Proverbs 22:2-14a

²The rich and the poor meet together; But the Lord made them both.

³An intelligent man seeing a bad man severely punished is himself instructed, But fools pass by and are punished.

⁴The fear of the Lord is the offspring of wisdom, And wealth, and glory, and life.

⁵Thistles and snares are in perverse ways; But he that keeps his soul will refrain from them.

⁷The rich will rule over the poor, And servants will lend to their own masters.

⁸He that sows wickedness shall reap troubles; And shall fully receive the punishment of his deeds.

^8aGod loves a cheerful and liberal man; But a man shall fully prove the folly of his works.

⁹He that has pity on the poor shall himself be maintained; For he has given of his own bread to the poor.

^9aHe that gives liberally secures victory and honor; But he takes away the life of them that possess them.

¹⁰Cast out a pestilent person from the council, and strife shall go out with him; For when he sits in the council he dishonors all.

¹¹The Lord loves holy hearts, And all blameless persons are acceptable with him: A king rules with his lips.

¹²But the eyes of the Lord preserve discretion; But the transgressor despises wise words.

¹³The sluggard makes excuses, and says, There is a lion in the ways, and murderers in the streets.

¹⁴The mouth of a transgressor is a deep pit; And he that is hated of the Lord shall fall into it.

^14aEvil ways are before a man, And he does not like to turn away from them; But it is needful to turn aside from a perverse and bad way.