Proverbs 22

1 A good name is to be chosen over great wealth; favor is better than silver and gold.^[a]

2 The rich and the poor have this in common:^[b] the Lord made them both.^{[c] [d]}

3 A sensible person sees danger and takes cover, but the inexperienced keep going and are punished.^[e]

4 The result of humility is fear of the Lord, along with wealth, honor, and life.^[f]

5 There are thorns and snares on the path of the crooked;^[g] the one who guards himself stays far from them.

6 Teach a youth about the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.

7 The rich rule over the poor, and the borrower is a slave to the lender.^[h]

8 The one who sows injustice will reap disaster,^[i] and the rod of his fury will be destroyed.

9 A generous person^[j] will be blessed, for he shares his food with the poor.

10 Drive out a mocker, and conflict goes too; then lawsuits and dishonor will cease.

11 The one who loves a pure heart and gracious lips-the king is his friend.

12 The Lord's eyes keep watch over knowledge, but He overthrows the words of the treacherous.

13 The slacker says, "There's a lion outside! I'll be killed in the streets!"^[k]

14 The mouth of the forbidden woman is a deep pit; a man cursed by the Lord will fall into it.^[l]

15 Foolishness is tangled up in the heart of a youth; the rod of discipline will drive it away from him.^[m]

16 Oppressing the poor to enrich oneself, and giving to the rich-both lead only to poverty.^[n]

Words of the Wise

17 Listen closely,^[o] pay attention to the words of the wise, and apply your mind to my knowledge.

18 For it is pleasing if you keep them within you^[p] and if^[q] they are constantly on your lips.

19 I have instructed you today-even you- so that your confidence may be in the Lord.

20 Haven't I written for you thirty sayings^[r] about counsel and knowledge,

21 in order to teach you true and reliable words, so that you may give a dependable report^[s] to those who sent you?^[t]

22 Don't rob a poor man because he is poor, and don't crush the oppressed at the gate,^[u]

23 for the Lord will take up their case and will plunder those who plunder them.^[v]

24 Don't make friends with an angry man,^[w] and don't be a companion of a hot-tempered man,

25 or you will learn his ways and entangle yourself in a snare.^[x]

26 Don't be one of those who enter agreements,^[y] who put up security for loans.^[z]

27 If you have no money to pay, even your bed will be taken from under you.

28 Don't move an ancient property line that your fathers set up.^[aa]

29 Do you see a man skilled in his work? He will stand in the presence of kings. He will not stand in the presence of unknown men.^[ab]

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.

Footnotes

• [a]. Pr 10:7; 8:10; Ec 7:1
• [b]. Lit poor meet
• [c]. Lit all
• [d]. Pr 29:13; Jb 31:13,15
• [e]. Pr 27:12; Isa 26:20
• [f]. Pr 15:33; 21:21; 29:23
• [g]. Pr 7:23
• [h]. Dt 28:12-13
• [i]. Jb 4:8; Hs 10:13-14
• [j]. Lit Good of eye
• [k]. Pr 26:13
• [l]. Pr 2:16-19; 7:5,21,27; 23:27-28
• [m]. Pr 13:24; 23:13-14; 29:15
• [n]. Pr 11:24; 22:7; 28:27
• [o]. Lit Stretch out your ear
• [p]. Pr 18:8
• [q]. Or you; let them be, or you, so that
• [r]. Text emended; one Hb tradition reads you previously; alt Hb tradition reads you excellent things; LXX, Syr, Vg read you three times
• [s]. Lit give dependable words
• [t]. Pr 10:26; 25:13
• [u]. Pr 24:7; Ru 4:11; Zch 8:16
• [v]. Pr 23:10-11; Isa 3:13-15
• [w]. Lit with a master of anger
• [x]. Pr 15:18; 18:7; 19:19
• [y]. Lit who shakes hands
• [z]. Pr 6:1-5; 11:15; 17:18
• [aa]. Pr 23:10; Dt 19:14; 27:17
• [ab]. Pr 14:35

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.