Proverbs 22:7-27
New International Version
7 The rich rule over the poor,
and the borrower is slave to the lender.
10 Drive out the mocker, and out goes strife;
quarrels and insults are ended.(E)
11 One who loves a pure heart and who speaks with grace
will have the king for a friend.(F)
12 The eyes of the Lord keep watch over knowledge,
but he frustrates the words of the unfaithful.
13 The sluggard says, “There’s a lion outside!(G)
I’ll be killed in the public square!”
14 The mouth of an adulterous woman is a deep pit;(H)
a man who is under the Lord’s wrath falls into it.(I)
15 Folly is bound up in the heart of a child,
but the rod of discipline will drive it far away.(J)
16 One who oppresses the poor to increase his wealth
and one who gives gifts to the rich—both come to poverty.
Thirty Sayings of the Wise
Saying 1
17 Pay attention(K) and turn your ear to the sayings of the wise;(L)
apply your heart to what I teach,(M)
18 for it is pleasing when you keep them in your heart
and have all of them ready on your lips.
19 So that your trust may be in the Lord,
I teach you today, even you.
20 Have I not written thirty sayings for you,
sayings of counsel and knowledge,
21 teaching you to be honest and to speak the truth,(N)
so that you bring back truthful reports
to those you serve?
Saying 2
22 Do not exploit the poor(O) because they are poor
and do not crush the needy in court,(P)
23 for the Lord will take up their case(Q)
and will exact life for life.(R)
Saying 3
24 Do not make friends with a hot-tempered person,
do not associate with one easily angered,
25 or you may learn their ways
and get yourself ensnared.(S)
Saying 4
Proverbs 22:7-27
New King James Version
7 The (A)rich rules over the poor,
And the borrower is servant to the lender.
10 (E)Cast out the scoffer, and contention will leave;
Yes, strife and reproach will cease.
11 (F)He who loves purity of heart
And has grace on his lips,
The king will be his friend.
12 The eyes of the Lord preserve knowledge,
But He overthrows the words of the faithless.
13 (G)The lazy man says, “There is a lion outside!
I shall be slain in the streets!”
14 (H)The mouth of an immoral woman is a deep pit;
(I)He who is abhorred by the Lord will fall there.
15 Foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child;
(J)The rod of correction will drive it far from him.
16 He who oppresses the poor to increase his riches,
And he who gives to the rich, will surely come to poverty.
Sayings of the Wise
17 Incline your ear and hear the words of the wise,
And apply your heart to my knowledge;
18 For it is a pleasant thing if you keep them within you;
Let them all be fixed upon your lips,
19 So that your trust may be in the Lord;
I have instructed you today, even you.
20 Have I not written to you excellent things
Of counsels and knowledge,
21 (K)That I may make you know the certainty of the words of truth,
(L)That you may answer words of truth
To those who [c]send to you?
22 Do not rob the (M)poor because he is poor,
Nor oppress the afflicted at the gate;
23 (N)For the Lord will plead their cause,
And plunder the soul of those who plunder them.
24 Make no friendship with an angry man,
And with a (O)furious man do not go,
25 Lest you learn his ways
And set a snare for your soul.
26 (P)Do not be one of those who [d]shakes hands in a pledge,
One of those who is [e]surety for debts;
27 If you have nothing with which to pay,
Why should he take away your bed from under you?
Footnotes
- Proverbs 22:8 trouble
- Proverbs 22:9 Lit. good
- Proverbs 22:21 Or send you
- Proverbs 22:26 Lit. strikes
- Proverbs 22:26 guaranty
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
NIV Reverse Interlinear Bible: English to Hebrew and English to Greek. Copyright © 2019 by Zondervan.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.