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Proverbs 22
New International Reader's Version
Proverbs 22
New International Reader's Version
22 You should want a good name more than you want great riches.
To be highly respected is better than having silver or gold.
2 The Lord made rich people and poor people.
That’s what they have in common.
3 Wise people see danger and go to a safe place.
But childish people keep going and suffer for it.
4 Being humble comes from having respect for the Lord.
This will bring you wealth and honor and life.
5 Thorns and traps lie in the paths of evil people.
But those who value their lives stay far away from them.
6 Start children off on the right path.
And even when they are old, they will not turn away from it.
7 Rich people rule over those who are poor.
Borrowers are slaves to lenders.
8 Anyone who plants evil gathers a harvest of trouble.
Their power to treat others badly will be destroyed.
9 Those who give freely will be blessed.
That’s because they share their food with those who are poor.
10 If you drive away those who make fun of others, fighting also goes away.
Arguing and unkind words will stop.
11 A person who has a pure and loving heart and speaks kindly
will be a friend of the king.
12 The eyes of the Lord keep watch over knowledge.
But he does away with the words of those who aren’t faithful.
13 People who don’t want to work say, “There’s a lion outside!”
Or they say, “I’ll be murdered if I go out into the streets!”
14 The mouth of a woman who commits adultery is like a deep pit.
Any man the Lord is angry with falls into it.
15 Children are going to do foolish things.
But correcting them will drive that foolishness far away.
16 You might treat poor people badly or give gifts to rich people.
Trying to get rich in these ways will instead make you poor.
30 Sayings of Wise People
Saying 1
17 Pay attention and listen to the sayings of wise people.
Apply your heart to the sayings I teach.
18 It is pleasing when you keep them in your heart.
Have all of them ready on your lips.
19 You are the one I am teaching today.
That’s because I want you to trust in the Lord.
20 I have written 30 sayings for you.
They will give you knowledge and good advice.
21 I am teaching you to be honest and to speak the truth.
Then you can give honest reports to those you serve.
Saying 2
22 Don’t take advantage of poor people just because they are poor.
Don’t treat badly those who are in need by taking them to court.
23 The Lord will stand up for them in court.
He will require the lives of people who have taken the lives of those in need.
Saying 3
24 Don’t be a friend of a person who has a bad temper.
Don’t go around with a person who gets angry easily.
25 You might learn their habits.
And then you will be trapped by them.
Saying 4
26 Don’t agree to pay for what someone else owes.
And don’t agree to pay their bills for them.
27 If you don’t have the money to pay,
your bed will be taken right out from under you!
Saying 5
28 Don’t move old boundary stones
set up by your people of long ago.
Saying 6
29 Do you see someone who does good work?
That person will serve kings.
That person won’t serve officials of lower rank.
Proverbs 22
New International Version
Proverbs 22
New International Version
22 A good name is more desirable than great riches;
to be esteemed is better than silver or gold.(A)
2 Rich and poor have this in common:
The Lord is the Maker of them all.(B)
5 In the paths of the wicked are snares and pitfalls,(G)
but those who would preserve their life stay far from them.
6 Start(H) children off on the way they should go,(I)
and even when they are old they will not turn from it.(J)
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.(O)
11 One who loves a pure heart and who speaks with grace
will have the king for a friend.(P)
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!(Q)
I’ll be killed in the public square!”
14 The mouth of an adulterous woman is a deep pit;(R)
a man who is under the Lord’s wrath falls into it.(S)
15 Folly is bound up in the heart of a child,
but the rod of discipline will drive it far away.(T)
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(U) and turn your ear to the sayings of the wise;(V)
apply your heart to what I teach,(W)
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,(X)
so that you bring back truthful reports
to those you serve?
Saying 2
22 Do not exploit the poor(Y) because they are poor
and do not crush the needy in court,(Z)
23 for the Lord will take up their case(AA)
and will exact life for life.(AB)
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.(AC)
Saying 4
26 Do not be one who shakes hands in pledge(AD)
or puts up security for debts;
27 if you lack the means to pay,
your very bed will be snatched from under you.(AE)
Saying 5
28 Do not move an ancient boundary stone(AF)
set up by your ancestors.
Saying 6
New International Reader's Version (NIRV) 
Copyright © 1995, 1996, 1998, 2014 by Biblica, Inc.®. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
New International Version (NIV) 
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.