Proverbs 22:1-29

¹A good name is more to be desired than great wealth, and to be respected is better than silver and gold.

²The man of wealth and the poor man come face to face: the Lord is the maker of them all.

³The sharp man sees the evil and takes cover: the simple go straight on and get into trouble.

⁴The reward of a gentle spirit and the fear of the Lord is wealth and honour and life.

⁵Thorns and nets are in the way of the twisted: he who keeps watch over his soul will be far from them.

⁶If a child is trained up in the right way, even when he is old he will not be turned away from it.

⁷The man of wealth has rule over the poor, and he who gets into debt is a servant to his creditor.

⁸By planting the seed of evil a man will get in the grain of sorrow, and the rod of his wrath will be broken.

⁹He who is kind will have a blessing, for he gives of his bread to the poor.

¹⁰Send away the man of pride, and argument will go out; truly fighting and shame will come to an end.

¹¹He whose heart is clean is dear to the Lord; for the grace of his lips the king will be his friend.

¹²The eyes of the Lord keep knowledge, but by him the acts of the false man will be overturned.

¹³The hater of work says, There is a lion outside: I will be put to death in the streets.

¹⁴The mouth of strange women is a deep hole: he with whom the Lord is angry will go down into it.

¹⁵Foolish ways are deep-seated in the heart of a child, but the rod of punishment will send them far from him.

¹⁶He who is cruel to the poor for the purpose of increasing his profit, and he who gives to the man of wealth, will only come to be in need.

¹⁷Let your ear be bent down for hearing my words, and let your heart give thought to knowledge.

¹⁸For it is a delight to keep them in your heart, to have them ready on your lips.

¹⁹So that your faith may be in the Lord, I have made them clear to you this day, even to you.

²⁰Have I not put in writing for you thirty sayings, with wise suggestions and knowledge,

²¹To make you see how certain are true words, so that you may give a true answer to those who put questions to you?

²²Do not take away the property of the poor man because he is poor, or be cruel to the crushed ones when they come before the judge:

²³For the Lord will give support to their cause, and take the life of those who take their goods.

²⁴Do not be friends with a man who is given to wrath; do not go in the company of an angry man:

²⁵For fear of learning his ways and making a net ready for your soul.

²⁶Be not one of those who give their hands in an agreement, or of those who make themselves responsible for debts:

²⁷If you have nothing with which to make payment, he will take away your bed from under you.

²⁸Let not the old landmark be moved which your fathers have put in place.

²⁹Have you seen a man who is expert in his business? he will take his place before kings; his place will not be among low persons.