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14 Don’t do as the wicked do,
    and don’t follow the path of evildoers.
15 Don’t even think about it; don’t go that way.
    Turn away and keep moving.
16 For evil people can’t sleep until they’ve done their evil deed for the day.
    They can’t rest until they’ve caused someone to stumble.
17 They eat the food of wickedness
    and drink the wine of violence!

18 The way of the righteous is like the first gleam of dawn,
    which shines ever brighter until the full light of day.
19 But the way of the wicked is like total darkness.
    They have no idea what they are stumbling over.

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Avoiding the Ways of the Wicked

14 Do not enter the path of the wicked,
    or go along the way of evil men.
15 Avoid it! Don’t travel on it!
    Turn away from it, and pass on by.
16 For they cannot sleep unless they are doing evil,
    and they are robbed of their sleep unless they cause someone to stumble.
17 For they eat the bread of wickedness,
    and they drink the wine of violence.

18 The path of the righteous is like the light of dawn
    that grows brighter until the full light of day.
19 But the way of the wicked is like deep darkness,
    and they do not know what they are stumbling over.

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20 Walk with the wise and become wise;
    associate with fools and get in trouble.

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20 Whoever keeps company with the wise becomes wise,
    but the companion of fools suffers harm.

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Stay away from fools,
    for you won’t find knowledge on their lips.

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Stay away from a foolish man,
    for you will not find competent advice.

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19 Better to live humbly with the poor
    than to share plunder with the proud.

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19 Better to be humble among the poor,
    than to share what is stolen with the proud.

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19 A gossip goes around telling secrets,
    so don’t hang around with chatterers.

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19 Whoever spreads gossip betrays confidences;
    so don’t get involved with someone who talks too much.

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Corrupt people walk a thorny, treacherous road;
    whoever values life will avoid it.

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Thorns and snares lie in the path of the perverse person,
    but whoever is cautious stays far away from them.

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24 Don’t befriend angry people
    or associate with hot-tempered people,
25 or you will learn to be like them
    and endanger your soul.

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24 Don’t make friends with a hot-tempered man,
    and do not associate with someone who is easily angered,
25 or you may learn his ways
    and find yourself caught in a trap.

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Don’t eat with people who are stingy;
    don’t desire their delicacies.
They are always thinking about how much it costs.[a]
    “Eat and drink,” they say, but they don’t mean it.
You will throw up what little you’ve eaten,
    and your compliments will be wasted.

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Footnotes

  1. 23:7 The meaning of the Hebrew is uncertain.

Don’t consume food provided by a miserly[a] person,
    and don’t desire his delicacies,
for as he thinks within himself, so he is.
    “Eat and drink!” he’ll say to you,
        but his heart won’t be with you.
You’ll vomit up what little you’ve eaten,
    and your compliments will have been wasted.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 23:6 Lit. by the evil eyed

20 Do not carouse with drunkards
    or feast with gluttons,
21 for they are on their way to poverty,
    and too much sleep clothes them in rags.

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20 Don’t associate with heavy drinkers
    or dine with gluttons,
21 because drunks and gluttons tend to become poor,
    and drowsiness will clothe them in rags.

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24 Don’t envy evil people
    or desire their company.
For their hearts plot violence,
    and their words always stir up trouble.

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Benefits of Wisdom

24 Don’t be envious of wicked men
or wish you were with them,
because they[a] plan violence,
    and they are always talking[b] about trouble.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 24:2 Lit. because their hearts
  2. Proverbs 24:2 Lit. and their lips talk

21 My child, fear the Lord and the king.
Don’t associate with rebels,
22     for disaster will hit them suddenly.
Who knows what punishment will come
    from the Lord and the king?

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21 My son, fear both the Lord and the king,
    and don’t keep company with rebels.
22 They will be destroyed suddenly,
    and who knows what kind of punishment will come from these two?

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