DAY 22 - PROVERBS 22
Rather than wealth, choose a good reputation, esteem over silver and gold. Rich and poor have this in common—YAHWEH made them both.
The clever see trouble coming and hide; the simple go on and pay the penalty.
The reward for humility is fear of YAHWEH, along with wealth, honor and life.
Thorns and snares beset the way of the stubborn; he who values his life keeps his distance from them.
Train a child in the way he [should] go; and, even when old, he will not swerve from it.
The rich rule the poor, and the borrower is slave to the lender.
He who sows injustice reaps trouble, and the rod of his angry outburst will fail.
He who is generous is blessed, because he shares his food with the poor.
Throw the scoffer out, and quarreling goes too; strife and insults cease.
He who loves the pure-hearted and is gracious in speech will have the king as his friend.
The eyes of YAHWEH protect [the man with] knowledge, but he overturns the plans of a traitor.
A lazy man says, "There's a lion outside! I'll be killed if I go out in the street!"
The mouth of an adulteress is a deep pit; the man with whom YAHWEH is angry falls into it.
Doing wrong is firmly tied to the heart of a child, but the rod of discipline will drive it far away from him.
Both oppressing the poor to enrich oneself and giving to the rich yield only loss.
Pay attention, and listen to the words of the wise; apply your heart to my knowledge; for it is pleasant to keep them deep within you; have all of them ready on your lips. I want your trust to be in YAHWEH; this is why I'm instructing you about them today.
I have written you worthwhile things full of good counsel and knowledge, so you will know that these sayings are certainly true and bring back true sayings to him who sent you.
Don't exploit the helpless, because they are helpless, and don't crush the poor in court, for YAHWEH will plead their case for them and withhold life from those who defraud them.
Don't associate with an angry man; make no hot-tempered man your companion. If you do, you may learn his ways and find yourself caught in a trap.
Don't be one of those who give pledges, guaranteeing loans made to others; for if you don't have the wherewithal to pay, they will take your bed away from underneath you.
Don't move the ancient boundary stone set up by your ancestors.
Do you see a man skilled at his work? He will serve kings, not obscure people.