Chapter Overview
Summary
Proverbs 22 closes the FIRST SOLOMONIC COLLECTION at v. 16 and transitions at v. 17 into the SAYINGS OF THE WISE (22:17–24:22) — a 30-unit collection showing striking parallels to the Egyptian Instruction of Amenemope (c. 1200 BCE), demonstrating how biblical-wisdom dialogued with broader ancient-Near-Eastern wisdom-literature. Verse 6 — 'train up a child in the way he should go' — is proverbial. The LXX adds a striking PLUS at v. 8: 'God loves a cheerful giver' (andra hilaron kai dotēn eulogei ho theos) — cited VERBATIM at 2 Corinthians 9:7.
Notable Variants
22:6 'train up a child in the way he should go' — classic child-training proverb; 22:8a LXX PLUS 'God loves a cheerful giver' → 2 Corinthians 9:7 verbatim-from-LXX (absent from MT); 22:17–24:22 transitions to 'sayings of the wise' section parallel to Egyptian Amenemope.
Structural Notes
MT Prov 22 = LXX Prov 22. 29 verses (MT) with a notable LXX-PLUS at v. 8. Transition at v. 17 from First Solomonic Collection to 'Sayings of the Wise.'
A good name is more desirable than great wealth; favor is better than silver and gold.
'A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches, and favor is better than silver or gold' tracks MT. GOOD-NAME-BETTER-THAN-RICHES. Ecclesiastes 7:1 ('a good name is better than precious ointment') extends.
The rich and the poor cross paths — the LORD made them both.
'The rich and the poor meet together; the LORD is the Maker of them all' tracks MT. RICH-AND-POOR SHARE-CREATOR — theological-foundation of social-equality.
The shrewd person sees danger and takes cover; the naive walk straight into it and pay the price.
'The prudent sees danger and hides himself, but the simple go on and suffer for it' tracks MT. // Prov 27:12.
The result of humility and the fear of the LORD is wealth, honor, and life.
'The reward for humility and fear of the LORD is riches and honor and life' tracks MT.
Thorns and traps line the path of the crooked; whoever guards his life stays far from them.
'Thorns and snares are in the way of the crooked; whoever guards his soul will keep far from them' tracks MT.
Dedicate a young person according to his own way; even when he grows old, he will not turn from it.
'Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it' tracks MT. TRAIN-UP-A-CHILD. Classical child-training proverb. Ephesians 6:4 ('bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord') extends.
The rich rule over the poor, and the borrower is slave to the lender.
'The rich rules over the poor, and the borrower is the slave of the lender' tracks MT. BORROWER-IS-SLAVE-OF-LENDER — debt-slavery realism.
Whoever sows injustice will harvest disaster, and the rod of his fury will be broken.
Masoretic (WLC)
זוֹרֵעַ עַוְלָה יִקְצָר־אָוֶן וְשֵׁבֶט עֶבְרָתוֹ יִכְלֶה
Whoever sows injustice will reap calamity, and the rod of his fury will fail
Septuagint (LXX)
ὁ σπείρων φαῦλα θερίσει κακά πληγὴν δὲ ἔργων αὐτοῦ συντελέσει ἄνδρα ἱλαρὸν καὶ δότην εὐλογεῖ ὁ θεός ματαιότητα δὲ ἔργων αὐτοῦ συντελέσει
The one who sows wickedness will reap troubles, and will suffer the full extent of the plague of his deeds. God blesses a cheerful and giving man, but will bring to nothing the vanity of his deeds
LXX PLUS → 2 CORINTHIANS 9:7 CITATION. The LXX contains a significant-PLUS not in MT: 'God blesses a cheerful and giving man' (andra hilaron kai dotēn eulogei ho theos). Paul cites this at 2 Corinthians 9:7 in his Jerusalem-collection-appeal: 'Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for GOD LOVES A CHEERFUL GIVER (hilaron gar dotēn agapa ho theos).' Paul substitutes 'loves' (agapā) for the LXX's 'blesses' (eulogei), but the 'cheerful giver' (hilaron dotēn) comes directly from the LXX-PLUS.
HILARON. The Greek hilaros — 'cheerful, joyous, merry' — is the root of English 'hilarious.' Paul's point: Christian-giving is not extracted-by-pressure but proceeds from joy. The LXX-plus at Prov 22:8 is the canonical-source. The plus-itself is absent from MT and hence absent from most English-translations of Proverbs — making 2 Cor 9:7 a visible-trace of the LXX-Vorlage in the NT.
The LXX-plus demonstrates that some LXX-readings of Proverbs — despite MT-differences — entered-the-NT canon through Paul's direct-citation.
The generous person will be blessed, because he shares his food with the poor.
'Whoever has a bountiful eye will be blessed, for he shares his bread with the poor' tracks MT.
Drive out the scoffer and conflict leaves with him; quarreling and insults will cease.
'Drive out a scoffer, and strife will go out, and quarreling and abuse will cease' tracks MT.
Whoever loves a pure heart and gracious speech — the king will be his friend.
'He who loves purity of heart, and whose speech is gracious, will have the king as his friend' tracks MT. PURITY-OF-HEART. Matthew 5:8 ('blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God') Christologically extends: kings-and-King-of-kings favor the pure-in-heart.
The eyes of the LORD guard knowledge, but He overturns the words of the treacherous.
'The eyes of the LORD keep watch over knowledge, but he overthrows the words of the traitor' tracks MT.
The lazy person says, 'There's a lion outside! I'll be killed in the streets!'
'The sluggard says: There is a lion outside! I shall be killed in the streets!' tracks MT. SLUGGARD-LION — imaginary-obstacle rationalization.
The mouth of the forbidden woman is a deep pit; the one under the LORD's displeasure falls into it.
'The mouth of forbidden women is a deep pit; he with whom the LORD is angry will fall into it' tracks MT.
Foolishness is bound up in the heart of a youth; the rod of discipline will drive it far from him.
'Folly is bound up in the heart of a child, but the rod of discipline drives it far from him' tracks MT.
Oppressing the poor to enrich yourself, or giving to the rich — both lead only to loss.
'Whoever oppresses the poor to increase his own wealth, or gives to the rich, will only come to poverty' tracks MT. CLOSES the FIRST SOLOMONIC COLLECTION (Prov 10:1–22:16).
Incline your ear and hear the words of the wise; set your heart on my knowledge.
'Incline your ear, and hear the words of the wise, and apply your heart to my knowledge' tracks MT. TRANSITION: 'SAYINGS OF THE WISE' section begins (22:17–24:22). This section shows parallels to the Egyptian INSTRUCTION OF AMENEMOPE (c. 1200 BCE), especially 22:17–23:11. The divine-wisdom drew on and theologically-transformed earlier ancient-Near-Eastern wisdom-traditions.
For it is pleasing when you guard them in your belly; let them be ready together on your lips.
'For it will be pleasant if you keep them within you, if all of them are ready on your lips' tracks MT.
So that your trust may be in the LORD, I am teaching you today — yes, you.
'That your trust may be in the LORD, I have made them known to you today, even to you' tracks MT.
Have I not written for you thirty sayings of counsel and knowledge,
'Have I not written for you thirty sayings of counsel and knowledge?' tracks MT. THIRTY-SAYINGS — matches the structure of Amenemope's 30-chapters.
to teach you what is reliable — words of truth — so you can bring back truthful answers to those who sent you?
'To make you know what is right and true, that you may give a true answer to those who sent you?' tracks MT.
Do not rob the poor because he is poor, and do not crush the afflicted at the gate,
'Do not rob the poor, because he is poor, or crush the afflicted at the gate' tracks MT. DO-NOT-ROB-THE-POOR. First saying of the wise.
because the LORD will take up their case and rob the life of those who rob them.
'For the LORD will plead their cause and rob of life those who rob them' tracks MT. LORD-AS-ADVOCATE-OF-THE-POOR — divine-legal-champion.
Do not befriend a hot-tempered person, and do not associate with someone given to rage,
'Make no friendship with a man given to anger, nor go with a wrathful man' tracks MT.
or you will learn his ways and set a trap for your own life.
'Lest you learn his ways and entangle yourself in a snare' tracks MT.
Do not be among those who shake hands on pledges or who guarantee the debts of others.
'Be not one of those who give pledges, who put up security for debts' tracks MT.
If you have nothing to pay, why should your bed be taken from under you?
'If you have nothing with which to pay, why should your bed be taken from under you?' tracks MT.
Do not move an ancient boundary marker that your ancestors set in place.
'Do not move the ancient landmark that your fathers have set' tracks MT. LANDMARK-NOT-MOVED. Deuteronomy 19:14, 27:17 develop boundary-ethics.
Do you see a person skilled in his work? He will stand before kings; he will not stand before obscure men.
'Do you see a man skillful in his work? He will stand before kings; he will not stand before obscure men' tracks MT. SKILLFUL-BEFORE-KINGS — craftsmanship-recognition proverb. Joseph (Gen 41), Daniel (Dan 2, 6) exemplify.