Proverbs, 22

¹ A good name^*1 is to be chosen rather than great wealth; To be respected^*2 is better than silver and gold.

² The rich and the poor have this in common:^*1 Jehovah made them both.

³ The shrewd one sees the danger and conceals himself, But the inexperienced keep right on going and suffer the consequences.^*1

⁴ The result of humility and the fear of Jehovah Is riches and glory and life.

⁵ Thorns and traps are in the crooked man’s path, But whoever values his life^*1 keeps far away from them.

⁶ Train a boy^*1 in the way he should go; Even when he grows old he will not depart from it.

⁷ The rich one rules the poor, And the borrower is a slave to the lender.

⁸ Whoever sows unrighteousness will reap disaster, And the rod of his fury will come to its end.

⁹ The generous person^*1 will be blessed, For he shares his food with the poor.

¹⁰ Drive away the scornful man, And contention will disappear; Disputes^*1 and insults will cease.

¹¹ The one who loves a pure heart and whose speech is gracious Will have the king as his friend.

¹² The eyes of Jehovah safeguard knowledge, But He overturns the words of the treacherous.

¹³ The lazy one says: “There is a lion outside! I will be killed in the middle of the public square!”

¹⁴ The mouth of wayward^*1 women is a deep pit. The one condemned by Jehovah will fall into it.

¹⁵ Foolishness is bound up in the heart of a boy,^*1 But the rod of discipline will remove it far from him.

¹⁶ The one defrauding the poor to increase his wealth And the one giving gifts to the rich Will end up in poverty.

¹⁷ Incline your ear and listen to the words of the wise, In order to apply your heart to my knowledge,

¹⁸ For it is pleasant to keep them deep within you, So that all of them may constantly be on your lips.

¹⁹ For your confidence to be in Jehovah, I am giving you knowledge today.

²⁰ Have I not already written you, Imparting advice and knowledge,

²¹ To teach you true and reliable words, So that you can return with an accurate report to the one who sent you?

²² Do not rob the poor man because he is poor, And do not crush the lowly man in the city gate,

²³ For Jehovah himself will plead their cause And he will take the life^*1 of those who defraud them.

²⁴ Do not keep company with a hot-tempered man Or get involved with one disposed to rage,

²⁵ So that you never learn his ways And ensnare yourself.^*1

²⁶ Do not be among those who shake hands in a pledge, Who put up security for loans.

²⁷ If you have nothing to pay, Your bed will be taken right out from under you!

²⁸ Do not move an ancient boundary marker That your forefathers put in place.

²⁹ Have you seen a man skillful at his work? He will stand before kings; He will not stand before common men.