Proverbs 22

¹Better is a good name, than much riches: above silver and gold, good grace.

²The rich and poor have met one another: our Lord is the maker of both.

³The subtle saw evil, and hid himself: the innocent passed by, and was afflicted with damage.

⁴The end of modesty the fear of our Lord, riches and glory and life.

⁵Armour and swords in the way of the perverse: but the keeper of his own soul departeth far from them.

⁶It is a proverb: A youngman according to his way, when he is old will not depart from it.

⁷The richman ruleth over the poor: and he that borroweth is the servant of him that lendeth.

⁸He that soweth iniquity, shall reap evils, and with the rod of his wrath, he shall be consumed.

⁹He that is prone to mercy shall be blessed: for of his breads he hath given to the poor. He that giveth gifts shall purchase victory and honour: but he that receiveth taketh away the soul of the giver.

¹⁰Cast out the scorner, and brawling shall go forth with him, and cause shall cease and contumelies.

¹¹He that loveth cleanness of heart, for the grace of his lips, shall have the king his friend.

¹²The eyes of our Lord keep knowledge: and the words of the just are supplanted.

¹³The slothful saith: A lion is without, in the midst of the streets I am to be slain.

¹⁴Adeep pit the mouth of a strange woman: he with whom our Lord is angry, shall fall into it.

¹⁵Folly is tied together in the heart of a child, and the rod of discipline shall drive it away.

¹⁶He that doth calumniate the poor to increase his riches, himself shall give to a richer, and shall be in need.

¹⁷Incline thine ear, and hear the words of wisemen: and set thy heart to my doctrine:

¹⁸which shall be beautiful for thee, when thou shalt keep it in thy belly, and it shall flow in thy lips.

¹⁹That thy confidence may be in our Lord, wherefore I have shewed also it to thee this day.

²⁰Behold I have described it to thee three manner of ways: in cogitations and knowledge:

²¹that I might shew thee the stability, and the words of truth, out of these to answer them that sent thee.

²²Do not violence to the poor, because he is poor: neither oppress the needy in the gate:

²³because our Lord will judge his cause, and will pierce them, that have pierced his soul.

²⁴Be not friend to an angry man, nor walk with a furious man:

²⁵lest perhaps thou learn his paths, and take scandal to thy soul.

²⁶Be not with them that stick down their hands, and that offer themselves sureties for debts:

²⁷for if thou have not wherewith to restore, what cause is there that he should take the covering from thy bed?

²⁸Transgress not the ancient bounds, which thy fathers have put.

²⁹Hast thou seen a man quick in his work? He shall stand before kings, neither shall he be before the unnoble.