Proverbs 22 Tree of Life Version
22 A good name is to be chosen rather than great wealth,
and grace rather than silver or gold.
2 Rich and poor have this in common—
Adonai is the Maker of them all.
3 A crafty person sees danger and hides,
but the naïve keep going and suffer for it.
4 The reward of humility and fear of Adonai
is riches, honor and life.
5 Thorns and snares are in the path of the perverse,
but one who guards his soul stays far from them.
6 Train up a child in the way he should go,
when he is old he will not turn from it.
7 The rich rule over the poor,
the borrower is a slave to the lender.
8 One who sows injustice will reap trouble,
and the rod of his fury will perish.
9 One with a bountiful eye will be blessed,
for he shares his bread with the poor.
10 Throw out a scoffer and strife will go out,
quarreling and disgrace will cease.
11 One who loves purity of heart and whose speech is gracious,
will have the king as his friend.
12 The eyes of Adonai guard knowledge, but He undermines
the words of the faithless.
13 The slacker says, “There’s a lion outside!
I’ll be killed in the streets.”
14 The mouth of a seducing woman is a deep pit—
into it will fall one with whom Adonai is angry.
15 Foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child,
but a rod of discipline will drive it far from him.
16 The one who oppresses the poor to increase his own gain,
and the one who gives to the rich—both end in poverty.
17 Incline your ear and listen to the words of the wise,
and apply your heart to my knowledge.
18 For it is delightful if you keep them
within you, ready on your lips.
19 So that your trust may be in Adonai,
I made them known to you this day, even you.
20 Have I not written to you thirty sayings
of admonition and knowledge,
21 to show you true and reliable words,
that you may give a true answer to those who sent you?
22 Do not rob a poor person because he is poor,
nor crush the needy at the gate,
23 for Adonai will plead their case,
and rob life from those who plunder them.
24 Do not be friends with one given to anger
or associate with a hot-tempered person,
25 lest you learn his ways,
and entangle your soul in a snare.
26 Do not be one who shakes hands
or puts up security for debts.
27 If you do not have enough to pay,
why should your bed be taken from under you?
28 Do not move an ancient boundary stone
which your fathers set up.
29 Do you see a man skilled in his work?
He will stand before kings.
He will not stand before obscure people.
Copyright © 2014 by the Messianic Jewish Family Bible Society (DBA: Tree of Life Bible Society). Used by permission. All rights reserved. For more information about the TLV Bible, visit www.tlvbiblesociety.org.