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1A beautiful reputation is more to be desired than great riches,[#22:1 The Hebrew is simply “name preferred to wealth.” The Aramaic indicates it could be “the name [of God].”]
and to be esteemed by others is more honorable
than to own immense investments.
2The rich and the poor have one thing in common:
the Lord God created each one.
3A prudent person with insight foresees danger coming
and prepares himself for it.
But the senseless rush blindly forward
and suffer the consequences.
4Laying your life down in tender surrender before the Lord
will bring life, prosperity, and honor as your reward.
5Twisted and perverse lives are surrounded by demonic influence.[#22:5 Or “thorns and snares.” This becomes a metaphor for demonic curses and troubles. Thorns are associated with the fall of Adam. Jesus wore a crown of thorns and took away our curse. The snares picture the temptations of evil that the devil places in our path.]
If you value your soul, stay far away from them.
6Dedicate your children to God
and point them in the way that they should go,
and the values they’ve learned from you will be with them for life.
7If you borrow money with interest,
you’ll end up serving the interests of your creditors,
for the rich rule over the poor.
8Sin is a seed that brings a harvest;
you’ll reap a heap of trouble with every seed you plant.
For your investment in sins pays a full return—
the full punishment you deserve!
9When you are generous to the poor,[#22:9 The Hebrew word translated here as “generous” actually means “to have a bountiful eye.” It is a figure of speech for generosity, a life of helping others.]
you are enriched with blessings in return.
10Say goodbye to a troublemaker and you’ll say goodbye
to quarrels, strife, tension, and arguments,
for a troublemaker traffics in shame.
11The Lord loves those whose hearts are holy,
and he is the friend of those whose ways are pure.
12God passionately watches over[#22:12 Or “the eyes of the Lord [watch].” In the church today, prophets become eyes in the body of Christ. They see and reveal God’s heart for his people.]
his deep reservoir of revelation-knowledge,
but he subverts the lies of those who pervert the truth.
13A slacker always has an excuse for not working—
like “I can’t go to work. There’s a lion outside!
And murderers too! ”
14Sex with an adulteress is like falling into the abyss.
Those under God’s curse jump right in to their own destruction.
15Although rebellion is woven into a young man’s heart,[#22:15 The Aramaic word used here means “senseless.”]
tough discipline can make him into a man.
16There are two kinds of people headed toward poverty:
those who exploit the poor
and those who bribe the rich.
17Listen carefully and open your heart.[#22:17 From this verse to 24:22 we have a collection of proverbs that lead to virtue. They are especially designed for the young person about to enter a career and start a family.]
Drink in the wise revelation that I impart.
18You’ll become winsome and wise
when you treasure the beauty of my words.
And always be prepared to share them at the appropriate time.
19For I’m releasing these words to you this day,
yes, even to you, so that your living hope
will be found in God alone,
for he is the only one who is always true.
20-21Pay attention to these excellent sayings of three-fold things.[#22:20–21 As translated from the Aramaic. Most translators find this verse difficult to convey. The Hebrew can be “I have written excellent things,” “I have written three times,” “I write thirty sayings [proverbs],” “I have written you previously,” or “I have written you generals.” The Septuagint reads “You should copy these things three times.” If the Proverbs contain keys to understanding riddles and mysteries (see Prov. 1:2–6), then we have one of those keys given to us here. God speaks in threes, for he is a triune God. We have a body, soul, and spirit. God lived in a three-room house (the outer court, the Holy Place, and the chamber of the Most Holy Place). These three-fold dimensions are throughout the Bible.]
For within my words you will discover true and reliable revelation.
They will give you serenity so that you can reveal
the truth of the word of the one who sends you.
22Never oppress the poor
or pass laws with the motive of crushing the weak.
23For the Lord will rise to plead their case
and humiliate the one who humiliates the poor.
24-25Walk away from an angry man
or you’ll embrace a snare in your soul
by becoming bad-tempered just like him.
26Why would you ever guarantee a loan for someone else
or promise to be responsible for someone’s debts?
27For if you fail to pay you could lose your shirt![#22:27 Or “bed.”]
28The previous generation has set boundaries in place.
Don’t you dare move them just to benefit yourself.
29If you are uniquely gifted in your work,
you will rise and be promoted.
You won’t be held back—
you’ll stand before kings!