Provérbios 22

1 A good name is to be chosen over great wealth;

favor is better than silver and gold.  * 22:1 Pr 10:7; 8:10; Ec 7:1

2 Rich and poor have this in common:  * 22:2 Lit poor meet

the Lord makes them all.  * 22:2 Jb 31:13,15; Pr 29:13

3 A sensible person sees danger and takes cover,

but the inexperienced keep going and are punished.  * 22:3 Pr 14:16; 27:12; Is 26:20

4 Humility, the fear of the  Lord,

results in wealth, honor, and life.  * 22:4 Pr 15:33; 21:21; 29:23

5 There are thorns and snares on the way of the crooked;  * 22:5 Pr 7:23; 15:19

the one who guards himself stays far from them.

6 Start a youth out on his way;  * 22:6 Eph 6:4

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

7 The rich rule over the poor,  * 22:7 Pr 18:23; Jms 2:6

and the borrower is a slave to the lender.  * 22:7 Dt 28:12–13

8 The one who sows injustice will reap disaster,  * 22:8 Jb 4:8; Hs 10:13–14

and the rod of his fury will be destroyed.

9 A generous person  * 22:9 Lit Good of eye will be blessed,  * 22:9 Pr 19:17; 2Co 9:6

for he shares his food with the poor.  * 22:9 Lk 14:13–14

10 Drive out a mocker,  * 22:10 Gn 21:9–10 and conflict goes too;

then quarreling and dishonor will cease.  * 22:10 Pr 26:20

11 The one who loves a pure heart

and gracious lips — the king is his friend.  * 22:11 Pr 16:13

12 The Lord’s eyes keep watch over knowledge,

but he overthrows the words of the treacherous.

13 The slacker says, "There’s a lion outside!

I’ll be killed in the public square! "  * 22:13 Pr 26:13

14 The mouth of the forbidden woman is a deep pit;

a man cursed by the  Lord will fall into it.  * 22:14 Pr 2:16–19; 7:5,21,27; 23:27–28; Ec 7:26

15 Foolishness is bound to the heart of a youth;

a rod of discipline will separate it from him.  * 22:15 Pr 13:24; 23:13–14; 29:15

16 Oppressing the poor to enrich oneself,

and giving to the rich — both lead only to poverty.  * 22:16 Pr 11:24; 22:7; 28:27

Words of the Wise

17 Listen closely,  * 22:17 Lit Stretch out your ear pay attention to the words of the wise,  * 22:17 Pr 5:1

and apply your mind to my knowledge.

18 For it is pleasing if you keep them within you

and if they are  * 22:18 Or you; let them be, or you, so that 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  * 22:20 Text emended; one Hb tradition reads you previously; alt Hb tradition reads you excellent things; LXX, Syr, Vg read you three times

about counsel and knowledge,

21 in order to teach you true and reliable words,

so that you may give a dependable report  * 22:21 Lit give dependable words,* 22:21 Lk 1:3–4

to those who sent you?  * 22:21 Pr 10:26; 25:13

22 Don’t rob a poor person because he is poor,

and don’t crush the oppressed  * 22:22 Ex 23:6; Jb 31:16; Zch 7:10; Mal 3:5 at the city gate,  * 22:22 Ru 4:11; Pr 24:7; Zch 8:16

23 for the Lord will champion their cause  * 22:23 1Sm 25:39; Ps 12:5; 35:10; 68:5; 140:12; Pr 23:10–11; Is 3:13–15

and will plunder those who plunder them.

24 Don’t make friends with an angry person,  * 22:24 Lit with a master of anger

and don’t be a companion of a hot-tempered one,  * 22:24 Pr 15:18; 19:19

25 or you will learn his ways  * 22:25 1Co 15:33

and entangle yourself in a snare.

26 Don’t be one of those who enter agreements,  * 22:26 Lit Don’t be among hand slappers

who put up security for loans.  * 22:26 Pr 6:1–5; 11:15; 17:18

27 If you have nothing with which to pay,

even your bed will be taken from under you.  * 22:27 Ex 22:26; Pr 20:16

28 Don’t move an ancient boundary marker

that your ancestors set up.  * 22:28 Dt 19:14; 27:17; Jb 24:2; Pr 23:10; Hs 5:10

29 Do you see a person skilled in his work?

He will stand in the presence of kings.

He will not stand in the presence of the unknown.  * 22:29 Gn 41:46; 1Kg 10:8; Pr 14:35