Proverbs 22

22:1 A wise person will never compromise his reputation in pursuit of money.

22:2 Remembering that the Lord made them both helps prevent the exploitation of the poor.

22:3 // 27:12 The theme of taking precautions is found in several proverbs (14:8, 15; 21:29).

22:4 Fear of the Lord (see 1:7; 9:10) goes hand in hand with humility. A humble person knows that he is not the center of the universe. Humility is more valuable than wealth (16:19; see also 11:2; 15:33; 18:12).

22:5 Living by deceit is dangerous; corrupt people never know when their treachery will be discovered or backfire.

22:7 This is a warning against being a borrower; other proverbs warn against guaranteeing others’ debts (6:1-2; 20:16).

22:11 Even a wicked ruler wants advisers who have a pure heart—i.e., who are completely loyal—and who can communicate with gracious speech.

22:12 This proverb reminds the wise (those with knowledge) that the Lord is in control.

22:13 Of the many proverbs on laziness (10:4-6, 26; 12:11; 13:4; 14:4; 15:19; 18:9; 19:15, 24; 20:4, 13; 21:25; 26:13), this is among the funniest. Lazy people will come up with any outlandish excuse for not working.

22:14 An immoral woman, using flattery and seduction, tries to trap a young man to commit sin.

22:15 Wisdom is learned, not inherited or innate. It takes discipline to change foolishness into wisdom.

22:16 A person . . . gets ahead by hard work, not by exploiting the poor or bribing the rich (cp. 22:29).

22:17–24:22 This section is ascribed to a group called the wise. Who they were is unknown. There is a reference to thirty sayings (22:20), and the wisdom sayings that follow can be divided into thirty sections that are similar to an Egyptian composition called the Instruction of Amenemope, which is also divided into thirty chapters.22:17-21 As with the prologue that opens the book of Proverbs (1:2-7) and the introductions to the individual discourses (see 1:8-9; 2:1-11), this section begins with an encouragement to listen. This wisdom is more than good practical advice—its purpose is to inspire trust in the Lord.

22:20 thirty sayings: Early scribes noticed that the Hebrew word for thirty has been written in an unusual form (shlshwm) rather than the usual form (shlyshym). All the early translations of the Old Testament (e.g., Greek Septuagint, Latin Vulgate, Syriac Peshitta) read it as thirty. Nonetheless, some prefer to translate the word as excellent sayings.

22:22-23 Saying 1: God defends the weak, including the poor. Those who are well off are responsible to be generous to the poor (11:24-26; 21:13; 22:9, 16; 28:27).

22:24-25 Saying 2: An angry . . . hot-tempered person is unable to control his emotions and expresses his anger at inappropriate times.

22:26-27 Saying 3: The message of this proverb is repeated in 6:1-5; 11:15; 17:18; 20:16; 27:13.

22:28 Saying 4: Property was marked by stones set up as boundary markers; it was a great offense to move these ancient markers of real estate (see also 23:10; Deut 19:14).

22:29 Saying 5: Those who hone their skills and work hard will have the best jobs and work for the best people.