Proverbs 22

A GOOD name is rather to be chosen than great riches, and loving favour rather than silver and gold.

1A good name is worth more than lots of money. Being liked is better than silver and gold.

2The rich and poor meet together: the LORD is the maker of them all.

2Rich people and poor people live side by side. The LORD is the Maker of them all.

3A prudent man foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself: but the simple pass on, and are punished.

3A careful person sees trouble coming and hides. Foolish people keep walking and get hurt.

4By humility and the fear of the LORD are riches, and honour, and life.

4Be humble, and honor the LORD with respect. That brings riches, honor, and life.

5Thorns and snares are in the way of the froward: he that doth keep his soul shall be far from them.

5The path of a crooked person is full of thorns and traps. Whoever guards his life stays far away from that path.

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

6Teach a child the way he should live. When he is old, he will not leave it.

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

7Rich people rule over poor people. And the one who borrows must serve the one who lends.

8He that soweth iniquity shall reap vanity: and the rod of his anger shall fail.

8Whoever plants unfairness will harvest trouble. The stick he swung in anger will be broken.

9He that hath a bountiful eye shall be blessed; for he giveth of his bread to the poor.

9A person who gives freely will be blessed. He shares his bread with the poor.

10Cast out the scorner, and contention shall go out; yea, strife and reproach shall cease.

10Send the mocker away, and the fighting will go too. Arguing and mean words will stop.

11He that loveth pureness of heart, for the grace of his lips the king shall be his friend.

11Love a clean heart and kind words. Then the king will be your friend.

12The eyes of the LORD preserve knowledge, and he overthroweth the words of the transgressor.

12The LORD watches over what is true. He ruins the words of people who do wrong.

13The slothful man saith, There is a lion without, I shall be slain in the streets.

13The lazy man says, "There is a lion outside! I will be killed in the street!"

14The mouth of strange women is a deep pit: he that is abhorred of the LORD shall fall therein.

14The smooth words of a woman who breaks her marriage promise are like a deep pit. The man the LORD is angry with falls into it.

Note"Strange women" in the King James Bible does not mean odd or unfamiliar women. It means a woman who is unfaithful to her husband.

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

15Silly and foolish ways are tied up inside a child's heart. Careful correction drives them far away.

16He that oppresseth the poor to increase his riches, and he that giveth to the rich, shall surely come to want.

16One person hurts the poor to get more money. Another gives gifts to the rich. Both will end up poor.

17Bow down thine ear, and hear the words of the wise, and apply thine heart unto my knowledge.

17Lean over and listen. Hear the words of wise people. Take my teaching to heart.

18For it is a pleasant thing if thou keep them within thee; they shall withal be fitted in thy lips.

18It is good to keep these words inside you. Then they will always be ready on your lips.

19That thy trust may be in the LORD, I have made known to thee this day, even to thee.

19I am teaching you today, yes, you. I want you to trust the LORD.

20Have not I written to thee excellent things in counsels and knowledge,

20I have written thirty sayings for you. They are full of good advice and good sense.

NoteThe King James Bible says "excellent things." The Hebrew word most likely means "thirty," so this points to thirty sayings.

21That I might make thee know the certainty of the words of truth; that thou mightest answer the words of truth to them that send unto thee?

21They will show you words that are true and can be trusted. Then you can bring a true answer back to the people who sent you.

22Rob not the poor, because he is poor: neither oppress the afflicted in the gate:

22Do not steal from a poor man just because he is poor. Do not crush people in trouble when they come to court.

Note"In the gate" means at the city gate. That was where judges met and people brought their cases.

23For the LORD will plead their cause, and spoil the soul of those that spoiled them.

23The LORD will speak up for them. He will take from those who took from them.

24Make no friendship with an angry man; and with a furious man thou shalt not go:

24Do not make friends with an angry man. Do not spend your time with a man whose temper blows up fast.

25Lest thou learn his ways, and get a snare to thy soul.

25If you do, you may start acting like him. Then you will be caught in a trap.

26Be not thou one of them that strike hands, or of them that are sureties for debts.

26Do not shake hands on a promise to pay what someone else owes.

Note"Strike hands" means to shake hands. It was the way people promised to pay another person's debt.

27If thou hast nothing to pay, why should he take away thy bed from under thee?

27If you have no money to pay, they can take your bed away. Why let that happen?

28Remove not the ancient landmark, which thy fathers have set.

28Do not move the old stone that marks where land begins. Your fathers put it there.

29Seest thou a man diligent in his business? he shall stand before kings; he shall not stand before mean men.

29Do you see a man who is skilled at his work? He will work for kings. He will not work for unknown men.