Proverbs 22:1-29
A Good Name
1A good name is more desirable than great riches; favor is better than silver and gold.
2The rich and the poor have this in common: The LORD is Maker of them all.
3The prudent see danger and take cover, but the simple keep going and suffer the consequences.
4The rewards of humility and the fear of the LORD are wealth and honor and life.
5Thorns and snares lie on the path of the perverse; he who guards his soul stays far from them.
6Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it.
7The rich rule over the poor, and the borrower is slave to the lender.
8He who sows injustice will reap disaster, and the rod of his fury will be destroyed.
9A generous man will be blessed, for he shares his bread with the poor.
10Drive out the mocker, and conflict will depart; even quarreling and insults will cease.
11He who loves a pure heart and gracious lips will have the king for a friend.
12The LORD’s eyes keep watch over knowledge, but He frustrates the words of the faithless.
13The slacker says, “There is a lion outside! I will be slain in the streets!”
14The mouth of an adulteress is a deep pit; he who is under the wrath of the LORD will fall into it.
15Foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child, but the rod of discipline drives it far from him.
16Oppressing the poor to enrich oneself or giving gifts to the rich will surely lead to poverty.
17Incline your ear and hear the words of the wise—apply your mind to my knowledge—
18for it is pleasing when you keep them within you and they are constantly on your lips.
19So that your trust may be in the LORD, I instruct you today—yes, you.
20Have I not written for you thirty sayings about counsel and knowledge,
21to show you true and reliable words, that you may soundly answer those who sent you?
22Do not rob a poor man because he is poor, and do not crush the afflicted at the gate,
23for the LORD will take up their case and will plunder those who rob them.
24Do not make friends with an angry man, and do not associate with a hot-tempered man,
25or you may learn his ways and entangle yourself in a snare.
26Do not be one who gives pledges, who puts up security for debts.
27If you have nothing with which to pay, why should your bed be taken from under you?
28Do not move an ancient boundary stone which your fathers have placed.
29Do you see a man skilled in his work? He will be stationed in the presence of kings; he will not stand before obscure men.
Berean Standard Bible
A good name is more desirable than great riches, and favor is better than silver and gold. The saying is not telling us to chase reputation as an idol. It is valuing the trustworthy character that makes a person's name safe to place beside a promise. Wealth can be gained and lost; integrity shapes how we use whatever we have.
The rich and poor meet because the LORD made them all. That truth challenges contempt and pride. The prudent see danger and take refuge, while the simple continue and suffer the consequences. Wisdom does not demand recklessness in the name of courage; it notices reality and responds before harm arrives.
The chapter warns about debt, injustice, anger, and the boundaries of old paths. A borrower becomes servant to the lender, so financial promises deserve sober thought. Whoever sows injustice will reap trouble, and the generous person will be blessed. The poor should not be exploited because God Himself pleads their cause.
The final instructions return to skill and diligence. A person who is skilled in his work may stand before kings. A useful gift grows through patient practice and dependable work. The saying commends character that can carry responsibility, rather than a campaign for attention.
Questions
1 Why is a good name valuable?
AnswerIt represents trustworthy character, which can serve people more deeply and last more securely than wealth alone.
2 What should the prudent do when danger appears?
AnswerThe prudent recognize the danger and take refuge instead of continuing blindly into consequences they could have anticipated.
3 How does God regard the poor?
AnswerHe made both rich and poor and pleads the cause of the poor, so exploiting them invites His attention and judgment.
4 What does skilled work make possible?
AnswerSkilled, dependable work can place a person before people of influence because faithful excellence is more persuasive than empty claims.
What This Means for Us
Our name is built in repeated moments: keeping a promise, paying fairly, admitting an error, and refusing to use someone's vulnerability for advantage. Reputation is not managed by appearances; it grows out of what we consistently do.
The chapter also asks us to balance caution with generosity. Avoiding reckless debt is wise, but the poor are not problems to be kept at a distance. Prudence and compassion should live together.
Prayer
God, give us a name marked by truth and dependable love. Make us prudent without becoming hard, generous without becoming reckless, and diligent in the work and responsibilities You place before us. Amen.