Provérbios 22

¹ A [good] name [is] rather to be chosen than great riches, [and]Which comes by well doing.loving favour rather than silver and gold.

² The rich and poorLive together, and have need the one of the other.meet together: the LORD [is] the maker of them all.

³ A prudent [man]That is, the punishment, which is prepared for the wicked and flees to God for help.foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself: but the simple pass on, and are punished.

⁴ The rewarde of humilitie, and the feare of God is riches, and glory, and life.

⁵ Thornes and snares are in the way of the frowarde: but he that regardeth his soule, will depart farre from them.

⁶ Train up a childBring him up virtuously and he will continue so.in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.

⁷ The rich ruleth the poore, and the borower is seruant to the man that lendeth.

⁸ He that soweth iniquity shall reap vanity: and theHis authority by which he oppressed others, will be taken from him.rod of his anger shall fail.

⁹ He that hath a bountifulHe that is merciful and liberal.eye shall be blessed; for he giveth of his bread to the poor.

¹⁰ Cast out the scorner, and strife shal go out: so contention and reproche shall cease.

¹¹ He that loveth pureness of heart, [for] the grace of his lips theHe shows that princes should use their familiarity, whose conscience is good, and their talk wise and godly.king [shall be] his friend.

¹² The eyes of the LORD preserveFavour them that love knowledge.knowledge, and he overthroweth the words of the transgressor.

¹³ The slothful [man] saith,He derides them that invent vain excuses, because they would not do their duty.[There is] a lion outside, I shall be slain in the streets.

¹⁴ The mouth of strange women [is] a deep pit: he that is abhorred by the LORDSo God punishes one sin by another, when he suffers the wicked to fall into the acquaintance of a harlot.shall fall in it.

¹⁵ Foolishness [is] boundHe is naturally given to it.in the heart of a child; [but] the rod of correction shall drive it far from him.

¹⁶ Hee that oppresseth the poore to increase him selfe, and giueth vnto the riche, shall surely come to pouertie.

¹⁷ Incline thine eare, and heare the wordes of the wise, and apply thine heart vnto my knowledge.

¹⁸ For it shalbe pleasant, if thou keepe them in thy bellie, and if they be directed together in thy lippes.

¹⁹ That thy trust may be inHe shows what the end of wisdom is: that is, to direct us to the Lord.the LORD, I have made known to thee this day, even to thee.

²⁰ Have not I written to theeThat is, various times.excellent things in counsels and knowledge,

²¹ That I might shewe thee the assurance of the wordes of trueth to answere the wordes of trueth to them that sende to thee?

²² Robbe not the poore, because hee is poore, neither oppresse the afflicted in iudgement.

²³ For the Lord will defende their cause, and spoyle the soule of those that spoyle them.

²⁴ MakeHave nothing to do with him that is not able to rule his affections: for he would hurt you by his evil conversation.no friendship with an angry man; and with a furious man thou shalt not go:

²⁵ Least thou learne his wayes, and receiue destruction to thy soule.

²⁶ Be not thou [one] of them thatWho rashly put themselves in danger for others, as in (Pro_6:2).strike hands, [or] of them that are sureties for debts.

²⁷ If thou hast nothing to paye, why causest thou that he should take thy bed from vnder thee?

²⁸ Thou shalt not remooue the ancient bounds which thy fathers haue made.

²⁹ Thou seest that a diligent man in his businesse standeth before Kings, and standeth not before the base sort.