Proverbs 22

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

21 That 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?⋮

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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