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14 Do not travel on the path of the wicked.
Do not walk in the way of evil people.
15 Avoid it! Do not travel on it!
Turn away from it. Pass it by.
16 For they cannot sleep
    unless they have been doing wrong,
and they are robbed of sleep
    unless they are making someone stumble,
17 because wickedness is the food they eat,
and violence is the wine they drink.
18 But the path of the righteous is like the light of dawn,
shining brighter and brighter until it is day.
19 The way of the wicked is like gloomy darkness.
They never know where they will stumble.

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20 Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise,
but a companion of fools suffers harm.

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Keep away from a foolish person,
since you will not learn anything from his lips.

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19 Better to share a humble spirit with the oppressed
    than to share stolen goods with the haughty.

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19 A person who goes around spreading gossip reveals secrets,
so do not associate with anyone whose lips are always open.

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Thorns and traps are on the road followed by the crooked.
Whoever guards his soul[a] will stay far away from them.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 22:5 Or his life

24 Do not be friends with a hothead.
Do not go along with someone who has a hot temper.
25 If you do, you will learn his ways
and set a trap for yourself.[a]

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 22:25 Or for your soul

Do not eat the food of a miser.
Do not crave his delicious food,
because he is calculating how much things cost him.
So when he says to you, “Eat and drink,”
he does not mean it.
You will vomit up the little bit you ate
and spoil your pleasant conversation.

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20 Do not be among those who drink too much wine,
or those who eat too much meat,
21 because a drunk and a glutton will become poor,
and drunken stupor dresses a person in rags.

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24 Do not envy evil people,
and do not wish to be with them,
because their hearts plan violence,
and their lips speak trouble.

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21 Fear the Lord, my son, and also the king.
Do not associate with those who are rebellious,
22 because their disaster will take place suddenly.
Who knows what ruin the Lord and the king will cause?

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