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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

⁶ Do not eat the food of a begrudging host,
    do not crave his delicacies;^(D)
7 for 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.
⁸ You will vomit up the little you have eaten
    and will have wasted your compliments.

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

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

¹² Apply your heart to instruction^(J)
    and your ears to words of knowledge.

¹³ Do not withhold discipline from a child;
    if you punish them with the rod, they will not die.
¹⁴ Punish them with the rod
    and save them from death.^(K)

¹⁵ My son, if your heart is wise,
    then my heart will be glad indeed;
¹⁶ my inmost being will rejoice
    when your lips speak what is right.^(L)

¹ Blessed are those whose ways are blameless,^(A)
    who walk^(B) according to the law of the Lord.^(C)
2 Blessed^(D) are those who keep his statutes^(E)
    and seek him^(F) with all their heart—^(G)
3 they do no wrong^(H)
    but follow his ways.^(I)
4 You have laid down precepts^(J)
    that are to be fully obeyed.^(K)
5 Oh, that my ways were steadfast
    in obeying your decrees!^(L)
6 Then I would not be put to shame^(M)
    when I consider all your commands.^(N)
7 I will praise you with an upright heart
    as I learn your righteous laws.^(O)
8 I will obey your decrees;
    do not utterly forsake me.^(P)

⁹ How can a young person stay on the path of purity?^(Q)
    By living according to your word.^(R)
10 I seek you with all my heart;^(S)
    do not let me stray from your commands.^(T)
11 I have hidden your word in my heart^(U)
    that I might not sin^(V) against you.
¹² Praise be^(W) to you, Lord;
    teach me^(X) your decrees.^(Y)
13 With my lips I recount
    all the laws that come from your mouth.^(Z)
14 I rejoice in following your statutes^(AA)
    as one rejoices in great riches.
¹⁵ I meditate on your precepts^(AB)
    and consider your ways.
¹⁶ I delight^(AC) in your decrees;
    I will not neglect your word.

¹⁷ Be good to your servant^(AD) while I live,
    that I may obey your word.^(AE)
18 Open my eyes that I may see
    wonderful things in your law.
¹⁹ I am a stranger on earth;^(AF)
    do not hide your commands from me.
²⁰ My soul is consumed^(AG) with longing
    for your laws^(AH) at all times.
²¹ You rebuke the arrogant,^(AI) who are accursed,^(AJ)
    those who stray^(AK) from your commands.
²² Remove from me their scorn^(AL) and contempt,
    for I keep your statutes.^(AM)
23 Though rulers sit together and slander me,
    your servant will meditate on your decrees.
²⁴ Your statutes are my delight;
    they are my counselors.

²⁵ I am laid low in the dust;^(AN)
    preserve my life^(AO) according to your word.^(AP)
26 I gave an account of my ways and you answered me;
    teach me your decrees.^(AQ)
27 Cause me to understand the way of your precepts,
    that I may meditate on your wonderful deeds.^(AR)
28 My soul is weary with sorrow;^(AS)
    strengthen me^(AT) according to your word.^(AU)
29 Keep me from deceitful ways;^(AV)
    be gracious to me^(AW) and teach me your law.
³⁰ I have chosen^(AX) the way of faithfulness;^(AY)
    I have set my heart^(AZ) on your laws.
³¹ I hold fast^(BA) to your statutes, Lord;
    do not let me be put to shame.
³² I run in the path of your commands,
    for you have broadened my understanding.

³³ Teach me,^(BB) Lord, the way of your decrees,
    that I may follow it to the end.^[b]
34 Give me understanding,^(BC) so that I may keep your law^(BD)
    and obey it with all my heart.^(BE)
35 Direct me^(BF) in the path of your commands,^(BG)
    for there I find delight.^(BH)
36 Turn my heart^(BI) toward your statutes
    and not toward selfish gain.^(BJ)
37 Turn my eyes away from worthless things;
    preserve my life^(BK) according to your word.^[c](BL)
38 Fulfill your promise^(BM) to your servant,
    so that you may be feared.
³⁹ Take away the disgrace^(BN) I dread,
    for your laws are good.
⁴⁰ How I long^(BO) for your precepts!
    In your righteousness preserve my life.^(BP)