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

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

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

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

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

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

Original words

Incline הַ֥ט H5186 Verb - Hifil - Imperative - masculine singular your ear אָזְנְךָ֗ H241 Noun - feminine singular construct | second person masculine singular and hear וּ֭שְׁמַע H8085 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular the words דִּבְרֵ֣י H1697 Noun - masculine plural construct of the wise חֲכָמִ֑ים H2450 Adjective - masculine plural apply תָּשִׁ֥ית H7896 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular your mind וְ֝לִבְּךָ֗ H3820 Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singular to my knowledge לְדַעְתִּֽי׃ H1847 Preposition-l | Noun - feminine singular construct | first person common singular

Verse 18

Cross-references

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

Original words

for כִּֽי־ H3588 Conjunction it is pleasing נָ֭עִים H5273 Adjective - masculine singular when כִּֽי־ H3588 Conjunction you keep them תִשְׁמְרֵ֣ם H8104 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular | third person masculine plural within you בְּבִטְנֶ֑ךָ H990 Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular construct | second person masculine singular . . . יִכֹּ֥נוּ H3559 Verb - Nifal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural and they are constantly יַ֝חְדָּ֗ו H3162 Adverb on עַל־ H5921 Preposition your lips שְׂפָתֶֽיךָ׃ H8193 Noun - feminine dual construct | second person masculine singular

Verse 19

Cross-references

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

Original words

So that your trust מִבְטַחֶ֑ךָ H4009 Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singular may be לִהְי֣וֹת H1961 Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct in the LORD בַּ֭יהוָה H3068 Preposition-b | Noun - proper - masculine singular I instruct you הוֹדַעְתִּ֖יךָ H3045 Verb - Hifil - Perfect - first person common singular | second person masculine singular today הַיּ֣וֹם H3117 Article | Noun - masculine singular yes אַף־ H637 Conjunction you אָֽתָּה׃ H859 Pronoun - second person masculine singular

Verse 20

Cross-references

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

Original words

Have I not הֲלֹ֤א H3808 Adverb - Negative particle written כָתַ֣בְתִּי H3789 Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singular for you לְ֭ךָ Preposition | second person masculine singular thirty sayings שִׁלְשׁוֹם H8032 Noun - masculine plural about counsel בְּמ֖וֹעֵצֹ֣ת H4156 Preposition-b | Noun - feminine plural and knowledge וָדָֽעַת׃ H1847 Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singular

BSB notes

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

Verse 21

Cross-references

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

Original words

to show you לְהוֹדִֽיעֲךָ֗ H3045 Preposition-l | Verb - Hifil - Infinitive construct | second person masculine singular true קֹ֭שְׁטְ H7189 Noun - masculine singular construct and reliable אֱמֶ֑ת H571 Noun - feminine singular words אִמְרֵ֣י H561 Noun - masculine plural construct that you may לְהָשִׁ֥יב H7725 Preposition-l | Verb - Hifil - Infinitive construct soundly אֱ֝מֶ֗ת H571 Noun - feminine singular answer אֲמָרִ֥ים H561 Noun - masculine plural those who sent you לְשֹׁלְחֶֽיךָ׃פ H7971 Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural construct | second person masculine singular

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