God Speaks
Choose a good reputation over great riches;
being held in high esteem is better than silver or gold.
2 The rich and poor have this in common:
The Lord made them both.
3 A prudent person foresees danger and takes precautions.
The simpleton goes blindly on and suffers the consequences.
4 True humility and fear of the Lord
lead to riches, honor, and long life.
5 Corrupt people walk a thorny, treacherous road;
whoever values life will avoid it.
6 Direct your children onto the right path,
and when they are older, they will not leave it.
7 Just as the rich rule the poor,
so the borrower is servant to the lender.
8 Those who plant injustice will harvest disaster,
and their reign of terror will come to an end.
9 Blessed are those who are generous,
because they feed the poor.
10 Throw out the mocker, and fighting goes, too.
Quarrels and insults will disappear.
11 Whoever loves a pure heart and gracious speech
will have the king as a friend.
12 The Lord preserves those with knowledge,
but he ruins the plans of the treacherous.
13 The lazy person claims, “There’s a lion out there!
If I go outside, I might be killed!”
14 The mouth of an immoral woman is a dangerous trap;
those who make the Lord angry will fall into it.
15 A youngster’s heart is filled with foolishness,
but physical discipline will drive it far away.
16 A person who gets ahead by oppressing the poor
or by showering gifts on the rich will end in poverty.
17 Listen to the words of the wise;
apply your heart to my instruction.
18 For it is good to keep these sayings in your heart
and always ready on your lips.
19 I am teaching you today—yes, you—
so you will trust in the Lord.
20 I have written thirty sayings for you,
filled with advice and knowledge.
21 In this way, you may know the truth
and take an accurate report to those who sent you.
22 Don’t rob the poor just because you can,
or exploit the needy in court.
23 For the Lord is their defender.
He will ruin anyone who ruins them.
24 Don’t befriend angry people
or associate with hot-tempered people,
25 or you will learn to be like them
and endanger your soul.
26 Don’t agree to guarantee another person’s debt
or put up security for someone else.
27 If you can’t pay it,
even your bed will be snatched from under you.
28 Don’t cheat your neighbor by moving the ancient boundary markers
set up by previous generations.
29 Do you see any truly competent workers?
They will serve kings
rather than working for ordinary people.
Source: New Living Translation: BibleGateway.com
We Respond
Reflection: For purpose of study in comparison and contrast, Proverbs 22 is presented here with the good or godly statements in italic.
1. Choose a good reputation over great riches; being held in high esteem is better than silver or gold.
2. The rich and poor have this in common: the LORD made them both.
3. A prudent person foresees danger and takes precautions. The simpleton goes blindly on and suffers the consequences.
4. True humility and fear of the LORD lead to riches, honor, and long life.
5. Corrupt people walk a thorny, treacherous path; whoever values life will avoid it.
6. Direct your children onto the right path, and when they are older, they will not leave it.
7. Just as the rich rule the poor, so the borrower is servant to the lender.
8. Those who plant injustice will harvest disaster, and their reign of terror will come to an end.
9. Blessed are those who are generous, because they feed the pure.
10. Throw out the mocker, and fighting goes, too. Quarrels and insults will disappear.
11. Whoever loves a pure heart and gracious speech will have the king as his friend.
12. The LORD preserves those with knowledge, but He ruins the plans of the treacherous.
13. The lazy person claims, “There’s a lion out there! If I go outside, I might be killed!”
14. The mouth of an immoral woman is a dangerous trap; those who make the LORD angry will fall into it.
15. A youngster’s heart is filled with foolishness, but physical discipline will drive it far away.
16. A person who gets ahead by oppressing the poor or by showering gifts on the rich will end in poverty.
17. Listen to the words of the wise; apply your heart to my instruction.
18. For it is good to keep these sayings in your heart and always ready on your lips.
19. I am teaching you today–yes, you–so you will trust in the LORD.
20. I have written thirty sayings for you, filled with advice and knowledge.
21. In this way, you may know the truth and take an accurate report to those who sent you.
22. Don’t rob the poor just because you can, or exploit the needy in court.
23. For the LORD is their defender. he will ruin anyone who ruins them.
24. Don’t befriend angry people or associate with hot-tempered people,
25. or you will learn to be like them and endanger your soul.
26. Don’t agree to guarantee another person’s debt or put up security for someone else.
27. If you can’t pay it, even your bed will be snatched from under you.
28. Don’t cheat your neighbor by moving the ancient boundary markers set up by previous generations.
29. Do you see any truly competent workers? They will serve kings rather than working for ordinary people.
Consider the following questions regarding each Proverbs 22:
1. What does this chapter tell me about God?
2. What does this chapter tell me about the human beings He created?
Here is one possible answer to each of these questions. Ask the Holy Spirit if there are any others for you personally to ponder.
1. God watches out for the poor, needy, and disadvantaged and He will deal with their oppressors.
2. People need to be alert regarding the people with whom they associate.
Prayer:
3. How might I pray regarding Proverbs 22?
Dear Father in Heaven, I desire to be wise and represent You well. Help me to be prudent and alert to sense danger for myself and others so that we can avoid being harmed. Keep me humble and properly fearing You, whether that brings me wealth, honor, and long life or not. Help me to train the children in my care in Your ways. Help me not to be in debt, and to help others as well. May I use physical discipline only when necessary to teach a child the consequences of their foolish rebellion. Help me to start children on the right path of following Jesus and receiving eternal life through Him. For Your glory, LORD. AMEN
Action (Ask God, the Holy Spirit, if He wants you to work on one of the suggestions below or something else more personal that He points out.)
4. What action does the LORD want me to take in response to Proverbs 22? With the help of God’s Holy Spirit:
- I will ask the LORD to give me a pure heart and gracious speech.
- I will look for opportunities to pass these bits of wisdom on to the youngsters I know.
- I will politely but firmly refuse to guarantee someone else’s loan,
- I will watch for and encourage diligent and competent workers,
Share: I plan to share what I’ve learned with __________.