Proverbs 22:17-23:11

New International Version

Thirty Sayings of the Wise

Saying 1

¹⁷Pay attention^(A) and turn your ear to the sayings of the wise;^(B)
    apply your heart to what I teach,^(C)
¹⁸for it is pleasing when you keep them in your heart
    and have all of them ready on your lips.
¹⁹So that your trust may be in the Lord,
    I teach you today, even you.
²⁰Have I not written thirty sayings for you,
    sayings of counsel and knowledge,
²¹teaching you to be honest and to speak the truth,^(D)
    so that you bring back truthful reports
    to those you serve?

Saying 2

²²Do not exploit the poor^(E) because they are poor
and do not crush the needy in court,^(F)
²³for the Lord will take up their case^(G)
and will exact life for life.^(H)

Saying 3

²⁴Do not make friends with a hot-tempered person,
do not associate with one easily angered,
²⁵or you may learn their ways
and get yourself ensnared.^(I)

Saying 4

²⁶Do not be one who shakes hands in pledge^(J)
or puts up security for debts;
²⁷if you lack the means to pay,
your very bed will be snatched from under you.^(K)

Saying 5

²⁸Do not move an ancient boundary stone^(L)
set up by your ancestors.

Saying 6

²⁹Do you see someone skilled^(M) in their work?
They will serve^(N) before kings;^(O)
they will not serve before officials of low rank.

Saying 7

23 When you sit to dine with a ruler,
    note well what^[a] is before you,
²and put a knife to your throat
    if you are given to gluttony.
³Do not crave his delicacies,^(P)
    for that food is deceptive.

Saying 8

⁴Do not wear yourself out to get rich;
    do not trust your own cleverness.
⁵Cast but a glance at riches, and they are gone,^(Q)
    for they will surely sprout wings
    and fly off to the sky like an eagle.^(R)

Saying 9

⁶Do not eat the food of a begrudging host,
    do not crave his delicacies;^(S)
⁷for he is the kind of person
    who is always thinking about the cost.^[b]
“Eat and drink,” he says to you,
    but his heart is not with you.
⁸You will vomit up the little you have eaten
    and will have wasted your compliments.

Saying 10

⁹Do not speak to fools,
for they will scorn your prudent words.^(T)

Saying 11

¹⁰Do not move an ancient boundary stone^(U)
or encroach on the fields of the fatherless,
¹¹for their Defender^(V) is strong;^(W)
he will take up their case against you.^(X)