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Proverbs

Chapter 22

A Good Name and more

Proverbs 22 begins by praising a good name, humility, prudence, generosity, disciplined child-formation, and social awareness, then turns into the first sayings of the 'words of the wise' that urge trust in the LORD, defense of the poor, caution around hot tempers and rash pledges, respect for inherited boundaries, and honor for skilled labor. The chapter links character, instruction, and social order, showing that wisdom preserves life by shaping appetites, relationships, and loyalties before crises arise.

As the twenty-second chapter of Proverbs, this passage marks a transition from the compact Solomonic contrasts into the more direct instructional sayings of the wise. It teaches that wisdom is both moral and formative: it values reputation over riches, trains children and disciples in stable paths, protects the vulnerable, and counsels habits of restraint, industry, and trust that keep a person from avoidable ruin.

7 sections·245 words·~1 min read

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Proverbs 22

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vv. 1-16

A Good Name

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A1 good name is more desirable than great riches; 2The rich and the poor have this in common: 3The prudent see danger and take cover, 4The rewards of humility and the fear of the LORD 5Thorns and snares lie on the path of the perverse; 6Train up a child in the way he should go, 7The rich rule over the poor, 8He who sows injustice will reap disaster, 9A generous man will be blessed, 10Drive out the mocker, and conflict will depart; 11He who loves a pure heart and gracious lips 12The LORD’s eyes keep watch over knowledge, 13The slacker says, “There is a lion outside! 14The mouth of an adulteress is a deep pit; 15Foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child, 16Oppressing the poor to enrich oneself or giving gifts to the rich

vv. 17-21

Saying 1

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I17ncline your ear and hear the words of the wise — 18for it is pleasing when you keep them within you 19So that your trust may be in the LORD, 20Have I not written for you thirty sayings 21to show you true and reliable words,

vv. 22-23

Saying 2

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D22o not rob a poor man because he is poor, 23for the LORD will take up their case

vv. 24-25

Saying 3

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D24o not make friends with an angry man, 25or you may learn his ways

vv. 26-27

Saying 4

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D26o not be one who gives pledges, 27If you have nothing with which to pay,

vv. 28

Saying 5

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D28o not move an ancient boundary stone

vv. 29

Saying 6

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D29o you see a man skilled in his work?

Section map

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Each section keeps the passage focused, adds summaries and cross references, and gives verse-level links.

  1. 01vv. 1-16A Good NameThe opening section gathers sayings about reputation, shared creatureliness of rich and poor, prudent foresight, humility, perverse paths, child training, debt, reaping injustice, generosity, driving out mockery, pure-hearted speech, divine protection of knowledge, lazy excuse-making, sexual temptation, correction of children, and the futility of exploiting either the poor or the powerful. Together they show wisdom as a socially aware and morally formative way of life that prefers honor, caution, generosity, and discipline to appetite, pride, and predation.
  2. 02vv. 17-21Saying 1The first saying urges the hearer to incline the ear to wise words, keep them ready on the lips, and ground trust in the LORD through reliable instruction. Wisdom here is not merely information but a carefully transmitted deposit meant to stabilize faith and enable truthful response to those who send or question the student.
  3. 03vv. 22-23Saying 2The second saying forbids exploiting the poor either by direct robbery or by manipulating the vulnerable in court, because the LORD himself takes up their case. It makes clear that social weakness does not mean divine neglect and that injustice toward the poor becomes a direct contest with God's own advocacy.
  4. 04vv. 24-25Saying 3The third saying warns against making close companionship with an angry person, because anger is contagious and can become a snare. Wisdom recognizes that character is socially transmissible and that habitual nearness to wrath shapes the heart and habits of the learner.
  5. 05vv. 26-27Saying 4The fourth saying cautions against becoming one who gives reckless pledges and securities, because inability to pay can lead to humiliating loss. It portrays financial overextension not as boldness but as folly that places even basic stability at risk.
  6. 06vv. 28Saying 5The fifth saying forbids moving the ancient boundary stone set by earlier generations, treating inherited landmarks as morally significant. Wisdom here honors limits, inheritance, and the justice embedded in received order rather than using stealth to enlarge oneself at another's expense.
  7. 07vv. 29Saying 6The sixth saying honors skilled labor by promising that an excellent worker will stand before kings rather than obscurity. It concludes the chapter by showing that faithful competence can become a path of elevation under God's providence.
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