Proverbs 22:2 - Printer Friendly

ESV: The rich and the poor meet together; the Lord is the Maker of them all.

NIV: Rich and poor have this in common: The Lord is the Maker of them all.

NASB: The rich and the poor have a common bond, The Lord is the Maker of them all.

CSB: Rich and poor have this in common: the Lord makes them all.

NLT: The rich and poor have this in common: The Lord made them both.

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

NKJV: The rich and the poor have this in common, The Lord is the maker of them all.

Both in the ancient world and today people often judge another's worth by their wealth (Proverbs 14:20). This is not how God values people, however. All people are created in God's image (Genesis 1:27). Salvation is available to all people alike (John 3:16–18; Galatians 3:28; Proverbs 14:31). A person can be poor or rich and approved by God for their faith in Him (Hebrews 11:6). On the other hand, a poor person or a rich person might well be defying God's commands. God does not determine a person's worth by their bank account, nor does He use such things to indicate His level of approval. The universal destiny of all people is to face God and be judged (Hebrews 9:27; Proverbs 11:4).

John 3:16 states that God's love for all humanity was expressed in sending Christ, so that believers might have eternal life. Money cannot make anyone more important in God's sight, but Jesus' redeeming grace makes all believers rich by becoming God's children. Second Corinthians 8:9 says: "For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich." No one is excluded from the love Jesus showed by dying on the cross. First John 2:2 states categorically that Jesus "is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world." It doesn't matter to the Lord whether a person is rich or poor. He promises: "All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out" (John 6:37).

Proverbs 22:1–16 dispenses practical advice about gaining a good reputation, avoiding danger, setting children on a good path, finances, pure living, and the Lord's watchfulness and judgment. These verses also speak on the absurdity of laziness, the danger of evil words, and the sin of oppressing the poor. This completes an extensive list of wise sayings (Proverbs 10:1) attributed to Solomon.

This chapter completes a long string of wise sayings attributed to Solomon (Proverbs 10:1). He notes that reputation and godliness are far better than money. He also notes that godly wisdom keeps a person from various dangers. Loving parents use proper discipline to instill wisdom in their children. The last portion of the chapter introduces a new passage, made up of thirty wise teachings which Solomon endorses. This string of advice continues into chapter 24.

This chapter is the last of the second division of the book, including all of chapters 10—21. This section includes some 375 verses, mostly in paired lines. Chapter 22 completes these statements, then introduces a collection of thirty wise sayings endorsed by Solomon. The first five are negative commands, warning to avoid certain vices. Chapter 23 continues with more sayings of advice.

Proverbs is best understood in context with the books of Ecclesiastes and Job. In Proverbs, “wisdom” is given in short, simple, general terms. Ecclesiastes represents wisdom based on observation and experience. This often shows how the general principles of the book of Proverbs don’t apply in absolutely every circumstance. Job represents wisdom based on the experience of suffering and injustice. All three come to the conclusion that God does indeed know best, and the most sensible course of action is to follow His will.