Proverbs 22 (Contemporary English Version)
- A good reputation and respect are worth much more than silver and gold.
- The rich and the poor are all created by the LORD.
- When you see trouble coming, don't be stupid and walk right into it-- be smart and hide.
- Respect and serve the LORD! Your reward will be wealth, a long life, and honor.
- Crooks walk down a road full of thorny traps. Stay away from there!
- Teach your children right from wrong, and when they are grown they will still do right.
- The poor are ruled by the rich, and those who borrow are slaves of moneylenders.
- Troublemakers get in trouble, and their terrible anger will get them nowhere.
- The LORD blesses everyone who freely gives food to the poor.
- Arguments and fights will come to an end, if you chase away those who insult others.
- The king is the friend of all who are sincere and speak with kindness.
- The LORD watches over everyone who shows good sense, but he frustrates the plans of deceitful liars.
- Don't be so lazy that you say, "If I go to work, a lion will eat me!"
- The words of a bad woman are like a deep pit; if you make the LORD angry, you will fall right in.
- All children are foolish, but firm correction will make them change.
- Cheat the poor to make profit or give gifts to the rich-- either way you lose.
- Here are some sayings of people with wisdom, so listen carefully as I teach.
- You will be glad that you know these sayings and can recite them.
- I am teaching them today, so that you may trust the LORD.
- I have written thirty sayings filled with sound advice.
- You can trust them completely to give you the right words for those in charge of you.
- Don't take advantage of the poor or cheat them in court.
- The LORD is their defender, and what you do to them, he will do to you.
- Don't make friends with anyone who has a bad temper.
- You might turn out like them and get caught in a trap.
- Don't guarantee to pay someone else's debt.
- If you don't have the money, you might lose your bed.
- Don't move a boundary marker set up by your ancestors.
- If you do your job well, you will work for a ruler and never be a slave.
In the last several chapters I have looked for themes found within the chapters on which to comment in my reflections. Here I will simply share some thoughts on the topic of humility. In general, I believe the kingpin of this chapter and possibly of the book is humility. I believe it could be argued that humility leads to all the outcomes of wise living and pride to those of the foolish and wicked. The question is, which comes first, humility or respect for the Lord. Solomon says in earlier chapters that respect for the Lord is the beginning of wisdom and knowledge. In this chapter he says that humility results in respect for the Lord. So, do we wake up one day saying we want to choose to be humble which soon leads to respect for the Lord and this is followed eventually by the other attributes?
When we overlay these teachings with those of the New Testament we must insert here that any lasting transformation in our lives is only possible with the transforming power of Christ in our lives - with His Spirit working in our lives. In my own experience I have always focused on relating to Christ and trying to respond to His Spirit within me and everything else has flowed from there. Whatever humility I have didn't come because I decided to be humble. It came because I first decided to submit myself to Christ. That humbling act led to other acts of humility and then a growing spirit of humility.
I believe humility and pride are dividing factors in these teachings of Solomon - humility leading to the outcomes of the wise and pride leading to the outcomes of the foolish and wicked. But I wouldn't want to empower them as if we simply decide to be humble or prideful and the outcomes follow. The power is not in turning over a new leaf, as we say, but in submitting our lives and our ways to the Lord.
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