Proverbs 22 / 31
- 1
A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches,
and favor is better than silver or gold.
- 2
The rich and the poor meet together;
the Lord is the maker of them all.
- 3
The prudent sees danger and hides himself,
but the simple go on and suffer for it.
- 4
The reward for humility and fear of the Lord
is riches and honor and life.
- 5
Thorns and snares are in the way of the crooked;
whoever guards his soul will keep far from them.
- 6
Train up a child in the way he should go;
even when he is old he will not depart from it.
- 7
The rich rules over the poor,
and the borrower is the slave of the lender.
- 8
Whoever sows injustice will reap calamity,
and the rod of his fury will fail.
- 9
Whoever has a bountiful eye will be blessed,
for he shares his bread with the poor.
- 10
Drive out a scoffer, and strife will go out,
and quarreling and abuse will cease.
- 11
He who loves purity of heart,
and whose speech is gracious, will have the king as his friend.
- 12
The eyes of the Lord keep watch over knowledge,
but he overthrows the words of the traitor.
- 13
The sluggard says, "There is a lion outside!
I shall be killed in the streets!"
- 14
The mouth of forbidden women is a deep pit;
he with whom the Lord is angry will fall into it.
- 15
Folly is bound up in the heart of a child,
but the rod of discipline drives it far from him.
- 16
Whoever oppresses the poor to increase his own wealth,
or gives to the rich, will only come to poverty.
- 17(Words of the Wise)
Incline your ear, and hear the words of the wise,
and apply your heart to my knowledge,
- 18
for it will be pleasant if you keep them within you,
if all of them are ready on your lips.
- 19
That your trust may be in the Lord,
I have made them known to you today, even to you.
- 20
Have I not written for you thirty sayings
of counsel and knowledge,
- 21
to make you know what is right and true,
that you may give a true answer to those who sent you?
- 22
Do not rob the poor, because he is poor,
or crush the afflicted at the gate,
- 23
for the Lord will plead their cause
and rob of life those who rob them.
- 24
Make no friendship with a man given to anger,
nor go with a wrathful man,
- 25
lest you learn his ways
and entangle yourself in a snare.
- 26
Be not one of those who give pledges,
who put up security for debts.
- 27
If you have nothing with which to pay,
why should your bed be taken from under you?
- 28
Do not move the ancient landmark
that your fathers have set.
- 29
Do you see a man skillful in his work?
He will stand before kings;
he will not stand before obscure men.