1A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches, and loving favour rather than silver and gold.22.1 loving…: or, favour is better than, etc 2The rich and poor meet together: the LORD is the maker of them all. 3A prudent man foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself: but the simple pass on, and are punished. 4By humility and the fear of the LORD are riches, and honour, and life.22.4 By…: or, The reward of humility, etc 5Thorns and snares are in the way of the froward: he that doth keep his soul shall be far from them. 6Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.22.6 Train…: or, Catechise22.6 in…: Heb. in his way 7The rich ruleth over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender.22.7 the lender: Heb. the man that lendeth 8He that soweth iniquity shall reap vanity: and the rod of his anger shall fail.22.8 the rod…: or, with the rod of his anger he shall be consumed 9He that hath a bountiful eye shall be blessed; for he giveth of his bread to the poor.22.9 He that…: Heb. Good of eye 10Cast out the scorner, and contention shall go out; yea, strife and reproach shall cease. 11He that loveth pureness of heart, for the grace of his lips the king shall be his friend.22.11 for…: or, and hath grace in his lips 12The eyes of the LORD preserve knowledge, and he overthroweth the words of the transgressor.22.12 the words: or, the matters 13The slothful man saith, There is a lion without, I shall be slain in the streets. 14The mouth of strange women is a deep pit: he that is abhorred of the LORD shall fall therein. 15Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child; but the rod of correction shall drive it far from him. 16He that oppresseth the poor to increase his riches, and he that giveth to the rich, shall surely come to want.
17Bow down thine ear, and hear the words of the wise, and apply thine heart unto my knowledge. 18For it is a pleasant thing if thou keep them within thee; they shall withal be fitted in thy lips.22.18 within…: Heb. in thy belly 19That thy trust may be in the LORD, I have made known to thee this day, even to thee.22.19 even…: or, trust thou also 20Have not I written to thee excellent things in counsels and knowledge, 21That I might make thee know the certainty of the words of truth; that thou mightest answer the words of truth to them that send unto thee?22.21 to them…: or, to those that send thee?
22Rob not the poor, because he is poor: neither oppress the afflicted in the gate: 23For the LORD will plead their cause, and spoil the soul of those that spoiled them.
24Make no friendship with an angry man; and with a furious man thou shalt not go: 25Lest thou learn his ways, and get a snare to thy soul.
26Be not thou one of them that strike hands, or of them that are sureties for debts. 27If thou hast nothing to pay, why should he take away thy bed from under thee? 28Remove not the ancient landmark, which thy fathers have set.22.28 landmark: or, bound 29Seest thou a man diligent in his business? he shall stand before kings; he shall not stand before mean men.22.29 mean…: Heb. obscure men
1A good name is more desirable than great riches;
to be esteemed is better than silver or gold.
2Rich and poor have this in common:
The Lord is the Maker of them all.
3The prudent see danger and take refuge,
but the simple keep going and pay the penalty.
4Humility is the fear of the Lord;
its wages are riches and honor and life.
5In the paths of the wicked are snares and pitfalls,
but those who would preserve their life stay far from them.
6Start children off on the way they should go,
and even when they are old they will not turn from it.
7The rich rule over the poor,
and the borrower is slave to the lender.
8Whoever sows injustice reaps calamity,
and the rod they wield in fury will be broken.
9The generous will themselves be blessed,
for they share their food with the poor.
10Drive out the mocker, and out goes strife;
quarrels and insults are ended.
11One who loves a pure heart and who speaks with grace
will have the king for a friend.
12The eyes of the Lord keep watch over knowledge,
but he frustrates the words of the unfaithful.
13The sluggard says, “There’s a lion outside!
I’ll be killed in the public square!”
14The mouth of an adulterous woman is a deep pit;
a man who is under the Lord’s wrath falls into it.
15Folly is bound up in the heart of a child,
but the rod of discipline will drive it far away.
16One who oppresses the poor to increase his wealth
and one who gives gifts to the rich—both come to poverty.
Thirty Sayings of the Wise
Saying 1
17Pay attention and turn your ear to the sayings of the wise;
apply your heart to what I teach,
18for it is pleasing when you keep them in your heart
and have all of them ready on your lips.
19So that your trust may be in the Lord,
I teach you today, even you.
20Have I not written thirty sayings for you,
sayings of counsel and knowledge,
21teaching you to be honest and to speak the truth,
so that you bring back truthful reports
to those you serve?
Saying 2
22Do not exploit the poor because they are poor
and do not crush the needy in court,
23for the Lord will take up their case
and will exact life for life.
Saying 3
24Do not make friends with a hot-tempered person,
do not associate with one easily angered,
25or you may learn their ways
and get yourself ensnared.
Saying 4
26Do not be one who shakes hands in pledge
or puts up security for debts;
27if you lack the means to pay,
your very bed will be snatched from under you.
Saying 5
28Do not move an ancient boundary stone
set up by your ancestors.
Saying 6
29Do you see someone skilled in their work?
They will serve before kings;
they will not serve before officials of low rank.
