Old Testament

Proverbs 22

Virtue, Wealth, and God's Justice

10 passages

Overview

Proverbs 22 assembles a rich collection of wisdom sayings addressing moral reputation, the early formation of children, the spiritual dangers of wealth and anger, reverence for inherited order, skilled craftsmanship, and God's active defense of the poor — all oriented toward a life of humility, integrity, and fear of the Lord.

Passages

1–4The True Wealth: Reputation, Equality, Prudence, and Humility 5–6Two Paths: The Wicked's Snares and the Child Rightly Trained 7–9The Weight of Gold and the Grace of an Open Hand 10–12Order, Integrity, and Divine Vigilance in the Community 13–16Four Vices That Destroy: Sloth, Seduction, Folly, and Exploitation 17–21Listen, Learn, and Trust: The Prologue to the Words of the Wise 22–23Defense of the Poor: Do Not Exploit, for God Pleads Their Cause 24–25The Contagion of Anger: Warning Against Bad Companions 26–27Guard Your Threshold: Against Reckless Financial Pledges 28–29Landmarks and Labor: On Sacred Order and the Dignity of Craft

Study Resources

No study guides, devotionals, or teaching outlines have been created for this chapter yet.

Proverbs 22

¹A good name is more desirable than great riches, and loving favor is better than silver and gold.

²The rich and the poor have this in common: Yahweh is the maker of them all.

³A prudent man sees danger and hides himself; but the simple pass on, and suffer for it.

⁴The result of humility and the fear of Yahweh is wealth, honor, and life.

⁵Thorns and snares are in the path of the wicked; whoever guards his soul stays far from them.

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

⁷The rich rule over the poor. The borrower is servant to the lender.

⁸He who sows wickedness reaps trouble, and the rod of his fury will be destroyed.

⁹He who has a generous eye will be blessed, for he shares his food with the poor.

¹⁰Drive out the mocker, and strife will go out; yes, quarrels and insults will stop.

¹¹He who loves purity of heart and speaks gracefully is the king’s friend.

¹²Yahweh’s eyes watch over knowledge, but he frustrates the words of the unfaithful.

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

¹⁴The mouth of an adulteress is a deep pit. He who is under Yahweh’s wrath will fall into it.

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

¹⁶Whoever oppresses the poor for his own increase and whoever gives to the rich, both come to poverty.

¹⁷Turn your ear, and listen to the words of the wise. Apply your heart to my teaching.

¹⁸For it is a pleasant thing if you keep them within you, if all of them are ready on your lips.

¹⁹I teach you today, even you, so that your trust may be in Yahweh.

²⁰Haven’t I written to you thirty excellent things of counsel and knowledge,

²¹To teach you truth, reliable words, to give sound answers to the ones who sent you?

²²Don’t exploit the poor because he is poor; and don’t crush the needy in court;

²³for Yahweh will plead their case, and plunder the life of those who plunder them.

²⁴Don’t befriend a hot-tempered man. Don’t associate with one who harbors anger,

²⁵lest you learn his ways and ensnare your soul.

²⁶Don’t you be one of those who strike hands, of those who are collateral for debts.

²⁷If you don’t have means to pay, why should he take away your bed from under you?

²⁸Don’t move the ancient boundary stone which your fathers have set up.

²⁹Do you see a man skilled in his work? He will serve kings. He won’t serve obscure men.

Proverbs 21 Proverbs 23