Proverbs 22

A Good Name

1A good name is to be chosen
rather than great riches,
and favor
rather than silver and gold. 2Rich and poor meet together;
the LORD is the Maker
of them all. 3The prudent see danger
and hide themselves,
but the simple pass on
and suffer for it. 4The reward of humility
and the fear of the LORD
is riches, honor,
and life. 5Thorns and snares
are in the way of the crooked;
whoever guards their life
stays far from them.

Form the Young in Wisdom

6Train a child
according to the way they should go;
even when old,
they will not depart from it. 7The rich rule over the poor,
and the borrower
is servant to the lender. 8Whoever sows injustice
will reap trouble,
and the rod of their fury
will fail. 9One with a generous eye
will be blessed,
for they share their bread
with the poor. 10Drive out the scoffer,
and conflict will go out;
quarreling and disgrace
will cease.

11Whoever loves purity of heart
and has gracious speech,
the king
will be their friend. 12The eyes of the LORD
guard knowledge,
but the LORD overturns
the words of the treacherous. 13The lazy person says,
“There is a lion outside!
I will be killed
in the street!” 14The mouth of forbidden relationships
is a deep pit;
one under the LORD’s indignation
falls into it. 15Folly is bound
to the heart of a child,
but the rod of discipline
drives it far away. 16Whoever oppresses the poor
to increase their own wealth,
or gives to the rich,
comes only to poverty.

Words of the Wise

17Incline your ear
and hear the words of the wise;
apply your heart
to my knowledge. 18For it will be pleasant
if you keep them within you,
if all of them are ready
upon your lips. 19So that your trust
may be in the LORD,
I teach them to you today—
yes, to you. 20Have I not written for you
thirty sayings
of counsel and knowledge, 21to make you know
the certainty of truthful words,
so that you may return truthful words
to those who sent you?

Do Not Exploit the Vulnerable

22Do not rob the poor
because they are poor,
and do not crush the afflicted
at the gate, 23for the LORD will plead their case
and will take the life
of those who take from them. 24Do not become a companion
of an angry person,
and do not go
with one given to rage, 25lest you learn their ways
and take a snare
upon your life. 26Do not be among those
who strike hands in pledge,
among those who become surety
for debts. 27If you have nothing with which to pay,
why should your bed
be taken
from under you? 28Do not move
the ancient boundary
that your ancestors established. 29Do you see someone
skilled in their work?
They will stand before kings;
they will not stand before obscure people.