Proverbs 22 | King James Version

King James Version

1 A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches, and loving favour rather than silver and gold. 2 The rich and poor meet together: the LORD is the maker of them all. 3 A prudent man foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself: but the simple pass on, and are punished. 4 By humility and the fear of the LORD are riches, and honour, and life. 5 Thorns and snares are in the way of the froward: he that doth keep his soul shall 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. 7 The rich ruleth over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender. 8 He that soweth iniquity shall reap vanity: and the rod of his anger shall fail. 9 He that hath a bountiful eye shall be blessed; for he giveth of his bread to the poor. 10 Cast out the scorner, and contention shall go out; yea, strife and reproach shall cease. 11 He that loveth pureness of heart, for the grace of his lips the king shall be his friend. 12 The eyes of the LORD preserve knowledge, and he overthroweth the words of the transgressor. 13 The slothful man saith, There is a lion without, I shall be slain in the streets. 14 The mouth of strange women is a deep pit: he that is abhorred of the LORD shall fall therein. 15 Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child; but the rod of correction shall drive it far from him. 16 He that oppresseth the poor to increase his riches, and he that giveth to the rich, shall surely come to want. 17 Bow down thine ear, and hear the words of the wise, and apply thine heart unto my knowledge. 18 For it is a pleasant thing if thou keep them within thee; they shall withal be fitted in thy lips. 19 That thy trust may be in the LORD, I have made known to thee this day, even to thee. 20 Have not I written to thee excellent things in counsels and knowledge, 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? 22 Rob not the poor, because he is poor: neither oppress the afflicted in the gate: 23 For the LORD will plead their cause, and spoil the soul of those that spoiled them. 24 Make no friendship with an angry man; and with a furious man thou shalt not go: 25 Lest thou learn his ways, and get a snare to thy soul. 26 Be not thou one of them that strike hands, or of them that are sureties for debts. 27 If thou hast nothing to pay, why should he take away thy bed from under thee? 28 Remove not the ancient landmark, which thy fathers have set. 29 Seest thou a man diligent in his business? he shall stand before kings; he shall not stand before mean men .

New International Reader’s Version

1 You should want a good name more than you want great riches. To be highly respected is better than having silver or gold. 2 The LORD made rich people and poor people. That’s what they have in common. 3 Wise people see danger and go to a safe place. But childish people keep going and suffer for it. 4 Being humble comes from having respect for the LORD. This will bring you wealth and honour and life. 5 Thorns and traps lie in the paths of evil people. But those who value their lives stay far away from them. 6 Start children off on the right path. And even when they are old, they will not turn away from it. 7 Rich people rule over those who are poor. Borrowers are slaves to lenders. 8 Anyone who plants evil gathers a harvest of trouble. Their power to treat others badly will be destroyed. 9 Those who give freely will be blessed. That’s because they share their food with those who are poor. 10 If you drive away those who make fun of others, fighting also goes away. Arguing and unkind words will stop. 11 A person who has a pure and loving heart and speaks kindly will be a friend of the king. 12 The eyes of the LORD keep watch over knowledge. But he does away with the words of those who aren’t faithful. 13 People who don’t want to work say, ‘There’s a lion outside!’ Or they say, ‘I’ll be murdered if I go out into the streets!’ 14 The mouth of a woman who commits adultery is like a deep pit. Any man the LORD is angry with falls into it. 15 Children are going to do foolish things. But correcting them will drive that foolishness far away. 16 You might treat poor people badly or give gifts to rich people. Trying to get rich in these ways will instead make you poor.

Saying 1

17 Pay attention and listen to the sayings of wise people. Apply your heart to the sayings I teach. 18 It is pleasing when you keep them in your heart. Have all of them ready on your lips. 19 You are the one I am teaching today. That’s because I want you to trust in the LORD. 20 I have written 30 sayings for you. They will give you knowledge and good advice. 21 I am teaching you to be honest and to speak the truth. Then you can give honest reports to those you serve.

Saying 2

22 Don’t take advantage of poor people just because they are poor. Don’t treat badly those who are in need by taking them to court. 23 The LORD will stand up for them in court. He will require the lives of people who have taken the lives of those in need.

Saying 3

24 Don’t be a friend of a person who has a bad temper. Don’t go around with a person who gets angry easily. 25 You might learn their habits. And then you will be trapped by them.

Saying 4

26 Don’t agree to pay for what someone else owes. And don’t agree to pay their bills for them. 27 If you don’t have the money to pay, your bed will be taken right out from under you! 28 Don’t move old boundary stones set up by your people of long ago.

Saying 5 Saying 6

29 Do you see someone who does good work? That person will serve kings. That person won’t serve officials of lower rank.