Proverbs 22 Parallel Bible Translations

Proverbs 22 ▼
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1 Choose a good reputation over great riches; being held in high esteem is better than silver or 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 this in common: The LORD made them both. 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 person foresees danger and takes precautions. The simpleton goes blindly on and suffers the consequences. 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 True humility and fear of the LORD lead to riches, honor, and long 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 Corrupt people walk a thorny, treacherous road; whoever values life will avoid it. 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 Direct your children onto the right path, and when they are older, they will not leave 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 Just as the rich rule the poor, so 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 Those who plant injustice will harvest disaster, and their reign of terror will come to an end. 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 Blessed are those who are generous, because they feed 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 Throw out the mocker, and fighting goes, too. Quarrels and insults will disappear. 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 Whoever loves a pure heart and gracious speech will have the king as a 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 LORD preserves those with knowledge, but he ruins the plans 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 person claims, “There’s a lion out there! If I go outside, I might be killed!” 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 dangerous trap; those who make the LORD angry 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 A youngster’s heart is filled with foolishness, but physical discipline will drive it far away. 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 A person who gets ahead by oppressing the poor or by showering gifts on the rich will end in 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 to the words of the wise; apply your heart to my instruction. 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 is good to keep these sayings in your heart and always ready on your lips. 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 I am teaching you today—yes, you— so you will trust in the LORD. 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 I have written thirty sayings for you, filled with advice 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 In this way, you may know the truth and take an accurate report to those 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 Don’t rob the poor just because you can, or exploit the needy in court. 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 is their defender. He will ruin anyone who ruins 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 Don’t befriend angry people or associate with hot-tempered people, 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 to be like them and endanger your soul. lest you learn his ways and entangle yourself in a snare. or you may learn their ways and get yourself ensnared.
26 Don’t agree to guarantee another person’s debt or put up security for someone else. 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 can’t pay it, even your bed will be snatched 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 Don’t cheat your neighbor by moving the ancient boundary markers set up by previous generations. 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 any truly competent workers? They will serve kings rather than working for ordinary people. 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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