Proverbs 22

¹ A good name is more desirable than great wealth, the respect of others is better than silver or gold.

² Rich and poor are found together, Yahweh has made them all.

³ The discreet man sees danger and takes shelter, the ignorant go forward and pay for it.

⁴ The reward of humility is the fear of Yahweh, riches, honour and life.

⁵ Thorns and snares line the path of the wilful, he who values his life will keep his distance.

⁶ Instruct a child in the way he should go, and when he grows old he will not leave it.

⁷ The rich man lords it over the poor, the borrower is the lender’s slave.

⁸ He who sows injustice reaps disaster, and the rod of his anger falls on himself.

⁹ A blessing awaits the man who is kindly, since he shares his bread with the poor.

¹⁰ Expel the mocker and strife goes too, dispute and abuse die down.

¹¹ Yahweh loves the pure in heart, friend to the king is the man of gracious speech.

¹² The eyes of Yahweh see knowledge safe preserved, but he confounds the words of liars.

¹³ ‘There is a lion outside,’ says the idler ‘I shall be killed in the street!’

¹⁴ The mouth of alien women is a deep pit, into it falls the man whom Yahweh detests.

¹⁵ Innate in the heart of a child is folly, judicious beating will rid him of it.

¹⁶ Oppress the poor and you enrich him, give to the rich and you make him poor.

¹⁷ Sayings of the sages. Give ear to my words and apply your heart to knowing them;

¹⁸ for it will be a delight to keep them deep within you to have them all ready on your lips.

¹⁹ So that your trust may be in Yahweh, today I propose to make your way known to you.

²⁰ Have I not written for you thirty chapters[*a] of advice and knowledge,

²¹ for you to be able to expound the truth and with sound words to answer those who question you?

²² Because a man is poor, do not therefore cheat him, nor, at the city gate,[*b] oppress anybody in affliction;

²³ for Yahweh takes up their cause, and extorts the life of their extortioners.

²⁴ Make friends with no man who gives way to anger, make no hasty-tempered man a companion of yours,

²⁵ for fear you learn from his behaviour and in this risk the loss of your own life.

²⁶ Do not be one of those who go guarantor, who go surety for debts:

²⁷ if you have no means of paying you will find your bed taken from under you.

²⁸ Do not displace the ancient landmark, set by your ancestors.

²⁹ You see some man sharp at business? He will come to serve kings. Not for him the service of obscure people.