Provérbios 22

1 A reputation*Literally "name" is to be chosen rather than*Literally "from" great riches;

favor is better than silver and gold.*Literally "from silver and from gold, favor is better"

2 Rich and poor have much in common;

Yahweh is the maker of all of them.

3 The clever sees danger and hides,

but the simple go on and suffer.

4 The reward of humility is the fear of Yahweh—

wealth and honor and life.

5 Thorns and snares are in the way of the perverse;

he who guards himself*Or "soul," or "life" will keep away from them.

6 Train the child concerning his way;*Literally "on the mouth of his way"

even when he is old, he will not stray from it.

7 The rich will rule over the poor,

and the borrower is a slave of the lender.*Literally "the borrower belonging to a man"

8 He who sows injustice will reap calamity,

and the rod of his anger will fail.

9 He who is generous*Literally "the generous of eye" will be blessed,

for he gives to the poor from his own bread.

10 Drive out a scoffer and strife will go out;

quarrel and abuse will cease.

11 He who loves purity of heart

and hasgracious speech,*Literally "grace of his lips" his friend is the king.

12 The eyes of Yahweh keep watch over knowledge,

but he will overthrow the words of the faithless.

13 A lazy person says "A lion in the street!

In the middle of the highway, I shall be killed!"

14 A deep pit is the mouth of an adulteress,*Literally "a strange woman"

he with whom Yahweh is angry will fall there.

15 Folly is bound up in the heart*Or "mind" of a boy;*Or "young man," or "adolescent"

the rod of discipline will drive it*That is, folly from him.

16 He who oppresses the poor in order to enrich himself,

or gives to the rich, will come to poverty.*Literally "only loss"

Words of the Wise

17 Incline your ear and hear the words of the wise;

you shall apply your heart*Or "mind" to my teaching.

18 For it is pleasant if you guard them within you;*Literally "in your belly/womb"

together they will be ready upon your lips.

19 In order for your trust to be in Yahweh,

I have made them known to you today*Literally "the day"—even*Or "only" you.

20 Have I not written for you thirty sayings

with admonitions and knowledge?

21 In order to show you what is right—sayings of truth—

in order to return a true saying to him who sent you.

22 Do not rob the poor because he is poor,

and do not crush the afflicted at the gate;

23 For Yahweh will plead their case

and despoil those who despoil them of life.*Or "soul," or "inner self"

24 Do not befriend an owner*Or "master" of anger,*Literally "nostril"

and with a man of wrath you shall not associate;

25 lest you learn his way

and become entangled in a snare to yourself.*Or "soul," or "inner self"

26 Do not be with those who give a pledge*Literally "strike a hand"

by becoming*Literally "in the becomings of" surety.

27 If there is nothing for you to pay,*Or "complete"

why will he take your bed from under you?

28 Do not remove an ancient boundary marker

which your ancestors*Or "fathers" made.

29 A man who is skillful in his work, you shall see:

before kings, he will serve;

he will not serve before the commoners.