Proverbs 22

1 Rather than wealth, choose a good reputation, esteem over silver and gold.

2 Rich and poor have this in common -ADONAI made them both.

3 The clever see trouble coming and hide; the simple go on and pay the penalty.

4 The reward for humility is fear of ADONAI, along with wealth, honor and life.

5 Thorns and snares beset the way of the stubborn; he who values his life keeps his distance from them.

6 Train a child in the way he [should] go; and, even when old, he will not swerve from it.

7 The rich rule the poor, and the borrower is slave to the lender.

8 He who sows injustice reaps trouble, and the rod of his angry outburst will fail.

9 He who is generous is blessed, because he shares his food with the poor.

10 Throw the scoffer out, and quarreling goes too; strife and insults cease.

11 He who loves the pure-hearted and is gracious in speech will have the king as his friend.

12 The eyes of ADONAI protect [the man with] knowledge, but he overturns the plans of a traitor.

13 A lazy man says, "There's a lion outside! I'll be killed if I go out in the street!"

14 The mouth of an adulteress is a deep pit; the man with whom ADONAI is angry falls into it.

15 Doing wrong is firmly tied to the heart of a child, but the rod of discipline will drive it far away from him.

16 Both oppressing the poor to enrich oneself and giving to the rich yield only loss.

17 Pay attention, and listen to the words of the wise; apply your heart to my knowledge;

18 for it is pleasant to keep them deep within you; have all of them ready on your lips.

19 I want your trust to be in ADONAI; this is why I'm instructing you about them today.

20 I have written you worthwhile things full of good counsel and knowledge,

21 so you will know that these sayings are certainly true and bring back true sayings to him who sent you.

22 Don't exploit the helpless, because they are helpless, and don't crush the poor in court,

23 for ADONAI will plead their case for them and withhold life from those who defraud them.

24 Don't associate with an angry man; make no hot-tempered man your companion.

25 If you do, you may learn his ways and find yourself caught in a trap.

26 Don't be one of those who give pledges, guaranteeing loans made to others;

27 for if you don't have the wherewithal to pay, they will take your bed away from underneath you.

28 Don't move the ancient boundary stone set up by your ancestors.

29 Do you see a man skilled at his work? He will serve kings, not obscure people.

Proverbs 22 Commentary

Chapter 22

Verse 1 We should be more careful to do that by which we may get and keep a good name, than to raise or add unto a great estate. Verse 2 . Divine Providence has so ordered it, that some are rich, and others poor, but all are guilty before God; and at the throne of God's grace the poor are as welcome as the rich. Verse 3 . Faith foresees the evil coming upon sinners, and looks to Jesus Christ as the sure refuge from the storm. Verse 4 . Where the fear of God is, there will be humility. And much is to be enjoyed by it; spiritual riches, and eternal life at last. Verse 5 . The way of sin is vexatious and dangerous. But the way of duty is safe and easy. Verse 6 . Train children, not in the way they would go, that of their corrupt hearts, but in the way they should go; in which, if you love them, you would have them go. As soon as possible every child should be led to the knowledge of the Saviour. Verse 7 . This shows how important it is for every man to keep out of debt. As to the things of this life, there is a difference between the rich and the poor; but let the poor remember, it is the Lord that made the difference. Verse 8 . The power which many abuse, will soon fail them. Verse 9 . He that seeks to relieve the wants and miseries of others shall be blessed. Verse 10 . Profane scoffers and revilers disturb the peace. Verse 11 . God will be the Friend of a man in whose spirit there is no guile; this honour have all the saints. Verse 12 . God turns the counsels and designs of treacherous men to their own confusion. Verse 13 . The slothful man talks of a lion without, but considers not his real danger from the devil, that roaring lion within, and from his own slothfulness, which kills him. Verse 14 . The vile sin of licentiousness commonly besots the mind beyond recovery. Verse 15 . Sin is foolishness, it is in the heart, there is an inward inclination to sin: children bring it into the world with them; and it cleaves close to the soul. We all need to be corrected by our heavenly Father. Verse 16 . We are but stewards, and must distribute what God intrusts to our care, according to his will. ( 17-21 ) . To these words, to this knowledge, the ear must be bowed down, and the heart applied by faith and love. To live a life of delight in God and dependence on him, is the foundation of all practical religion. The way to know the certainty of the ( proverbs 22:22-23 ) that robs and oppresses the poor, does so at his peril. And if ( proverbs 22:24-25 ) hearts have so much tinder in them, that it is dangerous to have to do with those that throw about the sparks of their passion. ( proverbs 22:26-27 ) those are not so, who, by folly or other carelessness, waste what they have. Verse 28 . We are taught not to trespass on another man's right. And it is hard to find a truly industrious man. Such a man will rise. Seest thou a man diligent in the business of religion? He is likely to excel. Let us then be diligent in God's work.

Chapter Summary

INTRODUCTION TO 1 KINGS 10

This chapter contains an account of the queen of Sheba's visit to King Solomon to her great satisfaction, 1Ki 10:1-13, of Solomon's merchandise and riches, and the magnificence of his court, 1Ki 10:14-23, of the rich presents sent to him, and of the purchase of chariots and horses, and other things, he made, 1Ki 10:24-29.