Proverbs 22

1A GOOD name
is rather to be chosen
than great riches,
and loving favour
rather than silver and gold.

2The rich and poor
meet together:
the LORD is
The Maker
of them all.

3A prudent man
foreseeth the evil,
and hideth himself:
but the simple pass on,
and are punished.

4By humility and the fear
of the LORD
are riches, and
honour, and life.

5Thorns and snares
are in the way
of the froward:
he that
doth keep his soul
shall be far from them.

6Train up a child
in the way he should go:
and when he is old,
he will not depart from it.

7The rich
ruleth over the poor,
and the borrower
is servant
to the lender.

8He that
soweth iniquity
shall reap vanity:
and the rod
of his anger
shall fail.

9He that hath
a bountiful eye
shall be blessed;
for he giveth of his bread
to the poor.

10Cast out the scorner,
and contention
shall go out;
yea,
strife and reproach
shall cease.

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

12The eyes
of the LORD
preserve knowledge, and
He overthroweth the words
of the transgressor.

13The slothful man
saith, There is a lion without,
I shall be
slain in the streets.

14The mouth
of strange women
is a deep pit:
he that is abhorred
of the LORD
shall fall therein.

15Foolishness
is bound in the heart
of a child;
but the rod of correction
shall drive it
far from him.

16He that oppresseth the poor
to increase his riches,
and he that giveth
to the rich,
shall surely
come to want.

17Bow down thine ear,
and hear the words
of the wise,
and apply thine heart
unto my knowledge.

18For it is a pleasant thing
if thou keep them
within thee;
they shall withal
be fitted in thy lips.

19That thy trust
may be in the LORD,
I have made known
to thee this day,
even to thee.

20Have not I
written to thee
excellent things
in counsels and knowledge,

21That I might make
thee know the certainty
of the words of truth;
that thou mightest
answer the words of truth
to them that
send unto thee?

22Rob not the poor,
because he is poor:
neither oppress the afflicted
in the gate:

23For the LORD
will plead their cause,
and spoil the soul
of those that spoiled them.

24Make no friendship
with an angry man;
and with a furious man
thou shalt not go:

25Lest thou
learn his ways,
and get a snare
to thy soul.

26Be not thou
one of them
that strike hands,
or of them
that are sureties for debts.

27If thou hast
nothing to pay,
why should he take away
thy bed from under thee?

28Remove not
the ancient landmark,
which thy fathers have set.

29Seest thou
a man diligent in his business?
he shall stand
before kings;
he shall not stand
before mean men.