Proverbs 22 - Easy To Read Version

¹ It is better to be respected than to be rich. A good name is more important than silver or gold.

² Rich people and poor people are the same. The Lord made them all.

³ Wise people see trouble coming and get out of its way. But foolish people go straight to the trouble and suffer because of it.

⁴ Respect the Lord and be humble. Then you will have wealth, honor, and true life.

⁵ Evil people are trapped by many troubles. But the person who cares for his soul stays away from trouble.

⁶ Teach a child the right way to live while he is young. Then when he grows older, he will continue living that way.

⁷ Poor people are slaves to rich people. The person who borrows is a servant to the person who lends.

⁸ A person who spreads trouble will harvest trouble. And in the end, that person will be destroyed because of the trouble he gave other people.

⁹ A person who gives freely will be blessed. He will be blessed because he shares his food with poor people.

¹⁰ If a person thinks he is better than other people, force him to leave. When that person leaves, trouble will leave with him. Then arguments and bragging will end.

¹¹ The king will be your friend if you love a pure heart and kind words.

¹² The Lord watches over and protects people who know him. But he destroys people who turn against him.

¹³ The lazy person says, “I can’t go \{to work\} now. There is a lion outside. It might kill me.”

¹⁴ The sin of adultery is like a trap. The Lord will become very angry at the person who falls into that trap.

¹⁵ Children do foolish things. But if you punish them, they will learn not to do those things.

¹⁶ These two things will make you poor—hurting poor people to make yourself rich, and giving gifts to rich people.

¹⁷ Listen to the things that I say. I will teach you the things wise men have said. Learn from these teachings.

¹⁸ It will be good for you if you remember these things. It will help you if you can say these words.

¹⁹ I will teach you these things now. I want you to trust the Lord.

²⁰ I have written 30 sayings for you. These are words of advice and wisdom.

²¹ These words will teach you true and important things. Then you can give good answers to the one that sent you.

²² It is easy to steal from poor people, but don’t do it. And don’t take advantage of those poor people in court.

²³ The Lord is on their side. He supports them and he will take things away from any person that takes from them.

²⁴ Don’t be friends with a person who becomes angry easily. Don’t go near a person who becomes mad fast.

²⁵ If you do, you may learn to be like him. Then you will have the same troubles he has.

²⁶ Don’t promise to be responsible for another person’s debts.

²⁷ If you can’t pay his debt, then you will lose everything you have. Why should you lose the bed you sleep on?

²⁸ Never move an old property line that was marked long ago by your ancestors. {\cf2\super [31]}

²⁹ If a person is skilled in his work, then he is good enough to serve kings. He will not have to work for people who are not important.