Proverbs 22

1A good name is to be chosen aboue great riches, and louing fauour is aboue siluer and aboue golde.

2The rich and poore meete together: the Lord is the maker of them all.

3A prudent man seeth the plague, and hideth himselfe: but the foolish goe on still, and are punished.

4The rewarde of humilitie, and the feare of God is riches, and glory, and life.

5Thornes and snares are in the way of the frowarde: but he that regardeth his soule, will depart farre from them.

6Teache a childe in the trade of his way, and when he is olde, he shall not depart from it.

7The rich ruleth the poore, and the borower is seruant to the man that lendeth.

8He that soweth iniquitie, shall reape affliction, and the rodde of his anger shall faile.

9He that hath a good eye, he shalbe blessed: for he giueth of his bread vnto the poore.

10Cast out the scorner, and strife shall go out: so contention and reproche shall cease.

11Hee that loueth purenesse of heart for the grace of his lippes, the King shalbe his friend.

12The eyes of the Lord preserue knowledge: but hee ouerthroweth the wordes of the transgressour.

13The slouthfull man saith, A lyon is without, I shall be slaine in the streete.

14The mouth of strage women is as a deepe pit: he with whom the Lord is angry, shall fall therein.

15Foolishnesse is bounde in the heart of a childe: but the rodde of correction shall driue it away from him.

16Hee that oppresseth the poore to increase him selfe, and giueth vnto the riche, shall surely come to pouertie.

17Incline thine eare, and heare the wordes of the wise, and apply thine heart vnto my knowledge.

18For it shalbe pleasant, if thou keepe them in thy bellie, and if they be directed together in thy lippes.

19That thy confidence may be in the Lord, I haue shewed thee this day: thou therefore take heede.

20Haue not I written vnto thee three times in counsels and knowledge,

21That I might shewe thee the assurance of the wordes of trueth to answere the wordes of trueth to them that sende to thee?

22Robbe not the poore, because hee is poore, neither oppresse the afflicted in iudgement.

23For the Lord will defende their cause, and spoyle the soule of those that spoyle them.

24Make no friendship with an angrie man, neither goe with the furious man,

25Least thou learne his wayes, and receiue destruction to thy soule.

26Be not thou of them that touch the hand, nor among them that are suretie for debts.

27If thou hast nothing to paye, why causest thou that he should take thy bed from vnder thee?

28Thou shalt not remooue the ancient bounds which thy fathers haue made.

29Thou seest that a diligent man in his businesse standeth before Kings, and standeth not before the base sort.