Proverbs 22 - Amplified Bible(AMP)

On Life and Conduct

1A good name is more desirable than great riches;

And favor is better than silver and gold.

2The rich and poor have a common bond;

The Lord is the Maker of them all.

3A prudent and far-sighted person sees the evil and hides himself,

But the naive continue on and are punished.

4The reward of humility and the fear of the Lord

Is riches, honor, and life.

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

He who guards himself will be far from them and avoid the consequences they suffer.

6Train up a child in the way he should go,

Even when he is old he will not depart from it.

7The rich rules over the poor,

And the borrower is servant to the lender.

8He who sows injustice will reap trouble,

And the rod of his wrath will fail.

9He who is generous will be blessed,

For he gives some of his food to the poor.

10Drive out the scoffer, and contention will go away;

Even strife and dishonor will cease.

11He who loves purity of heart

And whose speech is gracious will have the king as his friend.

12The eyes of the Lord keep guard over knowledge and the one who has it,

But He overthrows the words of the treacherous.

13The lazy one says, “There is a lion outside!

I will be killed in the streets!”

14The mouth of an immoral woman is a deep pit;

He who is cursed by the Lord will fall into it.

15Foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child;

The rod of discipline will remove it far from him.

16He who oppresses or exploits the poor to get more for himself

Or who gives to the rich, will only come to poverty.

17¶Listen carefully and hear the words of the wise,

And apply your mind to my knowledge;

18For it will be pleasant if you keep them in mind;

Let them be ready on your lips.

19So that your trust and reliance and confidence may be in the Lord,

I have taught these things to you today, even to you.

20Have I not written to you excellent things

In counsels and knowledge,

21To let you know the certainty of the words of truth,

That you may give a correct answer to him who sent you?

22¶Do not rob the poor because he is poor,

Nor crush the afflicted at the gate,

23For the Lord will plead their case

And take the life of those who rob them.

24¶Do not even associate with a man given to angry outbursts;

Or go with a hot-tempered man,

25Or you will learn his ways

And get yourself trapped.

26¶Do not be among those who give pledges,

Or among those who become guarantors for others’ debts.

27If you have nothing with which to pay,

Why should his creditor take your bed from under you?

28¶Do not move the ancient landmark

Which your fathers have set.

29¶Do you see a man skillful and experienced in his work?

He will stand before kings;

He will not stand before obscure men.