Proverbs 22

1A name is more desirable than great wealth, and favor is better than silver and gold.

2The rich and the poor meet together; Yahweh is the maker of them all.

3A prudent man sees danger and hides himself, but the simple pass on and suffer for it.

4The reward of humility and the fear of Yahweh is wealth and honor and life.

5Thorns and snares are in the way of the crooked; he who guards his life keeps far from them.

6Train up a boy according to his way; even when he grows old he will not turn from it.

7The rich rules over the poor, and the borrower is a servant to the lender.

8Whoever sows injustice will reap trouble, and the rod of his fury will come to an end.

9He who has a generous eye will be blessed, for he gives some of his bread to the poor.

10Drive out a scoffer, and strife will go out; contention and disgrace will cease.

11He who loves purity of heart and whose speech is gracious—the king is his friend.

12The eyes of Yahweh guard knowledge, but he overturns the words of the treacherous.

13The sluggard says, “There is a lion outside! I will be murdered in the streets!”

14The mouth of forbidden women is a deep pit; he who is under Yahweh’s wrath will fall there.

15Folly is bound up in the heart of a boy; the rod of discipline will drive it far from him.

16One who oppresses the poor to increase his own wealth, and one who gives to the rich—both come only to poverty.

17Incline your ear and hear the words of the wise, and set your heart on my knowledge.

18For it is pleasant when you keep them within you; they will be ready together on your lips.

19So that your trust may be in Yahweh, I have instructed you today—yes, you.

20Have I not written for you thirty sayings about counsel and knowledge?

21to make known to you the reliability of truthful words, so that you may answer those who sent you with truthful words.

22Do not rob a poor man because he is poor, and do not crush the needy at the gate.

23For Yahweh will plead their case and take the lives of those who rob them.

24Do not befriend a man given to anger, and do not go with a man of wrath.

25lest you learn his ways and bring a snare on yourself.

26Do not be among those who shake hands in pledge, among those who guarantee debts.

27If you have nothing with which to pay, why should he take your bed from under you?

28Do not move an ancient boundary marker that your fathers made.

29Have you seen a man skillful in his work? He will stand before kings; he will not stand before people of no distinction.