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 Do not set foot on the path of the wicked
    or walk in the way of evildoers.(A)
15 Avoid it, do not travel on it;
    turn from it and go on your way.
16 For they cannot rest until they do evil;(B)
    they are robbed of sleep till they make someone stumble.
17 They eat the bread of wickedness
    and drink the wine of violence.(C)

18 The path of the righteous(D) is like the morning sun,(E)
    shining ever brighter till the full light of day.(F)
19 But the way of the wicked is like deep darkness;(G)
    they do not know what makes them stumble.(H)

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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 Walk with the wise and become wise,
    for a companion of fools suffers harm.(A)

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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 fool,
    for you will not find knowledge on their lips.

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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 in spirit along with the oppressed
    than to share plunder with the proud.

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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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19 A gossip betrays a confidence;(A)
    so avoid anyone who talks too much.

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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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In the paths of the wicked are snares and pitfalls,(A)
    but those who would preserve their life stay 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

Saying 3

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.(A)

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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

Saying 9

Do not eat the food of a begrudging host,
    do not crave his delicacies;(A)
for he is the kind of person
    who is always thinking about the cost.[a]
“Eat and drink,” he says to you,
    but his heart is not with you.
You will vomit up the little you have eaten
    and will have wasted your compliments.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 23:7 Or for as he thinks within himself, / so he is; or for as he puts on a feast, / so he is

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 Do not join those who drink too much wine(A)
    or gorge themselves on meat,
21 for drunkards and gluttons become poor,(B)
    and drowsiness clothes them in rags.

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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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Saying 20

24 Do not envy(A) the wicked,
    do not desire their company;
for their hearts plot violence,(B)
    and their lips talk about making 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

Saying 30

21 Fear the Lord and the king,(A) my son,
    and do not join with rebellious officials,
22 for those two will send sudden destruction(B) on them,
    and who knows what calamities they can bring?

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