Proverbs 22

Bible in Basic English (BBE)

1 Ref A good name is more to be desired than great wealth, and to be respected is better than silver and gold.

2 Ref The man of wealth and the poor man come face to face: the Lord is the maker of them all.

3 Ref The sharp man sees the evil and takes cover: the simple go straight on and get into trouble.

4 Ref The reward of a gentle spirit and the fear of the Lord is wealth and honour and life.

5 Ref Thorns and nets are in the way of the twisted: he who keeps watch over his soul will be far from them.

6 Ref If a child is trained up in the right way, even when he is old he will not be turned away from it.

7 Ref The man of wealth has rule over the poor, and he who gets into debt is a servant to his creditor.

8 Ref By planting the seed of evil a man will get in the grain of sorrow, and the rod of his wrath will be broken.

9 Ref He who is kind will have a blessing, for he gives of his bread to the poor.

10 Ref Send away the man of pride, and argument will go out; truly fighting and shame will come to an end.

11 Ref He whose heart is clean is dear to the Lord; for the grace of his lips the king will be his friend.

12 Ref The eyes of the Lord keep knowledge, but by him the acts of the false man will be overturned.

13 Ref The hater of work says, There is a lion outside: I will be put to death in the streets.

14 Ref The mouth of strange women is a deep hole: he with whom the Lord is angry will go down into it.

15 Ref Foolish ways are deep-seated in the heart of a child, but the rod of punishment will send them far from him.

16 Ref He who is cruel to the poor for the purpose of increasing his profit, and he who gives to the man of wealth, will only come to be in need.

17 Ref Let your ear be bent down for hearing my words, and let your heart give thought to knowledge.

18 Ref For it is a delight to keep them in your heart, to have them ready on your lips.

19 Ref So that your faith may be in the Lord, I have made them clear to you this day, even to you.

20 Ref Have I not put in writing for you thirty sayings, with wise suggestions and knowledge,

21 Ref To make you see how certain are true words, so that you may give a true answer to those who put questions to you?

22 Ref Do not take away the property of the poor man because he is poor, or be cruel to the crushed ones when they come before the judge:

23 Ref For the Lord will give support to their cause, and take the life of those who take their goods.

24 Ref Do not be friends with a man who is given to wrath; do not go in the company of an angry man:

25 Ref For fear of learning his ways and making a net ready for your soul.

26 Ref Be not one of those who give their hands in an agreement, or of those who make themselves responsible for debts:

27 Ref If you have nothing with which to make payment, he will take away your bed from under you.

28 Ref Let not the old landmark be moved which your fathers have put in place.

29 Ref Have you seen a man who is expert in his business? he will take his place before kings; his place will not be among low persons.

American Standard-ASV1901 (ASV)

1 Ref A `good' name is rather to be chosen than great riches, `And' loving favor rather than silver and gold.

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

3 Ref A prudent man seeth the evil, and hideth himself; But the simple pass on, and suffer for it.

4 Ref The reward of humility `and' the fear of Jehovah `Is' riches, and honor, and life.

5 Ref Thorns `and' snares are in the way of the perverse: He that keepeth his soul shall be far from them.

6 Ref Train up a child in the way he should go, And even when he is old he will not depart from it.

7 Ref The rich ruleth over the poor; And the borrower is servant to the lender.

8 Ref He that soweth iniquity shall reap calamity; And the rod of his wrath shall fail.

9 Ref He that hath a bountiful eye shall be blessed; For he giveth of his bread to the poor.

10 Ref Cast out the scoffer, and contention will go out; Yea, strife and ignominy will cease.

11 Ref He that loveth pureness of heart, `For' the grace of his lips the king will be his friend.

12 Ref The eyes of Jehovah preserve `him that hath' knowledge; But he overthroweth the words of the treacherous man.

13 Ref The sluggard saith, There is a lion without: I shall be slain in the streets.

14 Ref The mouth of strange women is a deep pit: He that is abhorred of Jehovah shall fall therein.

15 Ref Foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child; `But' the rod of correction shall drive it far from him.

16 Ref He that oppresseth the poor to increase his `gain', `And' he that giveth to the rich, `shall come' only to want.

17 Ref Incline thine ear, and hear the words of the wise, And apply thy heart unto my knowledge.

18 Ref For it is a pleasant thing if thou keep them within thee, If they be established together upon thy lips.

19 Ref That thy trust may be in Jehovah, I have made `them' known to thee this day, even to thee.

20 Ref Have not I written unto thee excellent things Of counsels and knowledge,

21 Ref To make thee know the certainty of the words of truth, That thou mayest carry back words of truth to them that send thee?

22 Ref Rob not the poor, because he is poor; Neither oppress the afflicted in the gate:

23 Ref For Jehovah will plead their cause, And despoil of life those that despoil them.

24 Ref Make no friendship with a man that is given to anger; And with a wrathful man thou shalt not go:

25 Ref Lest thou learn this ways, And get a snare to thy soul.

26 Ref Be thou not one of them that strike hands, `Or' of them that are sureties for debts.

27 Ref If thou hast not wherewith to pay, Why should he take away thy bed from under thee?

28 Ref Remove not the ancient landmark, Which thy fathers have set.

29 Ref Seest thou a man diligent in his business? he shall stand before kings; He shall not stand before mean men.

Chapter 22 of 31

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