Proverbs 22 – NIV & CCBT

New International Version

Proverbs 22:1-29

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.

Chinese Contemporary Bible (Traditional)

箴言 22:1-29

1美名勝過巨富,

恩寵比金銀寶貴。

2富人和窮人相同:

都由耶和華所造。

3明哲人遇禍躲避,

愚昧人前往受害。

4心存謙卑、敬畏耶和華,

必得財富、尊榮和生命。

5奸徒之道有荊棘和陷阱,

想保全生命的必須遠避。

6教導孩童走正路,

他到老也不偏離。

7富人管轄窮人,

欠債的是債主的僕人。

8播種不義的必收災禍,

他的惡勢力終必瓦解。

9慷慨的人必蒙福,

因他給窮人食物。

10趕走嘲諷者,紛爭平息,

爭吵和羞辱也會消除。

11喜愛清心、口吐恩言的人,

必與君王為友。

12耶和華的眼目護衛真理,

祂必推翻奸徒的言論。

13懶惰人說:「外面有獅子,

我會喪命街頭。」

14淫婦的口是深坑,

耶和華憎惡的人必陷進去。

15愚昧纏住孩童的心,

教棍能遠遠趕走它。

16靠壓榨窮人斂財和送禮給富人的,

都必窮困潦倒。

智者之言

17你要側耳聽智者之言,

專心領受我的教誨,

18銘記在心、隨時誦詠,

方為美事。

19今天我將這些指示你,

為要使你倚靠耶和華。

20關於謀略和知識,

我已寫給你三十條,

21要使你認識真理,

能準確答覆差你來的人。

22不可仗勢剝削貧窮人,

法庭上不可欺凌弱者,

23因為耶和華必為他們伸冤,

奪去掠奪他們之人的性命。

24不可結交脾氣暴躁者,

不要跟易怒之人來往,

25免得你沾染他們的惡習,

不能自拔。

26不要為人擊掌作保,

不要為欠債的抵押。

27如果你還不起,

連你的床也會被抬走。

28不可移動祖先定下的界石。

29你看那精明能幹的人,

他必侍立在君王面前,

不會效力於泛泛之輩。