Proverbs 22

¹ A good name is more desirable than great riches, and high esteem, than gold and silver.

² Rich and poor have a common bond: the LORD is the maker of them all.

³ The shrewd man perceives evil and hides, while simpletons continue on and suffer the penalty.

⁴ The reward of humility and fear of the LORD is riches, honor and life.

⁵ Thorns and snares are on the path of the crooked; he who would safeguard his life will shun them.

⁶ Train a boy in the way he should go; even when he is old, he will not swerve from it.

⁷ The rich rule over the poor, and the borrower is the slave of the lender.

⁸ He who sows iniquity reaps calamity, and the rod destroys his labors.

⁹ The kindly man will be blessed, for he gives of his sustenance to the poor.

¹⁰ Expel the arrogant man and discord goes out; strife and insult cease.

¹¹ The LORD loves the pure of heart; the man of winning speech has the king for his friend.

¹² The eyes of the LORD safeguard knowledge, but he defeats the projects of the faithless.

¹³ The sluggard says, "A lion is outside; in the streets I might be slain."

¹⁴ The mouth of the adulteress is a deep pit; he with whom the LORD is angry will fall into it.

¹⁵ Folly is close to the heart of a child, but the rod of discipline will drive it far from him.

¹⁶ He who oppresses the poor to enrich himself will yield up his gains to the rich as sheer loss.

¹⁷ The sayings of the wise: Incline your ear, and hear my words, and apply your heart to my doctrine;

¹⁸ For it will be well if you keep them in your bosom, if they all are ready on your lips.

¹⁹ That your trust may be in the LORD, I make known to you the words of Amen-em-Ope.

²⁰ Have I not written for you the "Thirty," with counsels and knowledge,

²¹ To teach you truly how to give a dependable report to one who sends you?

²² Injure not the poor because they are poor, nor crush the needy at the gate;

²³ For the LORD will defend their cause, and will plunder the lives of those who plunder them.

²⁴ Be not friendly with a hotheaded man, nor the companion of a wrathful man,

²⁵ Lest you learn his ways, and get yourself into a snare.

²⁶ Be not one of those who give their hand in pledge, of those who become surety for debts;

²⁷ For if you have not the means to pay, your bed will be taken from under you.

²⁸ Remove not the ancient landmark which your fathers set up.

²⁹ You see a man skilled at his work? He will stand in the presence of kings; he will not stand in the presence of obscure men.