: the LORD [is] the maker of them all.

2. Rich and poor have something in common, Yahweh has made them all.

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

3. The discreet man foresees disgrace and hides, the ignorant keep going at their own expense.

4. By humility [and] the fear of the LORD [are] riches, and honour, and life.

4. The reward of humility is fear of Yahweh, wealth, honor and life.

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

5. The path of the wicked is paved with thorns and traps, he who loves his life will keep his distance.

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

6. Teach a child the way he should go, he will not stray from it while he lives.

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

7. The rich man lords it over the poor, the borrower is the moneylender's slave.

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

8. Whoever sows injustice reaps disaster; the power of the wicked will be broken.

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

9. The warmhearted man will be blessed since he shares his bread with the poor.

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

10. Throw out the mocker and the dispute will cease, fighting and insults will end.

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

11. He who loves purity of heart and speaks sensibly will find a friend in the king.

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

12. Yahweh's look protects the wise man and discredits the words of the liar.

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

13. The lazy man says, "There is a lion outside, he will kill me in the street."

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

14. The adulterous woman's mouth is a deep pit, he whom Yahweh wishes to punish will fall into it.

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

15. The heart of the child is naturally foolish, the beating of instruction will cure it.

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

16. When you oppress the poor, you make them grow; when you give to the rich, you waste everything.

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

17. Give ear, listen to the words of the wise and apply yourself to understanding them,

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

18. because it will be your delight to keep them deep within you, to have them always ready on your lips.

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

19. I wish now to teach you, so that you will place your trust in Yahweh.

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

20. Have I not written for you thirty chapters of advice and knowledge

21. 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?

21. so that you may recognize the truth and be able to answer rightly him who sent you?

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

22. Do not take from the poor man just because he is poor or condemn the one in misfortune,

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

23. because Yahweh will intercede for them and will carry off the life of their oppressors.

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

24. Do not befriend the angry man or be a companion to the one of rage,

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

25. for fear you adopt their ways and lose your life in their midst.

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

26. Do not be one of those who undertake a commitment and act as guarantor of debts;

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

27. if you cannot pay, they will take from you the very bed in which you sleep.

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

28. Do not move the ancient boundaries established by your forefathers.

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

29. You see a clever man at work? He will enter the service of kings; he will not stay in the service of people of no renown.