Proverbs 22
Training children, purity, old landmarks, truth
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Text
Explanation
.1 A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches, and loving favour rather than silver and gold.
 2 The rich and poor meet together: the LORD is the maker of them all.
.3 A prudent man foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself: but the simple pass on, and are punished.
 4 By humility and the fear of the LORD are riches, and honour, and life.
 5 Thorns and snares are in the way of the froward [perverse]: he that doth keep his soul shall be far from them.
   1 - Good name We read this to mean "good reputation." By extension, a name is who one is. It's his character. 
   3 - Prudent ... hideth We should avoid entering a situation which may be evil. Those who are not wise do enter and are punished.
.6 Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.
.7 The rich ruleth over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender.
 8 He that soweth iniquity shall reap vanity: and the rod of his anger shall fail.
 9 He that hath a bountiful eye shall be blessed; for he giveth of his bread to the poor.
 10 Cast out the scorner, and contention shall go out; yea, strife and reproach shall cease.
.11 He that loveth pureness of heart, for the grace of his lips the king shall be his friend.
   6 - Train up a child A very important principle. Children without guidance and discipline result from neglecting it. Of course, even good training, does not interfere with the free choice God gives to each of us and our children. See note with Ezekiel. 3.
   11 - He that loveth pureness Although it may not have been intended, this verse is a contest to the one before it.
 12 The eyes of the LORD preserve knowledge, and he overthroweth the words of the transgressor.
.13 The slothful man saith, There is a lion without, I shall be slain in the streets.
 14 The mouth of strange women is a deep pit: he that is abhorred of the LORD shall fall therein.
 15 Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child; but the rod of correction shall drive it far from him.
.16 He that oppresseth the poor to increase his riches, and he that giveth to the rich, shall surely come to want.
  13 - Lion without Do we find reasons like this for not witnessing? Compare pr2613.
 17 Bow down thine ear, and hear the words of the wise, and apply thine heart unto my knowledge.
 18  For it is a pleasant thing if thou keep them within thee; they shall withal be fitted in thy lips.
 19  That thy trust may be in the LORD, I have made known to thee this day, even to thee.
 20  Have not I written to thee excellent things in counsels and knowledge,
.21  That I might make thee know the certainty of the words of truth; that thou mightest answer the words of truth to them that send unto thee?
  21 - That thou mightest answer Conclusion for the five verses 1pe0315. Also a attitude different from v13.
 .22 Rob not the poor, because he is poor: neither oppress the afflicted in the gate:
 23  For the LORD will plead their cause, and spoil the soul of those that spoiled them.
 24 Make no friendship with an angry man; and with a furious man thou shalt not go:
 25  Lest thou learn his ways, and get a snare to thy soul.
 26 Be not thou one of them that strike hands, or of them that are sureties for debts.
 27  If thou hast nothing to pay, why should he take away thy bed from under thee?
.28 Remove not the ancient landmark, which thy fathers have set.
.29 Seest thou a man diligent in his business? he shall stand before kings; he shall not stand before mean [ordinary or low-class] men.
  22 - Rob ... oppress People with important skills tend to ask more than a fair price for their services. Others charge "what the market will bear." See ec0509.
  22 - Afflicted in the gate Courts commonly operated at city gates. The afflicted would seek justice. Also a city gate would be a logical place for beggars. 
  24 - Friendship Good advice for choosing friends.
  28 - Don't remove landmarks But, when considering Scripture interpretation, check to be sure they were set correctly. The proverb may have referred to survey markers. Moving them to take land from a neighbor or simply building a house on the property of another, is wrong.
   29 - Diligent da0603.
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