Proverbs 22: A Good Name and Wise Words
A good name outranks riches, the rich and poor share one Maker, and the words of the wise begin.
Proverbs 22 (WEB)
1 A good name is more desirable than great riches, and loving favor is better than silver and gold.
2 The rich and the poor have this in common: Yahweh is the maker of them all.
3 A prudent man sees danger, and hides himself; but the simple pass on, and suffer for it.
4 The result of humility and the fear of Yahweh is wealth, honor, and life.
5 Thorns and snares are in the path of the wicked: whoever guards his soul stays from them.
6 Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it.
7 The rich rule over the poor. The borrower is servant to the lender.
8 He who sows wickedness reaps trouble, and the rod of his fury will be destroyed.
9 He who has a generous eye will be blessed; for he shares his food with the poor.
10 Drive out the mocker, and strife will go out; yes, quarrels and insults will stop.
11 He who loves purity of heart and speaks gracefully is the king’s friend.
12 The eyes of Yahweh watch over knowledge; but he frustrates the words of the unfaithful.
13 The sluggard says, “There is a lion outside! I will be killed in the streets!”
14 The mouth of an adulteress is a deep pit: he who is under Yahweh’s wrath will fall into it.
15 Folly is bound up in the heart of a child: the rod of discipline drives it far from him.
16 Whoever oppresses the poor for his own increase and whoever gives to the rich, both come to poverty.
17 Turn your ear, and listen to the words of the wise. Apply your heart to my teaching.
18 For it is a pleasant thing if you keep them within you, if all of them are ready on your lips.
19 That your trust may be in Yahweh, I teach you today, even you.
20 Haven’t I written to you thirty excellent things of counsel and knowledge,
21 To teach you truth, reliable words, to give sound answers to the ones who sent you?
22 Don’t exploit the poor, because he is poor; and don’t crush the needy in court;
23 for Yahweh will plead their case, and plunder the life of those who plunder them.
24 Don’t befriend a hot-tempered man, and don’t associate with one who harbors anger:
25 lest you learn his ways, and ensnare your soul.
26 Don’t you be one of those who strike hands, of those who are collateral for debts.
27 If you don’t have means to pay, why should he take away your bed from under you?
28 Don’t move the ancient boundary stone, which your fathers have set up.
29 Do you see a man skilled in his work? He will serve kings. He won’t serve obscure men.
Proverbs 22 (KJV)
1 A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches, and loving favour rather than silver and gold.
2 The rich and poor meet together: the Lord is the maker of them all.
3 A prudent man foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself: but the simple pass on, and are punished.
4 By humility and the fear of the Lord are riches, and honour, and life.
5 Thorns and snares are in the way of the froward: he that doth keep his soul shall be far from them.
6 Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.
7 The rich ruleth over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender.
8 He that soweth iniquity shall reap vanity: and the rod of his anger shall fail.
9 He that hath a bountiful eye shall be blessed; for he giveth of his bread to the poor.
10 Cast out the scorner, and contention shall go out; yea, strife and reproach shall cease.
11 He that loveth pureness of heart, for the grace of his lips the king shall be his friend.
12 The eyes of the Lord preserve knowledge, and he overthroweth the words of the transgressor.
13 The slothful man saith, There is a lion without, I shall be slain in the streets.
14 The mouth of strange women is a deep pit: he that is abhorred of the Lord shall fall therein.
15 Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child; but the rod of correction shall drive it far from him.
16 He that oppresseth the poor to increase his riches, and he that giveth to the rich, shall surely come to want.
17 Bow down thine ear, and hear the words of the wise, and apply thine heart unto my knowledge.
18 For it is a pleasant thing if thou keep them within thee; they shall withal be fitted in thy lips.
19 That thy trust may be in the Lord, I have made known to thee this day, even to thee.
20 Have not I written to thee excellent things in counsels and knowledge,
21 That I might make thee know the certainty of the words of truth; that thou mightest answer the words of truth to them that send unto thee?
22 Rob not the poor, because he is poor: neither oppress the afflicted in the gate:
23 For the Lord will plead their cause, and spoil the soul of those that spoiled them.
24 Make no friendship with an angry man; and with a furious man thou shalt not go:
25 Lest thou learn his ways, and get a snare to thy soul.
26 Be not thou one of them that strike hands, or of them that are sureties for debts.
27 If thou hast nothing to pay, why should he take away thy bed from under thee?
28 Remove not the ancient landmark, which thy fathers have set.
29 Seest thou a man diligent in his business? he shall stand before kings; he shall not stand before mean men.
Proverbs 22 (ASV)
1 Agoodname is rather to be chosen than great riches, And loving favor rather than silver and gold.
2 The rich and the poor meet together: Jehovah is the maker of them all.
3 A prudent man seeth the evil, and hideth himself; But the simple pass on, and suffer for it.
4 The reward of humility and the fear of Jehovah Isriches, and honor, and life.
5 Thornsandsnares are in the way of the perverse: He that keepeth his soul shall be far from them.
6 Train up a child in the way he should go, And even when he is old he will not depart from it.
7 The rich ruleth over the poor; And the borrower is servant to the lender.
8 He that soweth iniquity shall reap calamity; And the rod of his wrath shall fail.
9 He that hath a bountiful eye shall be blessed; For he giveth of his bread to the poor.
10 Cast out the scoffer, and contention will go out; Yea, strife and ignominy will cease.
11 He that loveth pureness of heart, Forthe grace of his lips the king will be his friend.
12 The eyes of Jehovah preservehim that hathknowledge; But he overthroweth the words of the treacherous man.
13 The sluggard saith, There is a lion without; I shall be slain in the streets.
14 The mouth of strange women is a deep pit; He that is abhorred of Jehovah shall fall therein.
15 Foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child; Butthe rod of correction shall drive it far from him.
16 He that oppresseth the poor to increase his gain, Andhe that giveth to the rich, shall come only to want.
17 Incline thine ear, and hear the words of the wise, And apply thy heart unto my knowledge.
18 For it is a pleasant thing if thou keep them within thee, If they be established together upon thy lips.
19 That thy trust may be in Jehovah, I have madethemknown to thee this day, even to thee.
20 Have not I written unto thee excellent things Of counsels and knowledge,
21 To make thee know the certainty of the words of truth, That thou mayest carry back words of truth to them that send thee?
22 Rob not the poor, because he is poor; Neither oppress the afflicted in the gate:
23 For Jehovah will plead their cause, And despoil of life those that despoil them.
24 Make no friendship with a man that is given to anger; And with a wrathful man thou shalt not go:
25 Lest thou learn his ways, And get a snare to thy soul.
26 Be thou not one of them that strike hands, Orof them that are sureties for debts.
27 If thou hast not wherewith to pay, Why should he take away thy bed from under thee?
28 Remove not the ancient landmark, Which thy fathers have set.
29 Seest thou a man diligent in his business? he shall stand before kings; He shall not stand before mean men.
Summary
Short proverbs open the chapter, praising a good name above great riches and reminding us that Yahweh made both rich and poor. The prudent foresee danger and hide, while the simple suffer; humility and the fear of Yahweh bring life. A famous charge calls parents to train up a child in the way he should go. Generosity is blessed, the borrower is servant to the lender, and the sluggard makes excuses. At verse 17 a new section, the words of the wise, begins, urging the hearer to turn his ear, trust Yahweh, and learn thirty sayings of counsel. These warn against exploiting the poor, befriending the hot-tempered, rashly guaranteeing debts, and moving the ancient boundary stone, and they commend the skilled worker who serves kings.
Main Characters
- The wise teacher — The instructor who begins the words of the wise, calling the hearer to listen and trust Yahweh.
- The poor — Those the chapter defends, whom Yahweh made and whose case He will plead against oppressors.
- The rich — Those who rule over the poor, warned that the borrower becomes servant to the lender.
- The child — The one to be trained in the right way so that age will not turn him from it.
- Yahweh — The maker of rich and poor, who guards knowledge and pleads the cause of the needy.
Key Verse
Proverbs 22:6 (WEB)
Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it.
Lessons Learned
- Character and a good name are worth more than any amount of wealth.
- How we treat the poor matters to God, who made them and defends their cause.
- Early, faithful training shapes a child's path for a lifetime.
- The friends we keep and the debts we guarantee can quietly shape our future.
- Reputation built on character outlasts riches. A good name is more desirable than great riches, and loving favor is better than silver and gold (Proverbs 22:1, WEB). Integrity is a treasure no money can buy.
- God identifies with the poor He has made. The rich and the poor have this in common: Yahweh is the maker of them all (Proverbs 22:2, WEB). To despise the poor is to despise their Maker.
- Early training sets a lasting direction. Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it (Proverbs 22:6, WEB). Patient instruction shapes a whole life.
- Generosity invites God's blessing. He who has a generous eye will be blessed; for he shares his food with the poor (Proverbs 22:9, WEB). Open hands reflect an open heart toward others.
- God Himself defends the oppressed. Yahweh will plead their case, and plunder the life of those who plunder them (Proverbs 22:23, WEB). The Lord takes up the cause of those crushed in court.
- Skill and diligence open honorable doors. Do you see a man skilled in his work? He will serve kings (Proverbs 22:29, WEB). Faithful excellence is quietly rewarded over time.
- Why does Scripture say a good name is more desirable than great riches?
- What does it mean that Yahweh is the maker of both the rich and the poor?
- How should the promise about training a child shape the way parents and mentors invest in the young?
- Where are you tempted to value wealth or comfort over integrity and reputation?
- Why does the teacher warn so strongly against befriending a hot-tempered person?
- A good name reflects trustworthiness, honesty, and the favor of others, which money cannot purchase or replace. The chapter sets character above wealth as the truer measure of a life.
- It means rich and poor stand on level ground before God as His creatures, so neither status nor poverty changes their dignity. This humbles the proud and dignifies the lowly.
- The proverb encourages consistent, godly formation while a child is young, trusting that early instruction tends to take root for life. Treat it as a general principle and a call to faithful effort, not an absolute guarantee.
- This is a personal question; invite honest reflection. Help the group name areas where the pursuit of money or ease quietly erodes honesty, generosity, or their good name.
- Because we absorb the habits of those we spend time with, and an angry friend's ways can ensnare our own soul (Proverbs 22:24-25, WEB). Discuss how friendships shape character for good or ill.