Proverbs 22:1-23

¹A good name is to be chosen over great riches and favor is better than silver and gold.

²Rich and poor people have this in common— Yahweh is the maker of all of them.

³A prudent man sees trouble and hides himself, but the naive go on and suffer because of it.

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

⁵Thorns and snares lie in the path of the perverse; whoever guards his life will keep far from them.

⁶Teach a child the way he should go and when he is old he will not turn away from that instruction.

⁷Rich people rule over poor people and one who borrows is a slave to the one who lends.

⁸He who sows injustice will reap trouble and the rod of his fury will fade away.

⁹The one who has a generous eye will be blessed, for he shares his bread with the poor.

¹⁰Drive away the mocker, and out goes strife; disputes and insults will cease.

¹¹The one who loves a pure heart and whose speech is gracious, he will have the king for his friend.

¹²The eyes of Yahweh keep watch over knowledge, but he overthrows the words of the treacherous.

¹³The lazy person says, “There is a lion in the street! I will be killed in the open places.”

¹⁴The mouth of an adulteress is a deep pit; Yahweh's anger is stirred up against anyone who falls into it.

¹⁵Foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child, but the rod of discipline drives it far away.

¹⁶The one who oppresses poor people to increase his wealth, or gives to rich people, will come to poverty.

¹⁷Incline your ear and listen to the words of the wise and apply your heart to my knowledge,

¹⁸for it will be pleasant for you if you keep them within you, if all of them are ready on your lips.

¹⁹So your trust may be in Yahweh, I teach them to you today—even to you.

²⁰Have I not written for you thirty sayings of instruction and knowledge,

²¹to teach you truth in these trustworthy words, so you may give trustworthy answers to those who sent you?

²²Do not rob the poor because he is poor, or crush the needy at the gate,

²³for Yahweh will plead their case, and he will rob of life those who robbed them.