22:1 A good name¹ is rather to be chosen² than great wealth,
good favor³ more than silver or gold.
22:2 The rich and the poor meet together;⁴
the LORD is the Maker of them all.⁵
22:3 A shrewd person⁶ sees evil⁷ and hides himself,
but the simple pass on and pay for it.⁸
22:4 The reward⁹ of humility¹⁰ and the fear of the LORD
is riches and honor and life.
22:5 Thorns and snares¹¹ are in the path of perverse,
but the one who guards his soul keeps far from them.
22:6 Train¹² a child¹³ in the way that he should go¹⁴
and when he is old he will not turn from it.¹⁵
22:7 The rich rule over¹⁶ the poor
and the borrower is servant to the lender.
22:8 The one who sows¹⁷ iniquity shall reap trouble;
and the rod of his wrath¹⁸ shall end.
22:9 A generous person¹⁹ will be blessed,²⁰
for he gives some of his food²¹ to the poor.
22:10 Drive out the scorner²² and contention will leave;
yes, strife and insults shall cease.²³
22:11 The one who loves a pure heart,²⁴
and whose speech is gracious²⁵—the king will be his friend.²⁶
22:12 The eyes of the LORD²⁷ guard knowledge,²⁸
but He overthrows the words of the faithless person.²⁹
22:13 The sluggard says, “There is a lion³⁰ outside;
I shall be killed in the middle of the streets.”³¹
22:14 The mouth³² of an adulteress is a deep pit;³³
the one against whom the LORD is angry³⁴ will fall there.³⁵
22:15 Folly is bound up³⁶ in the heart of a child,³⁷
but the rod of discipline³⁸ will drive it far from him.
22:16 The one who oppresses the poor to gain his own increase,
and the one who gives to the rich³⁹—only come to poverty.

The Sayings of the Wise⁴⁰

22:17 Incline your ear⁴¹ and listen to the words of the wise;
and apply your heart to my knowledge.
22:18 For it is pleasing if⁴² you keep them within you
and⁴³ they are prepared upon your lips.⁴⁴
22:19 So that⁴⁵ your confidence may be in the LORD
I make them known to you today⁴⁶—even you.
22:20 Have I not written thirty sayings⁴⁷ for you,
sayings⁴⁸ of counsel and knowledge
22:21 to cause you to know true and reliable words,⁴⁹
so that you may give accurate answers⁵⁰ to those who send to you.
22:22 Do not exploit⁵¹ a poor person because he is poor
and do not crush the needy in the gate,⁵²
22:23 for the LORD will plead their case⁵³
and will rob those who robbing⁵⁴ them.⁵⁵
22:24 Do not make friends with an angry person,⁵⁶
and with a wrathful person do not associate,
22:25 lest you learn⁵⁷ his ways
and get a snare for yourself.⁵⁸
22:26 Do not be one who strikes hands in pledge
or who puts up security for debts;
22:27 if you do not have enough to pay
your bed⁵⁹ will be taken⁶⁰ right out from under you.⁶¹
22:28 Do not move an ancient boundary stone⁶²
which was put in place by your ancestors.⁶³
22:29 Do you see a person skilled⁶⁴ in his work?
He will take his position before kings;
he will not take his position⁶⁵ before obscure people.⁶⁶