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Proverbs

Offers wisdom and advice on how to live a good and meaningful life.

Chapter 22

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1 A GOOD name is rather to be chosen than great riches, and loving favour rather than silver and gold.

*A good reputation is more important than lots of money, and being liked is better than having lots of precious metals.

2 The rich and poor meet together: the LORD is the maker of them all.

*The wealthy and those with little meet together: God creates everyone.

3 A prudent man foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself: but the simple pass on, and are punished.

*A smart person sees danger coming and hides; but a naive person doesn't notice and gets into trouble.

4 By humility and the fear of the LORD are riches, and honour, and life.

*Through being humble and respecting God, you can gain wealth, respect, and a longer life.

5 Thorns and snares are in the way of the froward: he that doth keep his soul shall be far from them.

*Thorns and traps block the path for those who misbehave. If you stay on the right track, you'll avoid them.

6 Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.

*Teach a child the right path: when they're older, they'll stay on that path.

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

*The wealthy control the less fortunate, and those who owe money serve those who lend it.

8 He that soweth iniquity shall reap vanity: and the rod of his anger shall fail.

*If you plant bad actions, you'll get worthless results. And the tool used for your anger will not work well.

9 He that hath a bountiful eye shall be blessed; for he giveth of his bread to the poor.

*He who has a generous outlook will be blessed, as he gives his food to the needy.

10 Cast out the scorner, and contention shall go out; yea, strife and reproach shall cease.

*Remove the person causing arguments, then disagreements and insults will stop.

11 He that loveth pureness of heart, for the grace of his lips the king shall be his friend.

*If you love being pure-hearted, the king will consider you a friend because of your kind words.

12 The eyes of the LORD preserve knowledge, and he overthroweth the words of the transgressor.

*The Lord's eyes protect wisdom, and He destroys the wrongdoer's words.

13 The slothful man saith, There is a lion without, I shall be slain in the streets.

*The lazy person says, "There's a dangerous lion outside; I might get killed in the streets."

14 The mouth of strange women is a deep pit: he that is abhorred of the LORD shall fall therein.

*Strange women's mouths are like a deep hole: anyone rejected by God will fall into it.

15 Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child; but the rod of correction shall drive it far from him.

*Stupidity is natural for kids; but using discipline will teach them better.

16 He that oppresseth the poor to increase his riches, and he that giveth to the rich, shall surely come to want.

*Whoever mistreats the poor to get richer and whoever gives to the wealthy will themselves face lack.

17 Bow down thine ear, and hear the words of the wise, and apply thine heart unto my knowledge.

*Listen carefully to the words of the wise, and put your heart into understanding their knowledge.

18 For it is a pleasant thing if thou keep them within thee; they shall withal be fitted in thy lips.

*It's nice to have these words inside you; they will naturally come out when you speak.

19 That thy trust may be in the LORD, I have made known to thee this day, even to thee.

*So that you trust the LORD, today I've told you this, both you and me.

20 Have not I written to thee excellent things in counsels and knowledge,

*Did I not write amazing advice and knowledge to you?

21 That I might make thee know the certainty of the words of truth; that thou mightest answer the words of truth to them that send unto thee?

*So that I can show you the truth of these words, and so you can reply with true words to those who ask you.

22 Rob not the poor, because he is poor: neither oppress the afflicted in the gate:

*Don't take from the poor because they have little; also, don't mistreat those who are struggling when you meet them at the city entrance.

23 For the LORD will plead their cause, and spoil the soul of those that spoiled them.

*The LORD will defend them and punish those who harmed them.

24 Make no friendship with an angry man; and with a furious man thou shalt not go:

*Avoid befriending an easily angered person, and don't associate with someone who is very angry.

25 Lest thou learn his ways, and get a snare to thy soul.

*So that you don't learn his ways and fall into a trap for your soul.

26 Be not thou one of them that strike hands, or of them that are sureties for debts.

*Don't be someone who shakes hands with people in debt or becomes a guarantee for their debts.

27 If thou hast nothing to pay, why should he take away thy bed from under thee?

*If you owe nothing, why would they take your bed away?

28 Remove not the ancient landmark, which thy fathers have set.

*Don't change the old boundaries that your ancestors established.

29 Seest thou a man diligent in his business? he shall stand before kings; he shall not stand before mean men.

*Do you see a person who is hardworking in their work? They will stand before important people; they won't stand before unimportant ones.

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