Proverbs 22 — T4T

22Verse 1◄Having a good reputation/Being honored by people► is better than having a lot of money;being well respected is better than having plenty of gold or silver [DOU].^{Verse 2}There is one thing that is true about both rich people and poor people:Yahweh is the one who created all of them.^{Verse 3}Those who have good sense realize that there is something dangerous ahead, and they avoid it;those who do not have good sense just keep going and later they will suffer because of doing that.^{Verse 4}The reward that Yahweh gives to those who are humble and who revere himis that he causes them to be rich and honored and to live for a long time.^{Verse 5}Because of the things that wicked people do, they have difficulties/troubles that will be like thorns and traps on the roads that they walk on [MET];people who are careful/cautious will be able to stay away from those difficulties.^{Verse 6}If you train/teach children to do what is right,all during their life they will act/behave in that manner.^{Verse 7}Rich people rule over poor people harshly,and those who borrow money become like slaves [MET] of the people who lend money to them.^{Verse 8}If you plant corn or rice, corn or rice will grow;similarly, if you act unjustly, you will have disasters [MET];and if you try to harm/oppress people because you are angry with them,you will not be able to harm them.^{Verse 9}God will bless those who are generous [IDM],those who give some of their food to poor people.^{Verse 10}If you get rid of those who make fun of everything that is good,there will no more arguing or quarreling or insulting other people.^{Verse 11}If you always act sincerely [IDM] and always speak kindly,the king will be your friend.^{Verse 12}Yahweh [SYN] ◄watches over/takes care of► those who have good understanding/sense,but he ruins the plans/affairs of those who always try to deceive others.^{Verse 13}Lazy people remain in their houses;they say, “A lion might attack me if I go out into the street to go to work!”^{Verse 14}What ◄wives who commit adultery/immoral women► say to men [MTY] is like a deep pit [MET] into which those men fall;those with whom Yahweh is angry will fall into that pit.^{Verse 15}Children [SYN] naturally do things that are foolish,but if you punish/spank them [PRS], they will ◄stop doing foolish things/learn to behave as they should►.^{Verse 16}Those who oppress poor people in order to become rich,
and those who give a bribe to rich people in order that the rich people will do a favor for them,will just lose their money.

Thirty wise sayings

^{Verse 17}Now listen [MTY] to what wise people have said;think carefully about what I am teaching you.^{Verse 18}It will be good to ◄keep these things in your minds/always remember them►,because if you do that, you will be able to quote/recite them to others.^{Verse 19}I want you to trust in Yahweh,and that is the reason that I am telling them to you, now.^{Verse 20}I have written [RHQ] 30 ◄sayings/things that wise people have said►from which you will receive good advice and you will be able you to know many good/useful things.^{Verse 21}From them, you will learn what is right and what is true,in order that you will be able to bring back a good report to those who sent you to school (OR, give a good answer to those who ask you questions).

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^{Verse 22}It is easy to rob poor people who are helpless and cannot defend themselves, but never do that;and do not oppress in court those who are needy/afflicted,^{Verse 23}because Yahweh will speak to defend them,and he will punish those who steal things from others—by causing them to die.

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^{Verse 24}Do not become friends with those who often become angry,and do not associate with those who cannot control their temper/anger,^{Verse 25}because you might start to act like they doand not be able to stop doing that.

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^{Verse 26}If someone borrows money,do not be one of those who promises to pay what that person owes
he cannot pay it back,^{Verse 27}because if you cannot pay it back,people will surely [RHQ] come and take away everything you own, even your bed.

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^{Verse 28}Do not steal some of your neighbors’ land by removing the boundary lines/markers that your ancestors placed/set.

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^{Verse 29}Know/Learn [RHQ] this about those who do their work very skillfully:They will quit working for ordinary people
and will start working for kings
because the kings will want people like that to work for them.