Proverbs 22

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1} A {reputation} [is] to be chosen {rather than} great riches; {favor is better than silver and gold}.

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2} Rich and poor have [much] in common; Yahweh is the maker of all of them.

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3} The clever sees danger and hides, but the simple go on and suffer.

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4} The reward of humility [is] the fear of Yahweh-- wealth and honor and life.

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5} Thorns [and] snares [are] in the way of the perverse; he who guards himself will keep away from them.

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6} Train the child {concerning his way}; even when he is old, he will not stray from it.

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7} The rich will rule over the poor, and the borrower is a slave of {the lender}.

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8} He who sows injustice will reap calamity, and the rod of his anger will fail.

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9} He [who] {is generous} will be blessed, for he gives to the poor from his [own] bread.

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10} Drive out a scoffer and strife will go out; quarrel and abuse will cease.

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11} He who loves purity of heart [and has]{gracious speech}, his friend [is the] king.

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12} The eyes of Yahweh keep watch over knowledge, but he will overthrow the words of the faithless.

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13} A lazy person says "A lion in the street! In the middle of the highway, I shall be killed!"

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14} A deep pit is the mouth of an {adulteress}, [he with whom] Yahweh is angry will fall there.

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15} Folly is bound up in the heart of a boy; [the] rod of discipline will drive it from him.

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16} He who oppresses the poor [in order] to enrich himself, [or] gives to the rich, {will come to poverty}.

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17} Incline your ear and hear the words of the wise; you shall apply your heart to my teaching. ^{Tools
18} For [it is] pleasant if you guard them {within you}; together they will be ready upon your lips. ^{Tools
19} [In order] for your trust to be in Yahweh, I have made [them] known to you {today}--even you. ^{Tools
20} Have I not written for you thirty [sayings] with admonitions and knowledge? ^{Tools
21} [In order] to show you what is right--sayings of truth-- [in order] to return a true saying to him who sent you.

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22} Do not rob the poor because he is poor, and do not crush the afflicted at the gate; ^{Tools
23} For Yahweh will plead their case and despoil those who despoil them of life.

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24} Do not befriend an owner of {anger}, and with a man of wrath you shall not associate; ^{Tools
25} lest you learn his way and become entangled in a snare to yourself.

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26} Do not be with those who {give a pledge} {by becoming} surety. ^{Tools
27} If there is nothing for you to pay, why will he take your bed from under you?

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28} Do not remove an ancient boundary marker which your ancestors made.

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29} A man who is skillful in his work, you shall see: before kings, he will serve; he will not serve before the commoners.