Proverbs 22:11-21

11 He who ¹loves purity of heart, and whose ²speech is gracious, ³will have the king as his friend.

12 The eyes of the Lord keep watch over knowledge, but he ⁴overthrows the words of the traitor.

13 ⁵The sluggard says, “There is a lion outside! I shall be killed in the streets! ”

14 The mouth of ⁶forbidden^[a] women is ⁷a deep pit; ⁸he with whom the Lord is angry will fall into it.

15 Folly is bound up in the heart of a child, but ⁹the rod of discipline drives it far from him.

16 Whoever oppresses the poor to increase his own wealth, or gives to the rich, ¹⁰will only come to poverty.

Words of the Wise

17 ¹¹Incline your ear, and hear ¹²the words of the wise, ¹³and apply your heart to my knowledge,

18 for it will be pleasant if you keep them within you, if all of them are ready on your lips.

19 That your trust may be in the Lord, I have made them known to you today, even to you.

20 Have I not written for you ¹⁴thirty sayings of counsel and knowledge,

21 to ¹⁵make you know what is right and true, that you may give a true answer to those who sent you?

Proverbs 22:11-21 Meaning and Commentary

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.

Cross References

• 1. 22:11 [ch. 16:13; Ps. 101:6]
• 2. 22:11 [Eccles. 10:12]
• 3. 22:11 [ch. 14:35]
• 4. 22:12 ch. 21:12; [ch. 11:3]
• 5. 22:13 ch. 26:13
• 6. 22:14 See ch. 2:16
• 7. 22:14 [ch. 23:27]
• 8. 22:14 Eccles. 7:26
• 9. 22:15 See ch. 13:24
• 10. 22:16 ch. 28:22
• 11. 22:17 ch. 5:1
• 12. 22:17 ch. 1:6; 24:23
• 13. 22:17 [ch. 23:12]
• 14. 22:20 ch. 8:6
• 15. 22:21 [Luke 1:3, 4]

Footnotes

• [a] 22:14 Hebrew 'strange'