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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://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 NLT</title><link rel="stylesheet" href="/chapnew2.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="../spec.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/print.css" type="text/css" media="Print" /></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" src="../topmenuchap/proverbs/22-1.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable3"><tr><td><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center" id="announce"><tr><td><div id="l1"><div id="breadcrumbs"><a href="http://biblehub.com">Bible</a> > <a href="../">NLT</a> > Proverbs 22</div><div id="anc"><iframe src="/anc.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></div><div id="anc2"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/anc2.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></div></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="../proverbs/21.htm" title="Proverbs 21">◄</a> Proverbs 22 <a href="../proverbs/23.htm" 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"><table width="100%"><tr><td width="99%" valign="top">New Living Translation</td><td width="1%" valign="top"><a href="/p/nlt/esv/proverbs/22.shtml" style="color:#001320" title="Parallel Chapters"> Par ▾ </a></td></tr></table></div><div class="chap"><p class="line1"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/22-1.htm"><b>1</b></a></span>Choose a good reputation over great riches;</p><p class="line2">being held in high esteem is better than silver or gold.</p><p class="b"/><p class="line1"> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/22-2.htm"><b>2</b></a></span>The rich and poor have this in common:</p><p class="line2">The LORD made them both.</p><p class="b"/><p class="line1"> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/22-3.htm"><b>3</b></a></span>A prudent person foresees danger and takes precautions.</p><p class="line2">The simpleton goes blindly on and suffers the consequences.</p><p class="b"/><p class="line1"> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/22-4.htm"><b>4</b></a></span>True humility and fear of the LORD</p><p class="line2">lead to riches, honor, and long life.</p><p class="b"/><p class="line1"> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/22-5.htm"><b>5</b></a></span>Corrupt people walk a thorny, treacherous road;</p><p class="line2">whoever values life will avoid it.</p><p class="b"/><p class="line1"> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/22-6.htm"><b>6</b></a></span>Direct your children onto the right path,</p><p class="line2">and when they are older, they will not leave it.</p><p class="b"/><p class="line1"> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/22-7.htm"><b>7</b></a></span>Just as the rich rule the poor,</p><p class="line2">so the borrower is servant to the lender.</p><p class="b"/><p class="line1"> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/22-8.htm"><b>8</b></a></span>Those who plant injustice will harvest disaster,</p><p class="line2">and their reign of terror will come to an end.<a href="#footnotes"><span class="fn">a</span></a></p><p class="b"/><p class="line1"> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/22-9.htm"><b>9</b></a></span>Blessed are those who are generous,</p><p class="line2">because they feed the poor.</p><p class="b"/><p class="line1"> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/22-10.htm"><b>10</b></a></span>Throw out the mocker, and fighting goes, too.</p><p class="line2">Quarrels and insults will disappear.</p><p class="b"/><p class="line1"> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/22-11.htm"><b>11</b></a></span>Whoever loves a pure heart and gracious speech</p><p class="line2">will have the king as a friend.</p><p class="b"/><p class="line1"> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/22-12.htm"><b>12</b></a></span>The LORD preserves those with knowledge,</p><p class="line2">but he ruins the plans of the treacherous.</p><p class="b"/><p class="line1"> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/22-13.htm"><b>13</b></a></span>The lazy person claims, “There’s a lion out there!</p><p class="line2">If I go outside, I might be killed!”</p><p class="b"/><p class="line1"> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/22-14.htm"><b>14</b></a></span>The mouth of an immoral woman is a dangerous trap;</p><p class="line2">those who make the LORD angry will fall into it.</p><p class="b"/><p class="line1"> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/22-15.htm"><b>15</b></a></span>A youngster’s heart is filled with foolishness,</p><p class="line2">but physical discipline will drive it far away.</p><p class="b"/><p class="line1"> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/22-16.htm"><b>16</b></a></span>A person who gets ahead by oppressing the poor</p><p class="line2">or by showering gifts on the rich will end in poverty.</p><p class="hdg">Sayings of the Wise</p><p class="line1"> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/22-17.htm"><b>17</b></a></span>Listen to the words of the wise;</p><p class="line2">apply your heart to my instruction.</p><p class="line1"> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/22-18.htm"><b>18</b></a></span>For it is good to keep these sayings in your heart</p><p class="line2">and always ready on your lips.</p><p class="line1"> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/22-19.htm"><b>19</b></a></span>I am teaching you today—yes, you—</p><p class="line2">so you will trust in the LORD.</p><p class="line1"> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/22-20.htm"><b>20</b></a></span>I have written thirty sayings<a href="#footnotes"><span class="fn">b</span></a> for you,</p><p class="line2">filled with advice and knowledge.</p><p class="line1"> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/22-21.htm"><b>21</b></a></span>In this way, you may know the truth</p><p class="line2">and take an accurate report to those who sent you.</p><p class="b"/><p class="line1"> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/22-22.htm"><b>22</b></a></span>Don’t rob the poor just because you can,</p><p class="line2">or exploit the needy in court.</p><p class="line1"> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/22-23.htm"><b>23</b></a></span>For the LORD is their defender.</p><p class="line2">He will ruin anyone who ruins them.</p><p class="b"/><p class="line1"> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/22-24.htm"><b>24</b></a></span>Don’t befriend angry people</p><p class="line2">or associate with hot-tempered people,</p><p class="line1"> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/22-25.htm"><b>25</b></a></span>or you will learn to be like them</p><p class="line2">and endanger your soul.</p><p class="b"/><p class="line1"> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/22-26.htm"><b>26</b></a></span>Don’t agree to guarantee another person’s debt</p><p class="line2">or put up security for someone else.</p><p class="line1"> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/22-27.htm"><b>27</b></a></span>If you can’t pay it,</p><p class="line2">even your bed will be snatched from under you.</p><p class="b"/><p class="line1"> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/22-28.htm"><b>28</b></a></span>Don’t cheat your neighbor by moving the ancient boundary markers</p><p class="line2">set up by previous generations.</p><p class="b"/><p class="line1"> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/22-29.htm"><b>29</b></a></span>Do you see any truly competent workers?</p><p class="line2">They will serve kings</p><p class="line2">rather than working for ordinary people.</p><A name="footnotes"></a><hr size="1" color="DDEEFF"><span class="mainfootnotes"><span class="mainfootnoteshdg">Footnotes:</span><br><span class="fn">a</span><note caller="+" style="f"><span class="fr">22:8 </span><span class="ft">The Greek version includes an additional proverb: </span><span class="it">God blesses a man who gives cheerfully, / but his worthless deeds will come to an end.</span><span class="ft"> Compare 2 Cor 9:7.</span><br><span class="fn">b</span><note caller="+" style="f"><span class="fr">22:20 </span><span class="ft">Or </span><span class="it">excellent sayings;</span><span class="ft"> the meaning of the Hebrew is uncertain.</span><br></span></div></div><div id="botbox"><div class="padbot"><div align="center"><em>Holy Bible</em>, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. 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