Proverbs 22:17-29
Christian Standard Bible
Words of the Wise
17 Listen closely,[a] pay attention to the words of the wise,(A)
and apply your mind to my knowledge.
18 For it is pleasing if you keep them within you
and if they are[b] constantly on your lips.
19 I have instructed you today—even you—
so that your confidence may be in the Lord.
20 Haven’t I written for you thirty sayings[c]
about counsel and knowledge,
21 in order to teach you true and reliable words,
so that you may give a dependable report[d](B)
to those who sent you?(C)
22 Don’t rob a poor person because he is poor,
and don’t crush the oppressed(D) at the city gate,(E)
23 for the Lord will champion their cause(F)
and will plunder those who plunder them.
24 Don’t make friends with an angry person,[e]
and don’t be a companion of a hot-tempered one,(G)
25 or you will learn his ways(H)
and entangle yourself in a snare.
26 Don’t be one of those who enter agreements,[f]
who put up security for loans.(I)
27 If you have nothing with which to pay,
even your bed will be taken from under you.(J)
28 Don’t move an ancient boundary marker
that your ancestors set up.(K)
29 Do you see a person skilled in his work?
He will stand in the presence of kings.
He will not stand in the presence of the unknown.(L)
Footnotes
- 22:17 Lit Stretch out your ear
- 22:18 Or you; let them be, or you, so that they are
- 22:20 Text emended; one Hb tradition reads you previously; alt Hb tradition reads you excellent things; LXX, Syr, Vg read you three times
- 22:21 Lit give dependable words
- 22:24 Lit with a master of anger
- 22:26 Lit Don’t be among hand slappers
The Christian Standard Bible. Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. Christian Standard Bible®, and CSB® are federally registered trademarks of Holman Bible Publishers, all rights reserved.
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