Reflections on Proverbs 22

 Proverbs 22 (Contemporary English Version)

1. A good reputation and respect are worth much more than silver and gold.
   
2. The rich and the poor are all created by the LORD.
   
3. When you see trouble coming, don't be stupid and walk right into it-- be smart and hide.
   
4. Respect and serve the LORD! Your reward will be wealth, a long life, and honor.
   
5. Crooks walk down a road full of thorny traps. Stay away from there!
   
6. Teach your children right from wrong, and when they are grown they will still do right.
   
7. The poor are ruled by the rich, and those who borrow are slaves of moneylenders.
   
8. Troublemakers get in trouble, and their terrible anger will get them nowhere.
   
9. The LORD blesses everyone who freely gives food to the poor.
   
10. Arguments and fights will come to an end, if you chase away those who insult others.
    
11. The king is the friend of all who are sincere and speak with kindness.
    
12. The LORD watches over everyone who shows good sense, but he frustrates the plans of deceitful liars.
    
13. Don't be so lazy that you say, "If I go to work, a lion will eat me!"
    
14. The words of a bad woman are like a deep pit; if you make the LORD angry, you will fall right in.
    
15. All children are foolish, but firm correction will make them change.
    
16. Cheat the poor to make profit or give gifts to the rich-- either way you lose.
    
17. Here are some sayings of people with wisdom, so listen carefully as I teach.
    
18. You will be glad that you know these sayings and can recite them.
    
19. I am teaching them today, so that you may trust the LORD.
    
20. I have written thirty sayings filled with sound advice.
    
21. You can trust them completely to give you the right words for those in charge of you.
    
22. Don't take advantage of the poor or cheat them in court.
    
23. The LORD is their defender, and what you do to them, he will do to you.
    
24. Don't make friends with anyone who has a bad temper.
    
25. You might turn out like them and get caught in a trap.
    
26. Don't guarantee to pay someone else's debt.
    
27. If you don't have the money, you might lose your bed.
    
28. Don't move a boundary marker set up by your ancestors.
    
29. If you do your job well, you will work for a ruler and never be a slave.

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By the time one has read through Proverbs to this 22nd chapter, much of Solomon's advise to his son repeats itself and certain themes return over and over. With this repetition, though, the advise begins to be self revealing. In other words, the advise becomes obvious rather than revealing new thought. This may well be the intent. By reading it, wise choices become ingrained in one's mind, changing the thought processes. After a while, rather than toying with foolish thoughts in one's mind, a person begins to wonder why anyone would even consider such ideas.

Wise choices that Solomon recommends in the first 16 verses of this chapter include:

• Pursuing a good name
  
• Being sensible enough to recognize danger
  
• Humility
  
• Guarding oneself against snares
  
• Caution about becoming a borrower
  
• Being generous
  
• Be industrious rather than make excuses
  
• Discipline and instruct your children
  

The wisdom in these recommendations is obvious if one has been reading Proverbs to this point. Why would anyone make the opposite choices to these?

Verse 17 of the chapter begins a new section in Proverbs. The style is different, using mostly 2-verse sayings rather than 1, but the topics are similar, and the foundation of wisdom remains placing our confidence in the Lord.