Proverbs 22

¹A good name is better than many riches. And good esteem is above silver and gold

²The rich and poor have met one another. The Lord is the maker of them both

³The clever saw evil and hid himself. The innocent continued on and was afflicted with damage

⁴The end of moderation is the fear of the Lord, riches and glory and life

⁵Weapons and swords are on the way of the perverse. But he who guards his own soul withdraws far from them

⁶The proverb is: A youth is close to his way; even when he is old, he will not withdraw from it

⁷The rich rule over the poor. And the borrower is servant to the lender

⁸Whoever sows iniquity will reap evils, and by the rod of his own wrath he will be consumed

⁹Whoever is inclined to mercy shall be blessed, for from his bread he has given to the poor. Whoever gives gifts will acquire victory and honor. But he carries away the soul of the receiver

¹⁰Cast out the one who ridicules, and conflict will go out with him, and accusations and insults will cease

¹¹Whoever loves cleanness of heart, because of the grace of his lips, will have the king as his friend

¹²The eyes of the Lord watch over knowledge. And the words of the iniquitous are supplanted

¹³The lazy one says: “There is a lion outside. I might be slain in the midst of the streets.

¹⁴The mouth of a foreign woman is a deep pit; the Lord was angry with him who will fall into it

¹⁵Foolishness has been bound to the heart of a child, and a rod of discipline shall cause it to flee

¹⁶Whoever slanders the poor, so as to augment his own riches, will give it away to one who is richer, and will be in need

¹⁷Incline your ear, and listen to the words of the wise. Then apply your heart to my doctrine

¹⁸It shall be beautiful to you, if you preserve it in your inner self, and it shall overflow from your lips

¹⁹so that your confidence may be in the Lord. Therefore, I also have revealed it to you this day

²⁰Behold, I have written it for you in three ways, and with meditations and knowledge

²¹so that I might reveal to you, firmly and with words of truth, in order to respond about these things to those who sent you

²²Do not act with violence toward the pauper because he is poor. And do not weary the needy at the gate

²³For the Lord will judge his case, and he will pierce those who have pierced his soul

²⁴Do not be willing to be a friend to an angry man, and do not walk with a furious man

²⁵lest perhaps you learn his ways, and take up a stumbling block to your soul

²⁶Do not be willing to be with those who certify with their hands, and who offer themselves as a guarantee against debts

²⁷For if you do not have the means to restore, what reason should there be for him to take the covering from your bed

²⁸Do not cross beyond the ancient limits that your fathers have set

²⁹Have you seen a man swift in his work? He shall stand in the sight of kings, and not before those who are disreputable