richmahn_en_tn/pro/22/22.md

# General Information:

These verses begin the "thirty sayings" ([Proverbs 22:20](./20.md)).

# Do not rob ... or crush

If your language has a way of showing that this is the way one person would speak strongly to another, different from a general rule that people are supposed to obey, you should use it here.

# the poor

This nominal adjective can be translated as a noun phrase. AT: "any poor person" or "poor people" (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-nominaladj]])

# crush

grind into powder. This is a metaphor for "treat unjustly." (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor]])

# the needy

This nominal adjective can be translated as a noun phrase. AT: "any needy person" or "any person who does not have what he needs to live" (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-nominaladj]])

# at the gate

The place where people bought and sold items and settled legal arguments is used as a metonym for business and legal activity. AT: "in court" (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metonymy]])

# Yahweh will plead their case

The metaphor is of a lawyer defending the needy in front of a judge. AT: "Yahweh will defend the needy from those who oppress them" or "Yahweh will see that the needy receive justice" (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor]])

# he will rob of life those who robbed them

Yahweh is not a thief, but like a thief he will take life from those who do not choose to give it. AT: "he will destroy those who oppress poor people" (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor]])