Berean Standard Bible

Proverbs 22

1A good nameH8034 is more desirableH977 than greatH7227 richesH6239; favorH2580 is betterH2896 than silverH3701 and goldH2091.

2The richH6223 and the poorH7326 have this in commonH6298:The LORDH3068 is MakerH6213 of them allH3605.

3The prudentH6175 seeH7200 dangerH7451 and take coverH5641,but the simpleH6612 keep goingH5674 and suffer the consequencesH6064.

4The rewardsH6118 of humilityH6038 and the fearH3374 of the LORDH3068are wealthH6239 and honorH3519 and lifeH2416.

5ThornsH6791 and snaresH6341 lie on the pathH1870 of the perverseH6141;he who guardsH8104 his soulH5315 stays farH7368 from them.

6Train upH2596 a childH5288 inH5921 the wayH1870 he should goH6310,andH1571 whenH3588 he is oldH2204 he will notH3808 departH5493 from itH4480.

7The richH6223 ruleH4910 over the poorH7326,and the borrowerH3867 H376 is slaveH5650 to the lenderH3867.

8He who sowsH2232 injusticeH5766 will reap disasterH7114 H205,and the rodH7626 of his furyH5678 will be destroyedH3615.1

9A generousH2896 H5869 H1931 man2 will be blessedH1288,forH3588 he sharesH5414 his breadH3899 with the poorH1800.

10Drive outH1644 the mockerH3887, and conflictH4066 will departH3318;even quarrelingH1779 and insultsH7036 will ceaseH7673.

11He who lovesH157 a pure heartH2889 H3820 and graciousH2580 lipsH8193will have the kingH4428 for a friendH7453.

12The LORD’sH3068 eyesH5869 keep watch overH5341 knowledgeH1847,but He frustratesH5557 the wordsH1697 of the faithlessH898.

13The slackerH6102 saysH559, “There is a lionH738 outsideH2351!I will be slainH7523 inH8432 the streetsH7339!”

14The mouthH6310 of an adulteressH2114 is a deepH6013 pitH7745;he who is under the wrathH2194 of the LORDH3068 will fallH5307 into itH8033.

15FoolishnessH200 is bound upH7194 in the heartH3820 of a childH5288,but the rodH7626 of disciplineH4148 drives it farH7368 from himH4480.

Thirty Sayings of the Wise

16OppressingH6231 the poorH1800 to enrichH7235 oneself or giving giftsH5414 to the richH6223 will surely leadH389 to povertyH4270.

17InclineH5186 your earH241 and hearH8085 the wordsH1697 of the wiseH2450—applyH7896 your mindH3820 to my knowledgeH1847—18forH3588 it is pleasingH5273 whenH3588 you keep themH8104 within youH990 H3559and they are constantlyH3162 onH5921 your lipsH8193.19So that your trustH4009 may beH1961 in the LORDH3068,I instruct youH3045 todayH3117—yesH637, youH859.20Have I notH3808 writtenH3789 for you thirty sayingsH8032 3about counselH4156 and knowledgeH1847,

21to show youH3045 trueH7189 and reliableH571 wordsH561, that you mayH7725 soundlyH571 answerH561 those who sent youH7971?

22Do notH408 robH1497 a poorH1800 man becauseH3588 heH1931 is poorH1800,and do notH408 crushH1792 the afflictedH6041 at the gateH8179,

23forH3588 the LORDH3068 will take upH7378 their caseH7379 and will plunderH6906 those who rob themH6906 H5315.

24Do notH408 make friendsH7462 withH854 an angryH639 manH1167,and do notH3808 associateH935 withH854 a hot-temperedH2534 manH376,

25orH6435 you may learnH502 his waysH734 and entangleH3947 yourselfH5315 in a snareH4170.

26Do notH408 beH1961 one who gives pledgesH8628 H3709,who puts up securityH6148 for debtsH4859.

27IfH518 you have nothingH369 with which to payH7999, whyH4100 should your bedH4904 be takenH3947 from under youH8478?

28Do notH408 moveH5253 an ancientH5769 boundary stoneH1366 whichH834 your fathersH1 have placedH6213.

29Do you seeH2372 a manH376 skilledH4106 in his workH4399?He will be stationedH3320 in the presenceH6440 of kingsH4428;he will notH1077 standH3320 beforeH6440 obscure menH2823.

1. Proverbs 22:8 LXX includes God blesses a cheerful and generous man, but foolish works will come to an end; see also 2 Corinthians 9:7. ↩
2. Proverbs 22:9 Literally He whose eye is good ↩
3. Proverbs 22:20 Or written for you excellent sayings or written for you three times ↩