14 Keep off the path of the wicked;(A)
don’t proceed on the way of evil ones.
15 Avoid it; don’t travel on it.
Turn away from it, and pass it by.
16 For they can’t sleep
unless they have done what is evil;
they are robbed of sleep
unless they make someone stumble.(B)
17 They eat the bread of wickedness
and drink the wine of violence.
18 The path of the righteous is like the light of dawn,(C)
shining brighter and brighter until midday.
19 But the way of the wicked is like the darkest gloom;(D)
they don’t know what makes them stumble.(E)

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14 Don’t set foot on the path of the wicked;(A)
don’t proceed in the way of evil ones.
15 Avoid it; don’t travel on it.
Turn away from it, and pass it by.
16 For they can’t sleep
unless they have done what is evil;
they are robbed of sleep
unless they make someone stumble.(B)
17 They eat the bread of wickedness
and drink the wine of violence.
18 The path of the righteous is like the light of dawn,(C)
shining brighter and brighter until midday.
19 But the way of the wicked is like the darkest gloom;(D)
they don’t know what makes them stumble.(E)

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20 The one who walks with the wise will become wise,
but a companion of fools will suffer harm.

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20 The one who walks with the wise will become wise,
but a companion of fools will suffer harm.

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Stay away from a foolish person;
you will gain no knowledge from his speech.(A)

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Stay away from a foolish man;
you will gain no knowledge from his speech.(A)

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19 Better to be lowly of spirit with the humble[a](A)
than to divide plunder with the proud.(B)

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Footnotes

  1. 16:19 Alt Hb tradition reads afflicted

19 Better to be lowly of spirit with the humble[a](A)
than to divide plunder with the proud.(B)

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 16:19 Alt Hb tradition reads afflicted

19 The one who reveals secrets is a constant gossip;(A)
avoid someone with a big mouth.(B)

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19 The one who reveals secrets is a constant gossip;(A)
avoid someone with a big mouth.(B)

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There are thorns and snares on the way of the crooked;(A)
the one who guards himself stays far from them.

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There are thorns and snares on the path of the crooked;(A)
the one who guards himself stays far from them.

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24 Don’t make friends with an angry person,[a]
and don’t be a companion of a hot-tempered one,(A)
25 or you will learn his ways(B)
and entangle yourself in a snare.

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Footnotes

  1. 22:24 Lit with a master of anger

24 Don’t make friends with an angry man,[a]
and don’t be a companion of a hot-tempered man,(A)
25 or you will learn his ways(B)
and entangle yourself in a snare.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 22:24 Lit with a master of anger

Don’t eat a stingy person’s bread,[a](A)
and don’t desire his choice food,(B)
for it’s like someone calculating inwardly.[b](C)
“Eat and drink,” he says to you,
but his heart is not with you.(D)
You will vomit the little you’ve eaten
and waste your pleasant words.

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Footnotes

  1. 23:6 Lit eat bread of an evil eye
  2. 23:7 LXX reads it is like someone swallowing a hair in the throat

Don’t eat a stingy person’s bread,[a](A)
and don’t desire his choice food,(B)
for it’s like someone calculating inwardly.[b](C)
“Eat and drink,” he says to you,
but his heart is not with you.(D)
You will vomit the little you’ve eaten
and waste your pleasant words.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 23:6 Lit eat bread of an evil eye
  2. Proverbs 23:7 LXX reads it is like someone swallowing a hair in the throat

20 Don’t associate with those who drink too much wine(A)
or with those who gorge themselves on meat.(B)
21 For the drunkard and the glutton will become poor,
and grogginess will clothe them in rags.(C)

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20 Don’t associate with those who drink too much wine(A)
or with those who gorge themselves on meat.(B)
21 For the drunkard and the glutton will become poor,
and grogginess will clothe them in rags.(C)

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24 Don’t envy the evil(A)
or desire to be with them,(B)
for their hearts plan violence,
and their words stir up trouble.(C)

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24 Don’t envy evil men(A)
or desire to be with them,(B)
for their hearts plan violence,
and their words stir up trouble.(C)

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21 My son, fear the Lord, as well as the king,(A)
and don’t associate with rebels,[a]
22 for destruction will come suddenly from them;
who knows what distress these two can bring?

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Footnotes

  1. 24:21 Or those given to change

21 My son, fear the Lord, as well as the king,(A)
and don’t associate with rebels,[a]
22 for destruction from them will come suddenly;
who knows what distress these two can bring?

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 24:21 Or those given to change