22

  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.

22

  1A ⚓good name is to be chosen rather than great riches,
   Loving favor rather than silver and gold.
   2The ⚓rich and the poor have this in common,
   The ⚓Lordis the maker of them all.
   3A prudent man foresees evil and hides himself,
   But the simple pass on and are ⚓punished.
   4By humility and the fear of the Lord
   Are riches and honor and life.
   5Thorns and snares are in the way of the perverse;
   He who guards his soul will be far from them.
   6⚓Train up a child in the way he should go,
   And when he is old he will not depart from it.
   7The ⚓rich rules over the poor,
   And the borrower is servant to the lender.
   8He who sows iniquity will reap ⚓sorrow,
   And the rod of his anger will fail.
   9⚓He who has a generous eye will be ⚓blessed,
   For he gives of his bread to the poor.
   10⚓Cast out the scoffer, and contention will leave;
   Yes, strife and reproach will cease.
   11⚓He who loves purity of heart
   And has grace on his lips,
   The king will be his friend.
   12The eyes of the Lord preserve knowledge,
   But He overthrows the words of the faithless.
   13⚓The lazy man says, “There is a lion outside!
   I shall be slain in the streets!”
   14⚓The mouth of an immoral woman is a deep pit;
   ⚓He who is abhorred by the Lord will fall there.
   15Foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child;
   ⚓The rod of correction will drive it far from him.
   16He who oppresses the poor to increase his riches,
   And he who gives to the rich, will surely come to poverty.

Sayings of the Wise

  17Incline your ear and hear the words of the wise,
   And apply your heart to my knowledge;
    18For it is a pleasant thing if you keep them within you;
   Let them all be fixed upon your lips,
    19So that your trust may be in the Lord;
   I have instructed you today, even you.
    20Have I not written to you excellent things
   Of counsels and knowledge,
    21⚓That I may make you know the certainty of the words of truth,
   ⚓That you may answer words of truth
   To those who send to you?
   22Do not rob the ⚓poor because he is poor,
   Nor oppress the afflicted at the gate;
    23⚓For the Lord will plead their cause,
   And plunder the soul of those who plunder them.
   24Make no friendship with an angry man,
   And with a ⚓furious man do not go,
    25Lest you learn his ways
   And set a snare for your soul.
   26⚓Do not be one of those who shakes hands in a pledge,
   One of those who is surety for debts;
    27If you have nothing with which to pay,
   Why should he take away your bed from under you?
   28⚓Do not remove the ancient landmark
   Which your fathers have set.
   29Do you see a man who excels in his work?
   He will stand before kings;
   He will not stand before unknown men.