Proverbs 22 - ESV - Bible Reading / Study Notes

Proverbs 22

22:1   A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches,
    and favor is better than silver or gold.
2   The rich and the poor meet together;
    the LORD is the Maker of them all.
3   The prudent sees danger and hides himself,
    but the simple go on and suffer for it.
4   The reward for humility and fear of the LORD
    is riches and honor and life.¹
5   Thorns and snares are in the way of the crooked;
    whoever guards his soul will keep far from them.
6   Train up a child in the way he should go;
    even when he is old he will not depart from it.
7   The rich rules over the poor,
    and the borrower is the slave of the lender.
8   Whoever sows injustice will reap calamity,
    and the rod of his fury will fail.
9   Whoever has a bountiful² eye will be blessed,
    for he shares his bread with the poor.
10   Drive out a scoffer, and strife will go out,
    and quarreling and abuse will cease.
11   He who loves purity of heart,
    and whose speech is gracious, will have the king as his friend.
12   The eyes of the LORD keep watch over knowledge,
    but he overthrows the words of the traitor.
13   The sluggard says, “There is a lion outside!
    I shall be killed in the streets!”
14   The mouth of forbidden³ women is a deep pit;
    he with whom the LORD is angry will fall into it.
15   Folly is bound up in the heart of a child,
    but the rod of discipline drives it far from him.
16   Whoever oppresses the poor to increase his own wealth,
    or gives to the rich, will only come to poverty.

Words of the Wise

17   Incline your ear, and hear the words of the wise,
    and apply your heart to my knowledge,
18   for it will be pleasant if you keep them within you,
    if all of them are ready on your lips.
19   That your trust may be in the LORD,
    I have made them known to you today, even to you.
20   Have I not written for you thirty sayings
    of counsel and knowledge,
21   to make you know what is right and true,
    that you may give a true answer to those who sent you?
22   Do not rob the poor, because he is poor,
    or crush the afflicted at the gate,
23   for the LORD will plead their cause
    and rob of life those who rob them.
24   Make no friendship with a man given to anger,
    nor go with a wrathful man,
25   lest you learn his ways
    and entangle yourself in a snare.
26   Be not one of those who give pledges,
    who put up security for debts.
27   If you have nothing with which to pay,
    why should your bed be taken from under you?
28   Do not move the ancient landmark
    that your fathers have set.
29   Do you see a man skillful in his work?
    He will stand before kings;
    he will not stand before obscure men.

Footnotes

[1] 22:4 Or The reward for humility is the fear of the Lord, riches and honor and life
[2] 22:9 Hebrew good
[3] 22:14 Hebrew strange

Commentary

v1: A name of honour is better than having riches, 8.10-11; 20.15.

v2: Rich and poor are equal before God.

v3: Evil often advertises itself, the wise man looks forward, and therefore sees temptations, and can avoid them. The simple man, ignorant of spiritual realities, is more vulnerable to temptations.

v4: Reward in seeking God.

v5: The wicked necessarily find trouble in their path.

v6: A good start guarantees a good finish.

v7: Avoid borrowing; wealth and money are a snare, 1 Tim 6.9.

v8: Severe consequences for those who sow wickedness, they will certainly reap a reward.

v9: Generosity to the poor; the generous man will receive a reward.

v10: Dealing with the one who causes strife; he takes his attitudes with him.

v11: Jesus Christ, the king's friend; purity of heart and lips of grace. This verse also speaks of the blessing that comes from our personal integrity; this can open doors to have great influence.

In the modern world influence is achieved by techniques and personality. In scripture influence is achieved through integrity.

v12: The scripture speaks of the eyes of the Lord; but we do not think of Him as being inactive, for He is act work.

v13: The lazy man makes excuses to avoid work, commitment, sacrifice; the end is death (21.25).

v14: The adulterous woman uses her mouth, bringing deceptive words to trap the unwary. A man who rejects God's ways may find his judgment through such a woman; God brings judgment upon the wicked from other wicked.

v15: Naturally, a child has foolishness; but proper correction and discipline will deal with it, bringing maturity.

v16: Injustice is condemned, even though many either practice of condone it, see v22-23.

v17-21: Our attitude to God's word;

listen, and apply your heart to obey;
speak the words of God;
trust in God;
God's word is "excellent" (v20 margin);
We gain confidence, especially in answering others, see 1 Pet 3.15.

v22-23: Some exploited the poor, thus keeping them poor, and hoping to gain from them; this is condemned, for God will speak up for them.

v24-25: Beware the influence of evil men, there is a danger that we may follow the example of those we associate with.

v26-27: The folly of putting up security for others.

v28: The ancient boundary stone, marking the edge of a person's land or the land belonging to a village.

v29: A skilful man will gain influence; the implication is that he has worked hard to achieve his skill.