the Fourth Week of Advent
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Revised Standard Version
Proverbs 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 A prudent man 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.
5 Thorns and snares are in the way of the perverse; he who guards himself will keep far from them.
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 rules over the poor, and the borrower is the slave of the lender.
8 He who sows injustice will reap calamity, and the rod of his fury will fail.
9 He who has a bountiful 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 faithless.
13 The sluggard says, "There is a lion outside! I shall be slain in the streets!"
14 The mouth of a loose woman 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 He who oppresses the poor to increase his own wealth, or gives to the rich, will only come to want.
17 Incline your ear, and hear the words of the wise, and apply your mind 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 admonition and knowledge,21 to show you 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 despoil of life those who despoil 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 become surety for debts.27 If you have nothing with which to pay, why should your bed be taken from under you?
28 Remove not the ancient landmark which your fathers have set.
29 Do you see a man skilful in his work? he will stand before kings; he will not stand before obscure men.
Revised Standard Version
Revised Standard Version of the Bible, Copyright © 1946, 1952, and 1971 the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
