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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "//www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="//www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1"><title>Proverbs 22 CEV</title><link rel="stylesheet" href="/chapnew2.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="../spec.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /></head><body><div id="fx"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx2"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="30" scrolling="no" src="../cmenus/proverbs/22.htm" align="left" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div><div id="blnk"></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable"><tr><td><div id="fx5"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx6"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="245" scrolling="no" 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title="Proverbs 23">►</a></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><div class="vheading">Contemporary English Version</div><div class="chap"><h3 class="s1">The Value of a Good Reputation</h3><p class="q1"><span class="v20_22_1"><span class="reftext" id="Prov.22.1" class="v20_22_1">1</span>A good reputation and respect</span></p><p class="q1"><span class="v20_22_1">are worth much more</span></p><p class="q2"><span class="v20_22_1">than silver and gold.</span></p><p class="q1"><span class="v20_22_2"><span class="reftext" id="Prov.22.2" class="v20_22_2">2</span>The rich and the poor</span></p><p class="q1"><span class="v20_22_2">are all created</span></p><p class="q2"><span class="v20_22_2">by the <span class="nd">Lord</span>.</span></p><p class="q1"><span class="v20_22_3"><span class="reftext" id="Prov.22.3" class="v20_22_3">3</span>When you see trouble coming,</span></p><p class="q2"><span class="v20_22_3">don't be stupid</span></p><p class="q1"><span class="v20_22_3">and walk right into it—</span></p><p class="q2"><span class="v20_22_3">be smart and hide.</span></p><p class="b"></p><p class="q1"><span class="v20_22_4"><span class="reftext" id="Prov.22.4" class="v20_22_4">4</span>Respect and serve the <span class="nd">Lord</span>!</span></p><p class="q1"><span class="v20_22_4">Your reward will be wealth,</span></p><p class="q2"><span class="v20_22_4">a long life, and honor.</span></p><p class="q1"><span class="v20_22_5"><span class="reftext" id="Prov.22.5" class="v20_22_5">5</span>Crooks walk down a road</span></p><p class="q1"><span class="v20_22_5">full of thorny traps.</span></p><p class="q2"><span class="v20_22_5">Stay away from there!</span></p><p class="q1"><span class="v20_22_6"><span class="reftext" id="Prov.22.6" class="v20_22_6">6</span><a href="#fn" id="link_Prov.22.6!x.1" class="notelink x-link"><span></span></a> Teach your children</span></p><p class="q2"><span class="v20_22_6">right from wrong,</span></p><p class="q1"><span class="v20_22_6">and when they are grown</span></p><p class="q2"><span class="v20_22_6">they will still do right.</span></p><p class="q1"><span class="v20_22_7"><span class="reftext" id="Prov.22.7" class="v20_22_7">7</span>The poor are ruled by the rich,</span></p><p class="q1"><span class="v20_22_7">and those who borrow</span></p><p class="q2"><span class="v20_22_7">are slaves of moneylenders.</span></p><p class="q1"><span class="v20_22_8"><span class="reftext" id="Prov.22.8" class="v20_22_8">8</span>Troublemakers get in trouble,</span></p><p class="q1"><span class="v20_22_8">and their terrible anger</span></p><p class="q2"><span class="v20_22_8">will get them nowhere.</span></p><p class="b"></p><p class="q1"><span class="v20_22_9"><span class="reftext" id="Prov.22.9" class="v20_22_9">9</span>The <span class="nd">Lord</span> blesses everyone</span></p><p class="q1"><span class="v20_22_9">who freely gives food</span></p><p class="q2"><span class="v20_22_9">to the poor.</span></p><p class="q1"><span class="v20_22_10"><span class="reftext" id="Prov.22.10" class="v20_22_10">10</span>Arguments and fights</span></p><p class="q2"><span class="v20_22_10">will come to an end,</span></p><p class="q1"><span class="v20_22_10">if you chase away those</span></p><p class="q2"><span class="v20_22_10">who insult others.</span></p><p class="q1"><span class="v20_22_11"><span class="reftext" id="Prov.22.11" class="v20_22_11">11</span>The king is the friend of all</span></p><p class="q1"><span class="v20_22_11">who are sincere</span></p><p class="q2"><span class="v20_22_11">and speak with kindness.</span></p><p class="b"></p><p class="q1"><span class="v20_22_12"><span class="reftext" id="Prov.22.12" class="v20_22_12">12</span>The <span class="nd">Lord</span> watches over everyone</span></p><p class="q2"><span class="v20_22_12">who shows good sense,</span></p><p class="q1"><span class="v20_22_12">but he frustrates the plans</span></p><p class="q2"><span class="v20_22_12">of deceitful liars.</span></p><p class="q1"><span class="v20_22_13"><span class="reftext" id="Prov.22.13" class="v20_22_13">13</span>Don't be so lazy that you say,</span></p><p class="q1"><span class="v20_22_13">“If I go to work,</span></p><p class="q2"><span class="v20_22_13">a lion will eat me!”</span></p><p class="q1"><span class="v20_22_14"><span class="reftext" id="Prov.22.14" class="v20_22_14">14</span>The words of a bad woman</span></p><p class="q2"><span class="v20_22_14">are like a deep pit;</span></p><p class="q1"><span class="v20_22_14">if you make the <span class="nd">Lord</span> angry,</span></p><p class="q2"><span class="v20_22_14">you will fall right in.</span></p><p class="q1"><span class="v20_22_15"><span class="reftext" id="Prov.22.15" class="v20_22_15">15</span>All children are foolish,</span></p><p class="q1"><span class="v20_22_15">but firm correction</span></p><p class="q2"><span class="v20_22_15">will make them change.</span></p><p class="q1"><span class="v20_22_16"><span class="reftext" id="Prov.22.16" class="v20_22_16">16</span>Cheat the poor to make profit</span></p><p class="q1"><span class="v20_22_16">or give gifts to the rich—</span></p><p class="q2"><span class="v20_22_16">either way you lose.</span></p><h3 class="s1">Thirty Wise Sayings</h3><p class="q1"><span class="v20_22_17"><span class="reftext" id="Prov.22.17" class="v20_22_17">17</span>Here are some sayings</span></p><p class="q2"><span class="v20_22_17">of people with wisdom,</span></p><p class="q1"><span class="v20_22_17">so listen carefully</span></p><p class="q2"><span class="v20_22_17">as I teach.</span></p><p class="q1"><span class="v20_22_18"><span class="reftext" id="Prov.22.18" class="v20_22_18">18</span>You will be glad</span></p><p class="q1"><span class="v20_22_18">that you know these sayings</span></p><p class="q2"><span class="v20_22_18">and can recite them.</span></p><p class="q1"><span class="v20_22_19"><span class="reftext" id="Prov.22.19" class="v20_22_19">19</span>I am teaching them today,</span></p><p class="q1"><span class="v20_22_19">so that you</span></p><p class="q2"><span class="v20_22_19">may trust the <span class="nd">Lord</span>.</span></p><p class="q1"><span class="v20_22_20"><span class="reftext" id="Prov.22.20" class="v20_22_20">20</span>I have written thirty sayings</span></p><p class="q2"><span class="v20_22_20">filled with sound advice.</span></p><p class="q1"><span class="v20_22_21"><span class="reftext" id="Prov.22.21" class="v20_22_21">21</span>You can trust them completely</span></p><p class="q1"><span class="v20_22_21">to give you the right words</span></p><p class="q2"><span class="v20_22_21">for those in charge of you.</span></p><h4 class="s2">–1–</h4><p class="q1"><span class="v20_22_22"><span class="reftext" id="Prov.22.22" class="v20_22_22">22</span>Don't take advantage</span></p><p class="q1"><span class="v20_22_22">of the poor</span></p><p class="q2"><span class="v20_22_22">or cheat them in court.</span></p><p class="q1"><span class="v20_22_23"><span class="reftext" id="Prov.22.23" class="v20_22_23">23</span>The <span class="nd">Lord</span> is their defender,</span></p><p class="q1"><span class="v20_22_23">and what you do to them,</span></p><p class="q2"><span class="v20_22_23">he will do to you.</span></p><h4 class="s2">–2–</h4><p class="q1"><span class="v20_22_24"><span class="reftext" id="Prov.22.24" class="v20_22_24">24</span>Don't make friends with anyone</span></p><p class="q2"><span class="v20_22_24">who has a bad temper.</span></p><p class="q1"><span class="v20_22_25"><span class="reftext" id="Prov.22.25" class="v20_22_25">25</span>You might turn out like them</span></p><p class="q2"><span class="v20_22_25">and get caught in a trap.</span></p><h4 class="s2">–3–</h4><p class="q1"><span class="v20_22_26"><span class="reftext" id="Prov.22.26" class="v20_22_26">26</span>Don't guarantee to pay</span></p><p class="q2"><span class="v20_22_26">someone else's debt.</span></p><p class="q1"><span class="v20_22_27"><span class="reftext" id="Prov.22.27" class="v20_22_27">27</span>If you don't have the money,</span></p><p class="q2"><span class="v20_22_27">you might lose your bed.</span></p><h4 class="s2">–4–</h4><p class="q1"><span class="v20_22_28"><span class="reftext" id="Prov.22.28" class="v20_22_28">28</span>Don't move a boundary marker<a href="#Prov.22.28!f.1" id="link_Prov.22.28!f.1" class="notelink f-link"><span>+</span></a> </span></p><p class="q2"><span class="v20_22_28">set up by your ancestors.</span></p><h4 class="s2">–5–</h4><p class="q1"><span class="v20_22_29"><span class="reftext" id="Prov.22.29" class="v20_22_29">29</span>If you do your job well,</span></p><p class="q1"><span class="v20_22_29">you will work for a ruler</span></p><p class="q2"><span class="v20_22_29">and never be a slave.</span></p> <a name="fn"></a><br /><br /><br /><b>Footnotes:<br /><br /><note caller="+" style="f"><char style="fr" closed="false">22.28 </char><char style="fq" closed="false">marker: </char><char style="ft" closed="false">In ancient Israel boundary lines were sacred because all property was a gift from the Lord (see Deuteronomy 19.14).</char></note></div></div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div align="center"><p><span style="font-size:11pt;">Contemporary English Version, Second Edition (CEV®)</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt;">© 2006 American Bible Society. 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