CHAPTER 22
1A name is choicer than great wealth—
than silver and gold, good favor.
2The rich and the poor come together,
the LORD is maker of both.
3The shrewd man sees harm and hides,
but dupes pass on and are punished.
4What follows humility is fear of the LORD,
wealth and honor and life.
5Thorns and pitfalls in the way of the crooked,
who guards his life keeps far from them.
6Train up a lad in the way he should go,
when he grows old he will still not swerve from it.
7The rich rules over the poor,
and the borrower is slave to the man who lends.
8Who sows wrongdoing will reap injustice,
and the rod of his wrath will fail.
9The generous one, he shall be blessed,
for he gave of his bread to the wretched.
10Banish the scoffer and strife will depart,
dispute and demeaning will cease.
11Who loves heart’s purity,
speaks graciously—the king is his friend.
12The LORD’s eyes watch over knowledge,
and He confounds the traitor’s words.
13The sluggard said, “A lion’s outside
in the square. I shall be murdered!”
14A deep pit is the mouth of stranger-women.
The cursed of the LORD will fall into it.
15When folly is bound to the heart of a lad,
the rod of rebuke will remove it from him.
16One oppresses the wretched but makes him increase,
one gives to the wealthy but he comes to want.
17Bend your ear and hear the words of the wise,
and set your heart on my knowledge.
18For it is sweet that you keep them in your belly,
that they all be fit on your lips.
19For your trust to be in the LORD,
I have informed you today, even you.
20Have I not written for you thirty things
in good counsel and knowledge?—
21to inform you the utmost true sayings,
to respond to those who send you.
22Do not rob the wretched, for wretched is he,
and do not crush the poor in the gate.
23For the LORD will argue their case,
and deprive those who deprived them of life.
24Consort not with an irascible man,
and do not join a hotheaded person,
25lest you learn his ways
and take on a snare for your life.
26Do not be of those who give their hand in pledge,
who back up extortionate loans.
27If you have nothing with which to pay,
why should your bedding be taken from under you?
28Do not shift the age-old boundary stone
that your forefathers set up.
29Have you seen a man who is quick at his task?
Before kings he shall stand.