Proverbs, starting at chapter 22
{22:1} A good name is more desirable than great riches,
and loving favor is better than silver and gold.
{22:2} The rich and the poor have this in common:
The LORD is the maker of them all.
{22:3} A prudent man sees danger, and hides himself;
but the simple pass on, and suffer for it.
{22:4} The result of humility and the fear of the LORD
is wealth, honor, and life.
{22:5} Thorns and snares are in the path of the wicked:
whoever guards his soul stays from them.
{22:6} Train up a child in the way he should go,
and when he is old he will not depart from it.
{22:7} The rich rule over the poor.
The borrower is servant to the lender.
{22:8} He who sows wickedness reaps trouble,
and the rod of his fury will be destroyed.
{22:9} He who has a generous eye will be blessed;
for he shares his food with the poor.
{22:10} Drive out the mocker, and strife will go out;
yes, quarrels and insults will stop.
{22:11} He who loves purity of heart and speaks gracefully
is the king's friend.
{22:12} The eyes of the LORD watch over knowledge;
but he frustrates the words of the unfaithful.
{22:13} The sluggard says, "There is a lion outside!
I will be killed in the streets!"
{22:14} The mouth of an adulteress is a deep pit:
he who is under the LORD's wrath will fall into it.
{22:15} Folly is bound up in the heart of a child:
the rod of discipline drives it far from him.
{22:16} Whoever oppresses the poor for his own increase and whoever
gives to the rich,
both come to poverty.
{22:17} Turn your ear, and listen to the words of the wise.
Apply your heart to my teaching.
{22:18} For it is a pleasant thing if you keep them within you,
if all of them are ready on your lips.
{22:19} That your trust may be in the LORD,
I teach you today, even you.
{22:20} Haven't I written to you thirty excellent things
of counsel and knowledge,
{22:21} To teach you truth, reliable words,
to give sound answers to the ones who sent you?
{22:22} Don't exploit the poor, because he is poor;
and don't crush the needy in court;
{22:23} for the LORD will plead their case,
and plunder the life of those who plunder them.
{22:24} Don't befriend a hot-tempered man,
and don't associate with one who harbors anger:
{22:25} lest you learn his ways,
and ensnare your soul.
{22:26} Don't you be one of those who strike hands,
of those who are collateral for debts.
{22:27} If you don't have means to pay,
why should he take away your bed from under you?
{22:28} Don't move the ancient boundary stone,
which your fathers have set up.
{22:29} Do you see a man skilled in his work?
He will serve kings.
He won't serve obscure men.
{23:1} When you sit to eat with a ruler,
consider diligently what is before you;
{23:2} put a knife to your throat,
if you are a man given to appetite.
{23:3} Don't be desirous of his dainties,
seeing they are deceitful food.
{23:4} Don't weary yourself to be rich.
In your wisdom, show restraint.
{23:5} Why do you set your eyes on that which is not?
For it certainly sprouts wings like an eagle and flies in the sky.
{23:6} Don't eat the food of him who has a stingy eye,
and don't crave his delicacies:
{23:7} for as he thinks about the cost, so he is.
"Eat and drink!" he says to you,
but his heart is not with you.
{23:8} The morsel which you have eaten you shall vomit up,
and lose your good words.
{23:9} Don't speak in the ears of a fool,
for he will despise the wisdom of your words.
{23:10} Don't move the ancient boundary stone.
Don't encroach on the fields of the fatherless:
{23:11} for their Defender is strong.
He will plead their case against you.
{23:12} Apply your heart to instruction,
and your ears to the words of knowledge.
{23:13} Don't withhold correction from a child.
If you punish him with the rod, he will not die.
{23:14} Punish him with the rod,
and save his soul from Sheol.
{23:15} My son, if your heart is wise,
then my heart will be glad, even mine:
{23:16} yes, my heart will rejoice,
when your lips speak what is right.
{23:17} Don't let your heart envy sinners;
but rather fear the LORD all the day long.
{23:18} Indeed surely there is a future hope,
and your hope will not be cut off.
{23:19} Listen, my son, and be wise,
and keep your heart on the right path!
{23:20} Don't be among ones drinking too much wine,
or those who gorge themselves on meat:
{23:21} for the drunkard and the glutton shall become poor;
and drowsiness clothes them in rags.
{23:22} Listen to your father who gave you life,
and don't despise your mother when she is old.
{23:23} Buy the truth, and don't sell it.
Get wisdom, discipline, and understanding.
{23:24} The father of the righteous has great joy.
Whoever fathers a wise child delights in him.
{23:25} Let your father and your mother be glad!
Let her who bore you rejoice!
{23:26} My son, give me your heart;
and let your eyes keep in my ways.
{23:27} For a prostitute is a deep pit;
and a wayward wife is a narrow well.
{23:28} Yes, she lies in wait like a robber,
and increases the unfaithful among men.
{23:29} Who has woe?
Who has sorrow?
Who has strife?
Who has complaints?
Who has needless bruises?
Who has bloodshot eyes?
{23:30} Those who stay long at the wine;
those who go to seek out mixed wine.
{23:31} Don't look at the wine when it is red,
when it sparkles in the cup,
when it goes down smoothly.
{23:32} In the end, it bites like a snake,
and poisons like a viper.
{23:33} Your eyes will see strange things,
and your mind will imagine confusing things.
{23:34} Yes, you will be as he who lies down in the midst of the sea,
or as he who lies on top of the rigging:
{23:35} "They hit me, and I was not hurt!
They beat me, and I don't feel it!
When will I wake up? I can do it again.
I can find another."
{24:1} Don't be envious of evil men;
neither desire to be with them:
{24:2} for their hearts plot violence,
and their lips talk about mischief.
{24:3} Through wisdom a house is built;
by understanding it is established;
{24:4} by knowledge the rooms are filled
with all rare and beautiful treasure.
{24:5} A wise man has great power;
and a knowledgeable man increases strength;
{24:6} for by wise guidance you wage your war;
and victory is in many advisors.
{24:7} Wisdom is too high for a fool:
he doesn't open his mouth in the gate.
{24:8} One who plots to do evil
will be called a schemer.
{24:9} The schemes of folly are sin.
The mocker is detested by men.
{24:10} If you falter in the time of trouble,
your strength is small.
{24:11} Rescue those who are being led away to death!
Indeed, hold back those who are staggering to the slaughter!
{24:12} If you say, "Behold, we didn't know this;"
doesn't he who weighs the hearts consider it?
He who keeps your soul, doesn't he know it?
Shall he not render to every man according to his work?
{24:13} My son, eat honey, for it is good;
the droppings of the honeycomb, which are sweet to your taste:
{24:14} so you shall know wisdom to be to your soul;
if you have found it, then there will be a reward,
your hope will not be cut off.
{24:15} Don't lay in wait, wicked man, against the habitation of the
righteous.
Don't destroy his resting place:
{24:16} for a righteous man falls seven times, and rises up again;
but the wicked are overthrown by calamity.
{24:17} Don't rejoice when your enemy falls.
Don't let your heart be glad when he is overthrown;
{24:18} lest the LORD see it, and it displease him,
and he turn away his wrath from him.
{24:19} Don't fret yourself because of evildoers;
neither be envious of the wicked:
{24:20} for there will be no reward to the evil man;
and the lamp of the wicked shall be snuffed out.
{24:21} My son, fear the LORD and the king.
Don't join those who are rebellious:
{24:22} for their calamity will rise suddenly;
the destruction from them both--who knows?
{24:23} These also are sayings of the wise.
To show partiality in judgment is not good.
{24:24} He who says to the wicked, "You are righteous;"
peoples shall curse him, and nations shall abhor him--
{24:25} but it will go well with those who convict the guilty,
and a rich blessing will come on them.
{24:26} An honest answer
is like a kiss on the lips.
{24:27} Prepare your work outside,
and get your fields ready.
Afterwards, build your house.
{24:28} Don't be a witness against your neighbor without cause.
Don't deceive with your lips.
{24:29} Don't say, "I will do to him as he has done to me;
I will render to the man according to his work."
{24:30} I went by the field of the sluggard,
by the vineyard of the man void of understanding;
{24:31} Behold, it was all grown over with thorns.
Its surface was covered with nettles,
and its stone wall was broken down.
{24:32} Then I saw, and considered well.
I saw, and received instruction:
{24:33} a little sleep, a little slumber,
a little folding of the hands to sleep;
{24:34} so your poverty will come as a robber,
and your want as an armed man.
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