Proverbs 22

LEB(i) 1 A reputation* is to be chosen rather than* great riches; favor is better than silver and gold.* 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* will keep away from them. 6 Train the child concerning 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.* 8 He who sows injustice will reap calamity, and the rod of his anger will fail. 9 He who is generous* 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,* 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,* he with whom Yahweh is angry will fall there. 15 Folly is bound up in the heart* of a boy;* the rod of discipline will drive it* from him. 16 He who oppresses the poor in order to enrich himself, or gives to the rich, will come to poverty.* 17 Incline your ear and hear the words of the wise; you shall apply your heart* to my teaching. 18 For it is pleasant if you guard them within you;* 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*—even* 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.* 24 Do not befriend an owner* of anger,* and with a man of wrath you shall not associate; 25 lest you learn his way and become entangled in a snare to yourself.* 26 Do not be with those who give a pledge* by becoming* surety. 27 If there is nothing for you to pay,* why will he take your bed from under you? 28 Do not remove an ancient boundary marker which your ancestors* 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.