BOOK 20 OF 66 · WISDOM & POETRY · KING JAMES BIBLE

Proverbs 22

Proverbs book home•Chapter 22 of 31•29 verses

Chapter overviewAt a glance + deeper study

REVIEWED OVERVIEW

Proverbs 22 Overview

The chapter moves through reputation, rich and poor under one Creator, prudent avoidance of danger, humility, parental training, treatment of the poor, friendships, work, and then introduces sayings of the wise.

ProverbsBook

22Chapter

29Verses

PoetryDivision

Before you read Proverbs 22

Coming from

Proverbs 21 emphasized the lord weighs hearts and rules even kings. Because many proverbs are individual sayings rather than a continuous argument, the chapter-to-chapter connection is thematic rather than narrative.

In this chapter

Leads into

Proverbs 23 turns to restraint in appetite, wealth, discipline, sexual purity, and alcohol, expanding wisdom into another set of choices, contrasts, and observations.

Key understandingExplore deeper

“Train up a child” states a wisdom principle about formative direction, not an unconditional guarantee that every adult child will make righteous choices. Proverbs uses compact wisdom sayings to train judgment. Its normal patterns describe how God’s moral order ordinarily works; they are not mechanical guarantees that remove human freedom, suffering, or providence.

Major truths in this chapterExplore deeper

Central truth

A good name, humility, training, justice, and the beginning of collected wise sayings.

Wisdom truth

In Proverbs 22, wisdom is moral skill under the fear of the LORD, not merely intelligence or practical cleverness.

Discipline truth

In Proverbs 22, correction is a necessary part of growing in wisdom, but biblical discipline is never a license for cruelty or abuse.

Connections to the rest of ScriptureExplore deeper

Wisdom connection

James 1:5 says those who lack wisdom should ask God, who gives generously. This connection helps frame Proverbs 22.

Discipline connection

Ephesians 6:4 warns fathers not to provoke children to wrath while bringing them up in the Lord’s nurture and admonition. This connection helps frame Proverbs 22.

Justice connection

Micah 6:8 calls for doing justly, loving mercy, and walking humbly with God. This connection helps frame Proverbs 22.

What is clear, and where care is neededExplore deeper

Keep wisdom in context

Do not read Proverbs 22 as a set of magic formulas. Proverbs trains wise judgment in the ordinary moral order God established.

Keep discipline in context

Discipline in Proverbs 22 is meant to form wisdom and character; it does not justify rage, humiliation, cruelty, or physical abuse.

Read Proverbs 22 watching for…

good name.

rich poor Maker.

train child.

remove ancient landmark.

diligent before kings.

Chapter outline4 sections

1-8A good name, humility, prudence, training, riches, and the harvest of iniquity 9-16Generosity, scorners, purity, God’s knowledge, laziness, strange women, discipline, and oppression 17-21Hear the words of the wise, keep them within, and learn words of truth 22-29Do not rob the poor, befriend anger, make rash surety, move landmarks, or neglect diligent work

A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches, and loving favour rather than silver and gold.

The rich and poor meet together: the LORD is the maker of them all.

A prudent man foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself: but the simple pass on, and are punished.

By humility and the fear of the LORD are riches, and honour, and life.

Thorns and snares are in the way of the froward: he that doth keep his soul shall be far from them.

Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.

The rich ruleth over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender.

He that soweth iniquity shall reap vanity: and the rod of his anger shall fail.

He that hath a bountiful eye shall be blessed; for he giveth of his bread to the poor.

Cast out the scorner, and contention shall go out; yea, strife and reproach shall cease.

He that loveth pureness of heart, for the grace of his lips the king shall be his friend.

The eyes of the LORD preserve knowledge, and he overthroweth the words of the transgressor.

The slothful man saith, There is a lion without, I shall be slain in the streets.

The mouth of strange women is a deep pit: he that is abhorred of the LORD shall fall therein.

Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child; but the rod of correction shall drive it far from him.

He that oppresseth the poor to increase his riches, and he that giveth to the rich, shall surely come to want.

Bow down thine ear, and hear the words of the wise, and apply thine heart unto my knowledge.

For it is a pleasant thing if thou keep them within thee; they shall withal be fitted in thy lips.

That thy trust may be in the LORD, I have made known to thee this day, even to thee.

Have not I written to thee excellent things in counsels and knowledge,

That I might make thee know the certainty of the words of truth; that thou mightest answer the words of truth to them that send unto thee?

Rob not the poor, because he is poor: neither oppress the afflicted in the gate:

For the LORD will plead their cause, and spoil the soul of those that spoiled them.

Make no friendship with an angry man; and with a furious man thou shalt not go:

Lest thou learn his ways, and get a snare to thy soul.

Be not thou one of them that strike hands, or of them that are sureties for debts.

If thou hast nothing to pay, why should he take away thy bed from under thee?

Remove not the ancient landmark, which thy fathers have set.

Seest thou a man diligent in his business? he shall stand before kings; he shall not stand before mean men.

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Proverbs 22:17

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