favor is better than silver and gold.
the Lord made them both.[b]
but the inexperienced keep going and are punished.
along with wealth, honor, and life.
the one who guards himself stays far from them.
even when he is old he will not depart from it.
and the borrower is a slave to the lender.
and the rod of his fury will be destroyed.
for he shares his food with the poor.
then quarreling and dishonor will cease.
and gracious lips—the king is his friend.
but He overthrows the words of the treacherous.
I’ll be killed in the public square!”
a man cursed by the Lord will fall into it.
the rod of discipline will drive it away from him.
and giving to the rich—both lead only to poverty.
Words of the Wise
17 Listen closely,[d] pay attention to the words of the wise,
and apply your mind to my knowledge.
18 For it is pleasing if you keep them within you
and if[e] they are 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[f]
about counsel and knowledge,
21 in order to teach you true and reliable words,
so that you may give a dependable report[g]
to those who sent you?
and don’t crush the oppressed at the gate,
23 for the Lord will take up their case
and will plunder those who plunder them.
and don’t be a companion of a hot-tempered man,
25 or you will learn his ways
and entangle yourself in a snare.
who put up security for loans.
27 If you have no money to pay,
even your bed will be taken from under you.
that your fathers set up.
He will stand in the presence of kings.
He will not stand in the presence of unknown men.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 22:2 Lit poor meet
- Proverbs 22:2 Lit all
- Proverbs 22:9 Lit Good of eye
- Proverbs 22:17 Lit Stretch out your ear
- Proverbs 22:18 Or you; let them be, or you, so that
- Proverbs 22:20 Text emended; one Hb tradition reads you previously; alt Hb tradition reads you excellent things; LXX, Syr, Vg read you three times
- Proverbs 22:21 Lit give dependable words
- Proverbs 22:24 Lit with a master of anger
- Proverbs 22:26 Lit who shakes hands