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22:1  A good name [earned by honorable behavior, godly wisdom, moral courage, and personal integrity] is more desirable than great riches; And favor is better than silver and gold.
22:2  The rich and poor have a common bond; The Lord is the Maker of them all.
22:3  A prudent and far-sighted person sees the evil [of sin] and hides himself [from it], But the naive continue on and are punished [by suffering the consequences of sin].
22:4  The reward of humility [that is, having a realistic view of one’s importance] and the [reverent, worshipful] fear of the Lord Is riches, honor, and life.
22:5  Thorns and snares are in the way of the obstinate [for their lack of honor and their wrong-doing traps them]; He who guards himself [with godly wisdom] will be far from them and avoid the consequences they suffer.
22:6  Train up a child in the way he should go [teaching him to seek God’s wisdom and will for his abilities and talents], Even when he is old he will not depart from it.
22:7  The rich rules over the poor, And the borrower is servant to the lender.
22:8  He who sows injustice will reap [a harvest of] trouble, And the rod of his wrath [with which he oppresses others] will fail.
22:9  He who is generous will be blessed, For he gives some of his food to the poor.
22:10  Drive out the scoffer, and contention will go away; Even strife and dishonor will cease.
22:11  He who loves purity of heart And whose speech is gracious will have the king as his friend.
22:12  The eyes of the Lord keep guard over knowledge and the one who has it, But He overthrows the words of the treacherous.
22:13  The lazy one [manufactures excuses and] says, “There is a lion outside! I will be killed in the streets [if I go out to work]!”
22:14  The mouth of an immoral woman is a deep pit [deep and inescapable]; He who is cursed by the Lord [because of his adulterous sin] will fall into it.
22:15  Foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child; The rod of discipline [correction administered with godly wisdom and lovingkindness] will remove it far from him.
22:16  He who oppresses or exploits the poor to get more for himself Or who gives to the rich [to gain influence and favor], will only come to poverty.
22:17  Listen carefully and hear the words of the wise, And apply your mind to my knowledge;
22:18  For it will be pleasant if you keep them in mind [incorporating them as guiding principles]; Let them be ready on your lips [to guide and strengthen yourself and others].
22:19  So that your trust and reliance and confidence may be in the Lord, I have taught these things to you today, even to you.
22:20  Have I not written to you excellent things In counsels and knowledge,
22:21  To let you know the certainty of the words of truth, That you may give a correct answer to him who sent you?
22:22  Do not rob the poor because he is poor [and defenseless], Nor crush the afflicted [by legal proceedings] at the gate [where the city court is held],
22:23  For the Lord will plead their case And take the life of those who rob them.
22:24  Do not even associate with a man given to angry outbursts; Or go [along] with a hot-tempered man,
22:25  Or you will learn his [undisciplined] ways And get yourself trapped [in a situation from which it is hard to escape].
22:26  Do not be among those who give pledges [involving themselves in others’ finances], Or among those who become guarantors for others’ debts.
22:27  If you have nothing with which to pay [another’s debt when he defaults], Why should his creditor take your bed from under you?
22:28  Do not move the ancient landmark [at the boundary of the property] Which your fathers have set.
22:29  Do you see a man skillful and experienced in his work? He will stand [in honor] before kings; He will not stand before obscure men.