Proverbs 22  Modern English Version

22 A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches,
    and loving favor rather than silver and gold.

² The rich and poor have this in common,
    the Lord is the maker of them all.

³ A prudent man foresees the evil and hides himself,
    but the simple pass on and are punished.

⁴ By humility and the fear of the Lord
    are riches, and honor, and life.

⁵ Thorns and snares are in the way of the perverse;
    he who guards his soul will be far from them.

⁶ Train up a child in the way he should go,
    and when he is old he will not depart from it.

⁷ The rich rules over the poor,
    and the borrower is servant to the lender.

⁸ He who sows iniquity will reap vanity,
    and the rod of his anger will fail.

⁹ He who has a bountiful eye will be blessed,
    for he gives of his bread to the poor.

¹⁰ Cast out the scorner, and contention will go out;
    yes, strife and reproach will cease.

¹¹ He who loves pureness of heart, for the grace of his lips
    the king will be his friend.

¹² The eyes of the Lord preserve knowledge,
    and He overthrows the words of the transgressor.

¹³ The slothful man says, “There is a lion without!
    I will be slain in the streets!”

¹⁴ The mouth of an immoral woman is a deep pit;
    he who is detested by the Lord will fall therein.

¹⁵ Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child,
    but the rod of correction will drive it far from him.

¹⁶ He who oppresses the poor to increase his riches,
    and he who gives to the rich, will surely come to want.