Sprüche 22 | 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.

English Standard Version

1 A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches, and favor is better than silver or gold. 2 The rich and the poor meet together; the Lord is the Maker of them all. 3 The prudent sees danger and hides himself, but the simple go on and suffer for it. 4 The reward for humility and fear of the Lord is riches and honor and life.* 5 Thorns and snares are in the way of the crooked; whoever guards his soul will keep far from them. 6 Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it. 7 The rich rules over the poor, and the borrower is the slave of the lender. 8 Whoever sows injustice will reap calamity, and the rod of his fury will fail. 9 Whoever has a bountiful* eye will be blessed, for he shares his bread with the poor. 10 Drive out a scoffer, and strife will go out, and quarreling and abuse will cease. 11 He who loves purity of heart, and whose speech is gracious, will have the king as his friend. 12 The eyes of the Lord keep watch over knowledge, but he overthrows the words of the traitor. 13 The sluggard says, “There is a lion outside! I shall be killed in the streets!” 14 The mouth of forbidden* women is a deep pit; he with whom the Lord is angry will fall into it. 15 Folly is bound up in the heart of a child, but the rod of discipline drives it far from him. 16 Whoever oppresses the poor to increase his own wealth, or gives to the rich, will only come to poverty.

Words of the Wise

17 Incline your ear, and hear the words of the wise, and apply your heart to my knowledge, 18 for it will be pleasant if you keep them within you, if all of them are ready on your lips. 19 That your trust may be in the Lord, I have made them known to you today, even to you. 20 Have I not written for you thirty sayings of counsel and knowledge, 21 to make you know what is right and true, that you may give a true answer to those who sent you? 22 Do not rob the poor, because he is poor, or crush the afflicted at the gate, 23 for the Lord will plead their cause and rob of life those who rob them. 24 Make no friendship with a man given to anger, nor go with a wrathful man, 25 lest you learn his ways and entangle yourself in a snare. 26 Be not one of those who give pledges, who put up security for debts. 27 If you have nothing with which to pay, why should your bed be taken from under you? 28 Do not move the ancient landmark that your fathers have set. 29 Do you see a man skillful in his work? He will stand before kings; he will not stand before obscure men.

Sprüche 22 | New International Reader’s Version English Standard Version