22 A good name is to be chosen over great wealth;
favor is better than silver and gold.(A)

Rich and poor have this in common:[a]
the Lord makes them all.(B)

A sensible person sees danger and takes cover,
but the inexperienced keep going and are punished.(C)

Humility, the fear of the Lord,
results in wealth, honor, and life.(D)

There are thorns and snares on the way of the crooked;(E)
the one who guards himself stays far from them.

Start a youth out on his way;(F)
even when he grows old he will not depart from it.

The rich rule over the poor,(G)
and the borrower is a slave to the lender.(H)

The one who sows injustice will reap disaster,(I)
and the rod of his fury will be destroyed.

A generous person[b] will be blessed,(J)
for he shares his food with the poor.(K)

10 Drive out a mocker,(L) and conflict goes too;
then quarreling and dishonor will cease.(M)

11 The one who loves a pure heart
and gracious lips—the king is his friend.(N)

12 The Lord’s eyes keep watch over knowledge,
but he overthrows the words of the treacherous.

13 The slacker says, “There’s a lion outside!
I’ll be killed in the public square!” (O)

14 The mouth of the forbidden woman is a deep pit;
a man cursed by the Lord will fall into it.(P)

15 Foolishness is bound to the heart of a youth;
a rod of discipline will separate it from him.(Q)

16 Oppressing the poor to enrich oneself,
and giving to the rich—both lead only to poverty.(R)

Words of the Wise

17 Listen closely,[c] pay attention to the words of the wise,(S)
and apply your mind to my knowledge.
18 For it is pleasing if you keep them within you
and if they are[d] constantly on your lips.
19 I have instructed you today—even you—
so that your confidence may be in the Lord.
20 Haven’t I written for you thirty sayings[e]
about counsel and knowledge,
21 in order to teach you true and reliable words,
so that you may give a dependable report[f](T)
to those who sent you?(U)

22 Don’t rob a poor person because he is poor,
and don’t crush the oppressed(V) at the city gate,(W)
23 for the Lord will champion their cause(X)
and will plunder those who plunder them.

24 Don’t make friends with an angry person,[g]
and don’t be a companion of a hot-tempered one,(Y)
25 or you will learn his ways(Z)
and entangle yourself in a snare.

26 Don’t be one of those who enter agreements,[h]
who put up security for loans.(AA)
27 If you have nothing with which to pay,
even your bed will be taken from under you.(AB)

28 Don’t move an ancient boundary marker
that your ancestors set up.(AC)

29 Do you see a person skilled in his work?
He will stand in the presence of kings.
He will not stand in the presence of the unknown.(AD)

Footnotes

  1. 22:2 Lit poor meet
  2. 22:9 Lit Good of eye
  3. 22:17 Lit Stretch out your ear
  4. 22:18 Or you; let them be, or you, so that they are
  5. 22:20 Text emended; one Hb tradition reads you previously; alt Hb tradition reads you excellent things; LXX, Syr, Vg read you three times
  6. 22:21 Lit give dependable words
  7. 22:24 Lit with a master of anger
  8. 22:26 Lit Don’t be among hand slappers

22 A good name is more desirable than great riches;
    to be esteemed is better than silver or gold.(A)

Rich and poor have this in common:
    The Lord is the Maker of them all.(B)

The prudent see danger and take refuge,(C)
    but the simple keep going and pay the penalty.(D)

Humility is the fear of the Lord;
    its wages are riches and honor(E) and life.(F)

In the paths of the wicked are snares and pitfalls,(G)
    but those who would preserve their life stay far from them.

Start(H) children off on the way they should go,(I)
    and even when they are old they will not turn from it.(J)

The rich rule over the poor,
    and the borrower is slave to the lender.

Whoever sows injustice reaps calamity,(K)
    and the rod they wield in fury will be broken.(L)

The generous will themselves be blessed,(M)
    for they share their food with the poor.(N)

10 Drive out the mocker, and out goes strife;
    quarrels and insults are ended.(O)

11 One who loves a pure heart and who speaks with grace
    will have the king for a friend.(P)

12 The eyes of the Lord keep watch over knowledge,
    but he frustrates the words of the unfaithful.

13 The sluggard says, “There’s a lion outside!(Q)
    I’ll be killed in the public square!”

14 The mouth of an adulterous woman is a deep pit;(R)
    a man who is under the Lord’s wrath falls into it.(S)

15 Folly is bound up in the heart of a child,
    but the rod of discipline will drive it far away.(T)

16 One who oppresses the poor to increase his wealth
    and one who gives gifts to the rich—both come to poverty.

Thirty Sayings of the Wise

Saying 1

17 Pay attention(U) and turn your ear to the sayings of the wise;(V)
    apply your heart to what I teach,(W)
18 for it is pleasing when you keep them in your heart
    and have all of them ready on your lips.
19 So that your trust may be in the Lord,
    I teach you today, even you.
20 Have I not written thirty sayings for you,
    sayings of counsel and knowledge,
21 teaching you to be honest and to speak the truth,(X)
    so that you bring back truthful reports
    to those you serve?

Saying 2

22 Do not exploit the poor(Y) because they are poor
    and do not crush the needy in court,(Z)
23 for the Lord will take up their case(AA)
    and will exact life for life.(AB)

Saying 3

24 Do not make friends with a hot-tempered person,
    do not associate with one easily angered,
25 or you may learn their ways
    and get yourself ensnared.(AC)

Saying 4

26 Do not be one who shakes hands in pledge(AD)
    or puts up security for debts;
27 if you lack the means to pay,
    your very bed will be snatched from under you.(AE)

Saying 5

28 Do not move an ancient boundary stone(AF)
    set up by your ancestors.

Saying 6

29 Do you see someone skilled(AG) in their work?
    They will serve(AH) before kings;(AI)
    they will not serve before officials of low rank.