Proverbs 22 Parallel Bible Translations

Proverbs 22 ▼
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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. A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches, and favor is better than silver or gold. A good name is more desirable than great riches; to be esteemed is better than silver or gold.
2 The rich and poor have a common bond; The LORD is the Maker of them all. The rich and the poor meet together; the LORD is the Maker of them all. Rich and poor have this in common: The LORD is the Maker of them all.
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]. The prudent sees danger and hides himself, but the simple go on and suffer for it. The prudent see danger and take refuge, but the simple keep going and pay the penalty.
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. The reward for humility and fear of the LORD is riches and honor and life. Humility is the fear of the LORD; its wages are riches and honor and life.
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. Thorns and snares are in the way of the crooked; whoever guards his soul will keep far from them. In the paths of the wicked are snares and pitfalls, but those who would preserve their life stay far from them.
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. Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it. Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it.
7 The rich rules over the poor, And the borrower is servant to the lender. The rich rules over the poor, and the borrower is the slave of the lender. The rich rule over the poor, and the borrower is slave to the lender.
8 He who sows injustice will reap [a harvest of] trouble, And the rod of his wrath [with which he oppresses others] will fail. Whoever sows injustice will reap calamity, and the rod of his fury will fail. Whoever sows injustice reaps calamity, and the rod they wield in fury will be broken.
9 He who is generous will be blessed, For he gives some of his food to the poor. Whoever has a bountiful eye will be blessed, for he shares his bread with the poor. The generous will themselves be blessed, for they share their food with the poor.
10 Drive out the scoffer, and contention will go away; Even strife and dishonor will cease. Drive out a scoffer, and strife will go out, and quarreling and abuse will cease. Drive out the mocker, and out goes strife; quarrels and insults are ended.
11 He who loves purity of heart And whose speech is gracious will have the king as his friend. He who loves purity of heart, and whose speech is gracious, will have the king as his friend. One who loves a pure heart and who speaks with grace will have the king for a friend.
12 The eyes of the LORD keep guard over knowledge and the one who has it, But He overthrows the words of the treacherous. The eyes of the LORD keep watch over knowledge, but he overthrows the words of the traitor. The eyes of the LORD keep watch over knowledge, but he frustrates the words of the unfaithful.
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]!” The sluggard says, “There is a lion outside! I shall be killed in the streets!” The sluggard says, “There’s a lion outside! I’ll be killed in the public square!”
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. The mouth of forbidden women is a deep pit; he with whom the LORD is angry will fall into it. The mouth of an adulterous woman is a deep pit; a man who is under the LORD’s wrath falls into it.
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. Folly is bound up in the heart of a child, but the rod of discipline drives it far from him. Folly is bound up in the heart of a child, but the rod of discipline will drive it far away.
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. Whoever oppresses the poor to increase his own wealth, or gives to the rich, will only come to poverty. One who oppresses the poor to increase his wealth and one who gives gifts to the rich—both come to poverty.
17 Listen carefully and hear the words of the wise, And apply your mind to my knowledge; Incline your ear, and hear the words of the wise, and apply your heart to my knowledge, Pay attention and turn your ear to the sayings of the wise; apply your heart to what I teach,
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]. for it will be pleasant if you keep them within you, if all of them are ready on your lips. for it is pleasing when you keep them in your heart and have all of them ready on your lips.
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. That your trust may be in the LORD, I have made them known to you today, even to you. So that your trust may be in the LORD, I teach you today, even you.
20 Have I not written to you excellent things In counsels and knowledge, Have I not written for you thirty sayings of counsel and knowledge, Have I not written thirty sayings for you, sayings of counsel and knowledge,
21 To let you know the certainty of the words of truth, That you may give a correct answer to him who sent you? to make you know what is right and true, that you may give a true answer to those who sent you? teaching you to be honest and to speak the truth, so that you bring back truthful reports to those you serve?
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], Do not rob the poor, because he is poor, or crush the afflicted at the gate, Do not exploit the poor because they are poor and do not crush the needy in court,
23 For the LORD will plead their case And take the life of those who rob them. for the LORD will plead their cause and rob of life those who rob them. for the LORD will take up their case and will exact life for life.
24 Do not even associate with a man given to angry outbursts; Or go [along] with a hot-tempered man, Make no friendship with a man given to anger, nor go with a wrathful man, Do not make friends with a hot-tempered person, do not associate with one easily angered,
25 Or you will learn his [undisciplined] ways And get yourself trapped [in a situation from which it is hard to escape]. lest you learn his ways and entangle yourself in a snare. or you may learn their ways and get yourself ensnared.
26 Do not be among those who give pledges [involving themselves in others’ finances], Or among those who become guarantors for others’ debts. Be not one of those who give pledges, who put up security for debts. Do not be one who shakes hands in pledge or puts up security for debts;
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? If you have nothing with which to pay, why should your bed be taken from under you? if you lack the means to pay, your very bed will be snatched from under you.
28 Do not move the ancient landmark [at the boundary of the property] Which your fathers have set. Do not move the ancient landmark that your fathers have set. Do not move an ancient boundary stone set up by your ancestors.
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. Do you see a man skillful in his work? He will stand before kings; he will not stand before obscure men. Do you see someone skilled in their work? They will serve before kings; they will not serve before officials of low rank.
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