Proverbs 22:1-9

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.