Proverbs 22

¹Choose a good reputation over great riches;

being held in high esteem is better than silver or gold.

²The rich and poor have this in common:

The Lord made them both.

³A prudent person foresees danger and takes precautions.

The simpleton goes blindly on and suffers the consequences.

⁴True humility and fear of the Lord

lead to riches, honor, and long life.

⁵Corrupt people walk a thorny, treacherous road;

whoever values life will avoid it.

⁶Direct your children onto the right path,

and when they are older, they will not leave it.

⁷Just as the rich rule the poor,

so the borrower is servant to the lender.

⁸Those who plant injustice will harvest disaster,

and their reign of terror will come to an end.

⁹Blessed are those who are generous,

because they feed the poor.

¹⁰Throw out the mocker, and fighting goes, too.

Quarrels and insults will disappear.

¹¹Whoever loves a pure heart and gracious speech

will have the king as a friend.

¹²The Lord preserves those with knowledge,

but he ruins the plans of the treacherous.

¹³The lazy person claims, “There’s a lion out there!

If I go outside, I might be killed!”

¹⁴The mouth of an immoral woman is a dangerous trap;

those who make the Lord angry will fall into it.

¹⁵A youngster’s heart is filled with foolishness,

but physical discipline will drive it far away.

¹⁶A person who gets ahead by oppressing the poor

or by showering gifts on the rich will end in poverty.

Sayings of the Wise

¹⁷Listen to the words of the wise;

apply your heart to my instruction.

¹⁸For it is good to keep these sayings in your heart

and always ready on your lips.

¹⁹I am teaching you today—yes, you—

so you will trust in the Lord .

²⁰I have written thirty sayings for you,[#22:20 Or excellent sayings; the meaning of the Hebrew is uncertain.]

filled with advice and knowledge.

²¹In this way, you may know the truth

and take an accurate report to those who sent you.

²²Don’t rob the poor just because you can,

or exploit the needy in court.

²³For the Lord is their defender.

He will ruin anyone who ruins them.

²⁴Don’t befriend angry people

or associate with hot-tempered people,

²⁵or you will learn to be like them

and endanger your soul.

²⁶Don’t agree to guarantee another person’s debt

or put up security for someone else.

²⁷If you can’t pay it,

even your bed will be snatched from under you.

²⁸Don’t cheat your neighbor by moving the ancient boundary markers

set up by previous generations.

²⁹Do you see any truly competent workers?

They will serve kings

rather than working for ordinary people.