Focused Passage

Proverbs 22:17-21

A Good Name, Humility, Training, Justice for the Poor, and the Words of the Wise

The chapter moves from reputation and humility, to training and generosity, to discipline and oppression, then into a formal instruction section that calls the learner to receive the words of the wise, protect the poor, avoid anger-shaped companionship, reject rash financial pledges, honor inherited boundaries, and pursue skilled work.

Berean Standard Bible, Public Domain - Translation notes - Reference sources

17Incline your ear and hear the words of the wise—apply your mind to my knowledge—

18for it is pleasing when you keep them within you and they are constantly on your lips.

19So that your trust may be in the LORD, I instruct you today—yes, you.

20Have I not written for you thirty sayings about counsel and knowledge,

21to show you true and reliable words, that you may soundly answer those who sent you?

Study Helps

References and Original Words

Verse 17

Cross-references

Psalms 90:12Classic cross-references Colossians 4:6Classic cross-references Proverbs 5:1Classic cross-references Luke 6:45Classic cross-references Proverbs 23:12Classic cross-references

Original words

Inclineהַ֥טH5186Verb - Hifil - Imperative - masculine singularyour earאָזְנְךָ֗H241Noun - feminine singular construct | second person masculine singularand hearוּ֭שְׁמַעH8085Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singularthe wordsדִּבְרֵ֣יH1697Noun - masculine plural constructof the wiseחֲכָמִ֑יםH2450Adjective - masculine pluralapplyתָּשִׁ֥יתH7896Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singularyour mindוְ֝לִבְּךָ֗H3820Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singularto my knowledgeלְדַעְתִּֽי׃H1847Preposition-l | Noun - feminine singular construct | first person common singular

Verse 18

Cross-references

Jeremiah 15:16Classic cross-references Proverbs 24:14Classic cross-references Proverbs 2:10Classic cross-references Proverbs 3:17Classic cross-references Proverbs 8:6Classic cross-references

Original words

forכִּֽי־H3588Conjunctionit is pleasingנָ֭עִיםH5273Adjective - masculine singularwhenכִּֽי־H3588Conjunctionyou keep themתִשְׁמְרֵ֣םH8104Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular | third person masculine pluralwithin youבְּבִטְנֶ֑ךָH990Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular construct | second person masculine singular. . .יִכֹּ֥נוּH3559Verb - Nifal - Imperfect - third person masculine pluraland they are constantlyיַ֝חְדָּ֗וH3162Adverbonעַל־H5921Prepositionyour lipsשְׂפָתֶֽיךָ׃H8193Noun - feminine dual construct | second person masculine singular

Verse 19

Cross-references

Proverbs 3:5Classic cross-references Deuteronomy 4:5Classic cross-references Psalms 62:8Classic cross-references Isaiah 12:2Classic cross-references 1 Peter 1:21Classic cross-references

Original words

So that your trustמִבְטַחֶ֑ךָH4009Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singularmay beלִהְי֣וֹתH1961Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive constructin the LORDבַּ֭יהוָהH3068Preposition-b | Noun - proper - masculine singularI instruct youהוֹדַעְתִּ֖יךָH3045Verb - Hifil - Perfect - first person common singular | second person masculine singulartodayהַיּ֣וֹםH3117Article | Noun - masculine singularyesאַף־H637Conjunctionyouאָֽתָּה׃H859Pronoun - second person masculine singular

Verse 20

Cross-references

Psalms 49:3Classic cross-references 2 Peter 1:19Classic cross-references Proverbs 8:6Classic cross-references 2 Timothy 3:15Classic cross-references Proverbs 4:2Classic cross-references

Original words

Have I notהֲלֹ֤אH3808Adverb - Negative particlewrittenכָתַ֣בְתִּיH3789Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singularfor youלְ֭ךָPreposition | second person masculine singularthirty sayingsשִׁלְשׁוֹםH8032Noun - masculine pluralabout counselבְּמ֖וֹעֵצֹ֣תH4156Preposition-b | Noun - feminine pluraland knowledgeוָדָֽעַת׃H1847Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singular

BSB notes

Or written for you excellent sayings or written for you three times

Verse 21

Cross-references

1 Peter 3:15Classic cross-references Luke 1:3Classic cross-references

Original words

to show youלְהוֹדִֽיעֲךָ֗H3045Preposition-l | Verb - Hifil - Infinitive construct | second person masculine singulartrueקֹ֭שְׁטְH7189Noun - masculine singular constructand reliableאֱמֶ֑תH571Noun - feminine singularwordsאִמְרֵ֣יH561Noun - masculine plural constructthat you mayלְהָשִׁ֥יבH7725Preposition-l | Verb - Hifil - Infinitive constructsoundlyאֱ֝מֶ֗תH571Noun - feminine singularanswerאֲמָרִ֥יםH561Noun - masculine pluralthose who sent youלְשֹׁלְחֶֽיךָ׃פH7971Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural construct | second person masculine singular

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