Proverbs 22:1–9

1 A good name is more desirable than great riches;

to be esteemed is better than silver or gold.

2 Rich and poor have this in common:

The Lord is the Maker of them all.

3 The prudent see danger and take refuge,

but the simple keep going and pay the penalty.

4 Humility is the fear of the Lord;

its wages are riches and honor and life.

5 In the paths of the wicked are snares and pitfalls,

but those who would preserve their life stay far from them.

6 Start children off on the way they should go,

and even when they are old they will not turn from it.

7 The rich rule over the poor,

and the borrower is slave to the lender.

8 Whoever sows injustice reaps calamity,

and the rod they wield in fury will be broken.

9 The generous will themselves be blessed,

for they share their food with the poor.

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.

1 Choose a good reputation over great riches;

being held in high esteem is better than silver or gold.

2 The rich and poor have this in common:

The Lord made them both.

3 A prudent person foresees danger and takes precautions.

The simpleton goes blindly on and suffers the consequences.

4 True humility and fear of the Lord

lead to riches, honor, and long life.

5 Corrupt people walk a thorny, treacherous road;

whoever values life will avoid it.

6 Direct your children onto the right path,

and when they are older, they will not leave it.

7 Just as the rich rule the poor,

so the borrower is servant to the lender.

8 Those who plant injustice will harvest disaster,

and their reign of terror will come to an end.

9 Blessed are those who are generous,

because they feed the poor.

1 A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches,

Loving favor rather than silver and gold.

2 The rich and the poor have this in common,

The Lord is the maker of them all.

3 A prudent man foresees evil and hides himself,

But the simple pass on and are punished.

4 By humility and the fear of the Lord

Are riches and honor and life.

5 Thorns and snares are in the way of the perverse;

He who guards his soul will 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 rules over the poor,

And the borrower is servant to the lender.

8 He who sows iniquity will reap sorrow,

And the rod of his anger will fail.

9 He who has a generous eye will be blessed,

For he gives of his bread to the poor.

1 Being respected is more important than having great riches.

To be well thought of is better than silver or gold.

2 The rich and the poor are alike

in that the Lord made them all.

3 The wise see danger ahead and avoid it,

but fools keep going and get into trouble.

4 Respecting the Lord and not being proud

will bring you wealth, honor, and life.

5 Evil people’s lives are like paths covered with thorns and traps.

People who guard themselves don’t have such problems.

6 Train children to live the right way,

and when they are old, they will not stray from it.

7 The rich rule over the poor,

and borrowers are servants to lenders.

8 Those who plan evil will receive trouble.

Their cruel anger will come to an end.

9 Generous people will be blessed,

because they share their food with the poor.

1 A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches,

And loving favor rather than silver and gold.

2 The rich and the poor meet together:

Jehovah is the maker of them all.

3 A prudent man seeth the evil, and hideth himself;

But the simple pass on, and suffer for it.

4 The reward of humility and the fear of Jehovah

Is riches, and honor, and life.

5 Thorns and snares are in the way of the perverse:

He that keepeth his soul shall be far from them.

6 Train up a child in the way he should go,

And even 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 calamity;

And the rod of his wrath shall fail.

9 He that hath a bountiful eye shall be blessed;

For he giveth of his bread to the poor.

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

2 The rich and poor meet together; Jehovah is the maker of them all.

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

4 The reward of humility and the fear of Jehovah is riches, and honour, and life.

5 Thorns and snares are in the way of the perverse: he that keepeth his soul holdeth himself far from them.

6 Train up the child according to the tenor of his way, 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 unrighteousness shall reap iniquity, and the rod of his wrath shall have an end.

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

1 A good name is more desirable than great wealth. 

Respect is better than silver or gold. 

2 The rich and the poor have this in common: 

the Lord is the maker of them all. 

3 Sensible people foresee trouble and hide ⸤from it⸥, 

but gullible people go ahead and suffer ⸤the consequence⸥. 

4 On the heels of humility (the fear of the Lord) 

are riches and honor and life. 

5 A devious person has thorns and traps ahead of him. 

Whoever guards himself will stay far away from them. 

6 Train a child in the way he should go, 

and even when he is old he will not turn away from it. 

7 A rich person rules poor people, 

and a borrower is a slave to a lender. 

8 Whoever plants injustice will harvest trouble, 

and this weapon of his own fury will be destroyed. 

9 Whoever is generous will be blessed 

because he has shared his food with the poor. 

1 A good name is to be chosen over great wealth;

favor is better than silver and gold.

2 The rich and the poor have this in common:

the Lord made them both.

3 A sensible person sees danger and takes cover,

but the inexperienced keep going and are punished.

4 The result of humility is fear of the Lord,

along with wealth, honor, and life.

5 There are thorns and snares on the path of the crooked;

the one who guards himself stays far from them.

6 Teach a youth about the way he should go;

even when he is old he will not depart from it.

7 The rich rule over the poor,

and the borrower is a slave to the lender.

8 The one who sows injustice will reap disaster,

and the rod of his fury will be destroyed.

9 A generous person will be blessed,

for he shares his food with the poor.

1 A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches,

and favor is better than silver or gold.

2 The rich and the poor have this in common:

the Lord is the maker of them all.

3 The clever see danger and hide,

but the simple go on and suffer for it.

4 The reward for humility and fear of the Lord

is riches and honor and life.

5 Thorns and snares are in the way of the perverse;

the cautious will keep far from them.

6 Train children in the right way,

and when old, they will not stray.

7 The rich rule over the poor,

and the borrower is the slave of the lender.

8 Whoever sows injustice will reap calamity,

and the rod of anger will fail.

9 Those who are generous are blessed,

for they share their bread with the poor.

1 A reputation is to be chosen rather than great riches;

favor is better than silver and gold.

2 Rich and poor have much in common;

Yahweh is the maker of all of them.

3 The clever sees danger and hides,

but the simple go on and suffer.

4 The reward of humility is the fear of Yahweh—

wealth and honor and life.

5 Thorns and snares are in the way of the perverse;

he who guards himself will keep away from them.

6 Train the child concerning his way;

even when he is old, he will not stray from it.

7 The rich will rule over the poor,

and the borrower is a slave of the lender.

8 He who sows injustice will reap calamity,

and the rod of his anger will fail.

9 He who is generous will be blessed,

for he gives to the poor from his own bread.

1 You should want a good name more than you want great riches.

To be highly respected is better than having silver or gold.

2 The Lord made rich people and poor people.

That’s what they have in common.

3 Wise people see danger and go to a safe place.

But childish people keep going and suffer for it.

4 Have respect for the Lord and don’t be proud.

That will bring you wealth and honor and life.

5 Thorns and traps lie in the paths of evil people.

But those who guard themselves stay far away from them.

6 Train a child in the way he should go.

When he is old, he will not turn away from it.

7 Rich people rule over those who are poor.

Borrowers are slaves to lenders.

8 Anyone who plants evil gathers a harvest of trouble.

His power to beat others down will be destroyed.

9 Anyone who gives freely will be blessed.

That’s because he shares his food with those who are poor.

1 A good name is to be more desired than great wealth,

Favor is better than silver and gold.

2 The rich and the poor have a common bond,

The Lord is the maker of them all.

3 The prudent sees the evil and hides himself,

But the naive go on, and are punished for it.

4 The reward of humility and the fear of the Lord

Are riches, honor and life.

5 Thorns and snares are in the way of the perverse;

He who guards himself will be far from them.

6 Train up a child in the way he should go,

Even when he is old he will not depart from it.

7 The rich rules over the poor,

And the borrower becomes the lender’s slave.

8 He who sows iniquity will reap vanity,

And the rod of his fury will perish.

9 He who is generous will be blessed,

For he gives some of his food to the poor.