Proverbs 22:4-14

4 The reward of humility and the fear of the LORD Are riches, honor and life.

5 ¹Thorns and snares are in the way of the perverse; He who guards himself will be far from them.

6 ²Train up a child in the way he should go, Even when he is old he will not depart from it.

7 The ³rich rules over the poor, And the borrower becomes the lender's slave.

8 He who ⁴sows iniquity will reap vanity, And the ⁵rod of his fury will perish.

9 He who is ⁶generous * will be blessed, For he ⁷gives some of his food to the poor.

10 ⁸Drive out the scoffer, and contention will go out, Even strife and dishonor will cease.

11 He who loves ⁹purity of heart And whose speech is ¹⁰gracious, the king is his friend.

12 The eyes of the LORD preserve knowledge, But He overthrows the words of the treacherous man.

13 The ¹¹sluggard says, "There is a lion outside; I will be killed in the streets!"

14 The mouth of ¹²an adulteress is a deep pit; He who is ¹³cursed of the LORD will fall into it.

Proverbs 22:4-14 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. Proverbs 15:19
• 2. Ephesians 6:4
• 3. Proverbs 18:23; James 2:6
• 4. Job 4:8
• 5. Psalms 125:3
• 6. Proverbs 19:17; 2 Corinthians 9:6
• 7. Luke 14:13
• 8. Genesis 21:9, 10; Proverbs 18:6; Proverbs 26:20
• 9. Psalms 24:4; Matthew 5:8
• 10. Proverbs 14:35; Proverbs 16:13
• 11. Proverbs 26:13
• 12. Proverbs 2:16; Proverbs 5:3; Proverbs 7:5; Proverbs 23:27
• 13. Ecclesiastes 7:26

Footnotes

• [a] Or "reverence"
• [b] Lit "according to his way"
• [c] Lit "has a good eye"
• [d] Lit "has grace on his lips"
• [e] Lit "strange woman"
• [f] Lit "there"