Proverbs 22 — ULB

22Verse 1A good name is to be chosen over great riches
and favor is better than silver and gold.
^{Verse 2}Rich and poor people have this in common—
Yahweh is the maker of all of them.
^{Verse 3}A prudent man sees trouble and hides himself,
but the naive go on and suffer because of it.
^{Verse 4}The reward for humility and fear of Yahweh
is riches, honor, and life.
^{Verse 5}Thorns and snares lie in the path of the perverse;
whoever guards his life will keep far from them.
^{Verse 6}Teach a child the way he should go
and when he is old he will not turn away from that instruction.
^{Verse 7}Rich people rule over poor people
and one who borrows is a slave to the one who lends.
^{Verse 8}He who sows injustice will reap trouble
and the rod of his fury will fade away.
^{Verse 9}The one who has a generous eye will be blessed,
for he shares his bread with the poor.
^{Verse 10}Drive away the mocker, and out goes strife;
disputes and insults will cease.
^{Verse 11}The one who loves a pure heart
and whose speech is gracious,
he will have the king for his friend.
^{Verse 12}The eyes of Yahweh keep watch over knowledge,
but he overthrows the words of the treacherous.
^{Verse 13}The lazy person says, “There is a lion in the street!
I will be killed in the open places.”
^{Verse 14}The mouth of an adulteress is a deep pit;
Yahweh's anger is stirred up against anyone who falls into it.
^{Verse 15}Foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child,
but the rod of discipline drives it far away.
^{Verse 16}The one who oppresses poor people to increase his wealth,
or gives to rich people, will come to poverty.
^{Verse 17}Incline your ear and listen to the words of the wise
and apply your heart to my knowledge,
^{Verse 18}for it will be pleasant for you if you keep them within you,
if all of them are ready on your lips.
^{Verse 19}So your trust may be in Yahweh,
I teach them to you today—even to you.
^{Verse 20}Have I not written for you thirty sayings
of instruction and knowledge,
^{Verse 21}to teach you truth in these trustworthy words,
so you may give trustworthy answers to those who sent you?
^{Verse 22}Do not rob the poor because he is poor,
or crush the needy at the gate,
^{Verse 23}for Yahweh will plead their case,
and he will rob of life those who robbed them.
^{Verse 24}Do not make a friend of someone who is ruled by anger
and you must not go with one who rages,
^{Verse 25}or you will learn his ways
and you will take bait for your soul.
^{Verse 26}Do not be one who strikes hands in making a pledge,
or who puts up security for debts.
^{Verse 27}If you lack the means to pay,
what could stop someone from taking away your bed from under you?
^{Verse 28}Do not remove the ancient boundary stone
that your fathers have set.
^{Verse 29}Do you see a man skilled at his work? He will stand before kings;
he will not stand before common people.