Proverbs Challenge – Chapter 22

The Value of a Good Name

22 A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches,
Loving favor rather than silver and gold.

The rich and the poor have this in common,
The Lord is the maker of them all.

A prudent man foresees evil and hides himself,
But the simple pass on and are punished.

By humility and the fear of the Lord
Are riches and honor and life.

Thorns and snares are in the way of the perverse;
He who guards his soul will be far from them.

Train up a child in the way he should go,
a]”>[a]And when he is old he will not depart from it.

The rich rules over the poor,
And the borrower is servant to the lender.

He who sows iniquity will reap sorrow,b]”>[b]
And the rod of his anger will fail.

He who has a c]”>[c]generous eye will be blessed,
For he gives of his bread to the poor.

10 Cast out the scoffer, and contention will leave;
Yes, strife and reproach will cease.

11 He who loves purity of heart
And has grace on his lips,
The king will be his friend.

12 The eyes of the Lord preserve knowledge,
But He overthrows the words of the faithless.

13 The lazy man says, “There is a lion outside!
I shall be slain in the streets!”

14 The mouth of an immoral woman is a deep pit;
He who is abhorred by the Lord will fall there.

15 Foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child;
The rod of correction will drive it far from him.

16 He who oppresses the poor to increase his riches,
And he who gives to the rich, will surely come to poverty.

Sayings of the Wise

17 Incline your ear and hear the words of the wise,
And apply your heart to my knowledge;
18 For it is a pleasant thing if you keep them within you;
Let them all be fixed upon your lips,
19 So that your trust may be in the Lord;
I have instructed you today, even you.
20 Have I not written to you excellent things
Of counsels and knowledge,
21 That I may make you know the certainty of the words of truth,
That you may answer words of truth
To those who d]”>[d]send to you?

22 Do not rob the poor because he is poor,
Nor oppress the afflicted at the gate;
23 For the Lord will plead their cause,
And plunder the soul of those who plunder them.

24 Make no friendship with an angry man,
And with a furious man do not go,
25 Lest you learn his ways
And set a snare for your soul.

26 Do not be one of those who e]”>[e]shakes hands in a pledge,
One of those who is f]”>[f]surety for debts;
27 If you have nothing with which to pay,
Why should he take away your bed from under you?

28 Do not remove the ancient g]”>[g]landmark
Which your fathers have set.

29 Do you see a man who h]”>[h]excels in his work?
He will stand before kings;
He will not stand before i]”>[i]unknown men.

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 22:6 Even
  2. Proverbs 22:8 trouble
  3. Proverbs 22:9 Lit. good
  4. Proverbs 22:21 Or send you
  5. Proverbs 22:26 Lit. strikes
  6. Proverbs 22:26 guaranty
  7. Proverbs 22:28 boundary
  8. Proverbs 22:29 is prompt in his business
  9. Proverbs 22:29 obscure

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This Post Has 9 Comments

  1. Imion Angela Ofure

    Lesson learnt from Proverb 22:
    • A good reputation is more important than wealth. Wealth are not permanent. They are nice to have, but are not as valuable as more permanent things. The good name of a family will help their children and grandchildren for a very long time. This certainly has to do with God’s loving favor, as well, which no earthly treasures can compare with.
    • Everybody is equal before God, rich and poor alike.
    • We see in this “prudent man” a person who is careful and plans ahead. If they see danger ahead, they withdraw until the danger passes.
    The simple that is more abundant in number, move without thinking ahead. They move with the crowd and many times right into destruction. The punishment can be inflicted by others or by themselves in their headlong pursuit into danger.
    • Being humble will get you eternal life in heaven. God’s riches will be yours also. You will be joint-heirs with Jesus.
    • We see again here, a comparison of someone perverse who is snared in the trappings of earthly things and then a person who is walking in the Light of Jesus on the straight path which leads to everlasting life. This evil person here, not only sets traps for others, but has thorns and snares in his own way because he is disobedient to God. Those who have no regard for others find themselves on a path of problems. The person who keeps his soul, walks in the path that the Lord has provided for him. It is well lit and is a straight and narrow path.
    • The chapter stresses the simple principle that education in the home forms the man throughout his lifetime. There is only one right way, God’s way, the way of life. That way is specified in great detail in Proverbs. Since it is axiomatic that early training secures lifelong habits, parents must insist upon this way, teaching God’s Word and enforcing it with loving discipline consistently throughout the child’s upbringing. Children who are trained to go to church when they are young, will generally be church goers all of their lives.
    • Earlier I mentioned that the rich provide jobs for the poor. The person who employs people also rules over them. In this case, the rich are the boss. While this is naturally true, the Law and Prophets condemned those who were oppressive.
    In the second half of verse 7, we see not a contrast but a condition of the rich and poor. If you owe someone money, you are subject unto their wishes until you pay them. Your work you do, during the time you owe them, is used to pay them rather than to cover your own needs. In that sense, the borrower is servant to the lender.
    Shalom!!!!!

  2. Odedairo Oladele Omotayo

    Proverbs chapter 22 is made up of two sections [verse 1-16 and verse 17-29].

    The first half concludes the section of “assorted sayings” that began in chapter 10.
    The second half is the beginning of a series of admonitions called ‘The Words of the Wise.”

    Proverbs 22 re-hashes some more choice topics: a good name is better than riches, God creates both the rich and the poor, humility is pretty great, and you should discipline your kids (by beating them).
    It also make us to know when to run and hide—the clever do it, but the simple charge onwards.
    Proverb chapter 22 talks about loose women, as well as lazy people who complain that they’ll get killed by lions if they go outside. He or she also gives a shout-out to beating the folly out of your kids with the “rod of discipline,” and treating the poor with kindness.

    Proverbs chapter 22 seems pretty male-centered in its views, like in its depiction of “loose women.” After all, it doesn’t really attack “loose men.”
    It also tell us about practical advice, similar to what’s gone before: we don’t befriend hotheads, we don’t oppress the poor, don’t give pledges we can’t keep or get into debt, and try to be skillful in our work so we can serve kings.
    Additionally, it says we shouldn’t remove ancient landmarks that our ancestors put in place.

  3. Imion immaculate osereme

    There are Some things money cannot buy like a good reputation, a noble name, and a God-honoring testimony. These things come by faith and a life lived in the fear of God. Despite what others may think or say, the only thing that really matters is the state of a person’s heart which God knows and sees. What God thinks and His approval is what has ultimate value, and no amount of gold or silver can buy God’s favor or redemption. Man’s only hope is redemption through Christ. His favor and being adopted into His family is the greatest wealth of all.
    Sometimes those who have been given much in this world act as though those who are not as fortunate are less human or important. The Christian loves all indiscriminately because Christ died for all. God made all people, and He desires that all would come to faith in Jesus. The evil heart hates others, mocks them for things that they can’t control, and judges them for things for which they are not at fault (John 9:2). They do this because they glory in their possessions and in their status (Luke 16:14), and they neglect others because of their arrogance and pride (John 12:43). This is not to be the perspective of the Christian.

  4. ADEOSUN OLUGBEMI OLAGOKE

    Proverb 22
    Here advice and encouragement continue to pour out of Solomon the wise know King :
    A candid advice to us to esteem and lift up good name than riches and wealth,the careful and watchful person sees Evil and avoid it while the careless loose walk into it,fear of God and gentility brings riches and honour to anyone who abide in them.corrupt people are on the bad road.
    Again vs 6 pick up with pointer to give our children the right attitude and the value one will get from the them.
    Vs 7 advice not borrow money and be under tribute.
    Vs8 everyone reap what he or she plants in life,
    Vs 9 a giving hand is blessed by God for it blessed others
    10 talks about removing the troublemaker to ensure peace
    Vs 11a righteous person is a friend to leaders,people and every one in general
    Vs 13 advice to shun laziness,avoid whore, the to discipline ones child,vs 17 to 21 tells us why we must take to heart this book of wisdom and practice it,
    In vs 24 a need to be watchful of friends we keep because they influence us directly or in directly.
    Vs 27 gives reason you and I need not stand for some one to borrow something because our properties and life are on the line.

  5. Odogun Oluwaseun Morrison

    In this chapter there was a place for great encouragement to parents who have invested themselves wholeheartedly in the lives of their children by teaching them the Scripture and the truths concerning Jesus Christ. Children need to see a consistent theology and a life that validates that theology with God-honoring behavior. They need to see the love of Christ demonstrated, but most of all they need to understand the gospel. Just growing up in a family that goes to church and prefers Christian media is not sufficient to be called child training. Though the church can and should help, parents must take full responsibility on themselves to teach their children what the Bible is about, why they should believe it, and why it is reliable in a world that hates Jesus and rejects the Bible. They must guide their little hearts down the right path, and, as the children grow older, they can see the errors of others’ paths and the benefits of the right way. Children are ultimately responsible for their own direction in life, but parents can have confidence and assurance that their children will persevere in the truth if their hearts belong to Jesus Christ. This is why child training is not about getting a child to submit and follow a system, but it is about guiding their hearts to love Jesus and showing them why that is the best decision and the only sensible way.

  6. Adefuwa Adedokunola E.

    A good name, a good reputation, is something earned over many years. It implies integrity, honesty, and responsibility. It cannot be bought. Indeed, it is worth more than all the riches in the world. We are not what we have. Our worth is not based on our bank account. We are, at the most basic level, creatures, fashioned alike by God, the creator of all. When we by chance “meet together”–the janitor and the CEO, the homeless man and the lawyer walking by, the hotel maid and the well-to-do vacationer–we can, if we have eyes to see, recognize in each other the face of our brother or sister.

  7. Merayebu Joy Omowunmi

    Proverbs 22 talks about Training the child in the right path and the importance of ones name rather than chosen riches that will fade or has no gain at the end of ones race

  8. Akinbobola Esther

    Losing one reputation will be difficult to find, therefore let us all value and protect our reputation
    Be a wise person gives us Grace to forseen evils and dangerous than the fool to avoid be a servant to
    Verse7 may we not be a borrowers in life to avoid be servant to the lenders
    Verse8,let make sowing good seed our Target in other to reap good things in life
    Verse 15,let us all teaching,train and discipline our kids to behave according to moral principle
    Verse 22,we must not give room for oppression of the poor,for we are all Good creation

  9. Prophetess Deborah Oreofe David

    Day 22 Proverb 22:1- 10
    The man or woman who appreciate the value of good name of favor with God and man recognizes that it is worth more than silver and gold, those who are rich and those who are poot share the same creator. God made them all,all stands before God. Wisdom does not always engage in a fight,it knows there are times when the best response to evil is to hide and let the danger go past. Humility is a proper view of God, the person who has this quality is well on their way to the path of wisdom. The wise man or woman, keeping watching over their lives will stay far from the way of the perverse and the thorns and snares associate with that way,children need training, the job of the parent is not to simply let them grow up in any particular way,but to train them and that in the way they should go,we should try as a Christian to walk in the path of godly prosperity; to be a lender not a borrower. A person’s sins are like seeds that are sow, in time they bring a harvest and the sinner will reap sorrow,one important way to express our generosity is to give to the poor and needy,His generosity is simple sharing, the scoffer who spread cynical disorder causes contention, when the scoffer is cast out,then contention also leaves.
    Proverb 22:11- 29. Inner purity often shows itself through grace filled the words,these two are marks of godly wise men and women,God sees,takes note if,and guards those with wisdom and knowledge, it can be said that His eyes preserve knowledge, laziness is a great lion – maker,he who does little dreams much, his imagination could create not only a lion but a whole menageries of wild beast,the lazy man exaggerates the dangers and troubles outside his door,especially those connected with work. The immoral woman often sets her seductive trap by the words she speaks,therefore, her mouth us the trap leading to death,he who abhorred by the Lord will fall there. Physically discipline is one important way that a child can be morally trained when wisely and properly applied ,physical correction can help drive away a child’s inborn foolishness.
    Proverb 22:16- The one who give to the rich is like the one who oppresses the poor,God blessings will not be on the life and wealth of such a man lacking in compassion, we should allow our hearts and minds to be ready to receive wisdom, the value of gaining and keeping wisdom is pleasant, true wisdom makes us more dependent on God, not less,we grow in our trust in the Lord, the pursuit of wisdom makes us more confident in the truth, not less. Treat the poor fairly, do not rob the poor, the poor among us deserves more protection and compassion. Even,if one is poor because of their moral failings they still should not be taken advantage of and robbed. A person often who can’t control their anger displays bad character and can be a dangerous companion, anger is a short madness. It is dangerous thing to be one responsible for the debts of other people. A landmark- a custom, a tradition or a value- should not be removed lightly, neither should we destroy tradition just for the sake of destroying it. Wisdom pushes us towards excellence. God has given every man and woman work to do,and they should do that work with excellence as unto God not only to men.

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