Chapter 22

¹ A fair name is better than much wealth, and good favour is above silver and gold. ² The rich and the poor meet together; but the Lord made them both. ³ An intelligent man seeing a bad man severely punished is himself instructed, but fools pass by and are punished. ⁴ The fear of the Lord is the offspring of wisdom, and wealth, and glory, and life. ⁵ Thistles and snares are in perverse ways; but he that keeps his soul will refrain from them. ⁷ The rich will rule over the poor, and servants will lend to their own masters.

⁸ He that sows wickedness shall reap troubles; and shall fully receive the punishment of his deeds. ¹God loves a cheerful and liberal man; but a man shall fully prove the folly of his works. ⁹ He that has pity on the poor shall himself be maintained; for he has given of his own bread to the poor. He that gives liberally secures victory an honour; but he takes away the life of them that posses them. ¹⁰ Cast out a pestilent person from the council, and strife shall go out with him; for when he sits in the council he dishonours all.

¹¹ The Lord loves holy hearts, and all blameless persons are acceptable with him: a king rules with his lips. ¹² But the eyes of the Lord preserve discretion; but the transgressor despises wise words. ¹³ The sluggard makes excuses, and says, There is a lion in the ways, and murderers in the streets. ¹⁴ The mouth of a transgressor is a deep pit; and he that is hated of the Lord shall fall into it. Evil ways are before a man, and he does not like to turn away from them; but it is needful to turn aside from a perverse and bad way. ¹⁵ Folly is attached to the heart of a child, but the rod and instruction are then far from him.

¹⁶ He that oppresses the poor, increases his own substance, yet gives to the rich so as to make it less.

809

¹⁷ Incline thine ear to the words of wise men: hear also my word, and apply thine heart, ¹⁸ that thou mayest know that they are good: and if thou lay them to heart, they shall also gladden thee on thy lips. ¹⁹ That thy hope may be in the Lord, and he may make thy way known to thee. ²⁰ And do thou too repeatedly record them for thyself on the table of thine heart, for counsel and knowledge. ²¹ I therefore teach thee truth, and knowledge good to hear; that thou mayest answer words of truth to them that ²question thee.

²² Do no violence to the poor, for he is needy: neither dishonour the helpless man in the gates. ²³ For the Lord will plead his cause, and thou shalt deliver thy soul in safety.

²⁴ Be not companion to a furious man; neither lodge with a passionate man: ²⁵ lest thou learn of his ways, and get snares to thy soul.

²⁶ Become not surety from respect of a man’s person. ²⁷ For if those have not whence to give compensation, they will take the bed that is under thee. ²⁸ Remove not the ³old landmarks, which thy fathers placed.

²⁹ It is fit that an observant man and one diligent in his business should attend on kings, and not attend on slothful men.