Proverbs

22 Reputation is preferable to great wealth,

popularity to silver and gold.

2 A rich man and a poor man meet—

Jehovah is the maker of all.

3 A sagacious man sees an evil and gets under cover,

but simpletons go ahead and will pay the penalty.

4 The sequel of humility is fear of Jehovah,

riches, honor, and life.

5 There are thorns and traps in a crooked man’s road;

he who is guarding his life will keep aloof from them.

6 Give a boy the start his course requires;

even when he grows old he will not deviate from it.

7 A rich man rules over poor men,

and a borrower is slave to a lender.

8 One who sows knavery will reap trouble,

and his cudgel of wrath gives out.

9 A generous-hearted man will be blessed

because he has given bread of his to a poor man.

10 Turn out a cynic and out goes quarreling,

and dispute and dishonor come to an end.

11* Jehovah loves a clean-hearted man;

one whose lips are agreeable has a king for his friend.

12* Jehovah’s eyes watch over knowledge,

but he upsets the affairs of a faithless man.

13 An idler says “There is a lion in the street,”

“I shall be murdered right out in the squares.”

14 Stranger women’s mouths are a deep pitfall;

he to whom Jehovah is hostile will fall in.

15 Foolishness is tied into a boy’s heart;

the cudgel of discipline will drive it away.

16 A man refusing pay to a poor man with the result that he gets more—

a man giving to a rich man with the result only of destitution.

17** Wise men’s words.

Bend your ear and hear my words,

and set your heart to know,

19* That your confidence may be in Jehovah,

I have made known life to you too.

20* I have written for you, as you see, thirty points

in good advice and knowledge,

21** That you may make known words of truth,

may bring back word to him who sent you.

22* Do not rob a poor man because he is poor

nor overbear a downtrodden man in the gate,

23 For Jehovah will defend their cause

and shave down the lives of those who shave them down.

24* Do not make friends with a man who easily gets angry

nor keep company with a man given to bursts of temper,

25 For fear you should get into his ways

and come to have a trap waiting for your life.

26 Do not be among those who strike hands,

those who go security for moneylenders’ loans:

27 If you do not have enough to pay,

why should he take your bed out from under you?

28 Do not displace an old-time boundary-mark

which your fathers made.

29** If you see a man getting his work done speedily

he will find his place in the service of kings,

will not find his place in the service of nobodies.