Beginning
Advice for Everyday Life
22 A good reputation is more desirable than great wealth,
and favorable acceptance more than silver and gold.
2 The rich and the poor have this in common—
the Lord created both of them.
3 The prudent person sees trouble ahead and hides,
but the naïve continue on and suffer the consequences.
4 The reward of humility is the fear of the Lord,
along with wealth, honor, and life.
5 Thorns and snares lie in the path of the perverse person,
but whoever is cautious stays far away from them.
6 Train a child in the way appropriate for him,
and when he becomes older, he will not turn from it.
7 The wealthy rule over the poor,
and anyone who borrows is a slave to the lender.
8 Whoever sows wickedness reaps trouble,
and the anger he uses for a weapon[a] will be destroyed.
9 Whoever is generous[b] will be blessed,
for he shares his food with the poor.
11 Whoever loves purity[e] and gracious speech
will gain the king as his friend.
12 The Lord watches over anyone with knowledge,
but he ruins the plans[f] of the unfaithful.
13 The lazy person says, “There is a lion outside!
I will be killed in the street!”
14 The mouth of an immoral woman is a deep pit;
a man experiencing the Lord’s wrath will fall into it.
15 A child’s heart has a tendency to do wrong,
but the rod of discipline removes it far away from him.
16 Whoever oppresses the poor to enrich himself
and whoever gives gifts to the wealthy
will yield only loss.
Sayings of the Wise
17 Pay attention and listen to the words of the wise,
and apply your heart to my teaching,
18 for it is pleasant when you treasure them within you
and have them ready on your lips.
19 As a result, your trust will be in the Lord,
that’s why I’m teaching you today, even you.
20 Have I not written for you 30 sayings
containing counsel and knowledge,
21 to teach you true and reliable advice,
so you can give truthful answers to those who sent you?
22 Don’t rob the poor person because he is poor,
and don’t crush the helpless in court,[g]
23 for the Lord will plead their case
and ruin the lives of those who ruin them.
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.
26 Don’t be one of those who make promises
to guarantee loans for debts.
27 If you don’t have the ability to pay,
why should your very bed be taken from under you?
28 Don’t remove an ancient boundary stone
that was set up by your ancestors.
29 Do you see a man skilled in his work?
He will work for kings, not unimportant people.
Things to Avoid in Life
23 Whenever you sit down to dine with a ruler,
carefully think about what is before you.
2 Put a knife to your own throat,
if you have a big appetite.[h]
3 Don’t crave his delicacies,
because the meal is deceptive.
4 Don’t exhaust yourself acquiring wealth;
be smart enough to stop.
5 When you fix your gaze on it, it’s gone,
for it sprouts wings for itself
and flies to the sky like an eagle.
6 Don’t consume food provided by a miserly[i] person,
and don’t desire his delicacies,
7 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.
8 You’ll vomit up what little you’ve eaten,
and your compliments will have been wasted.
9 Don’t speak when a fool is listening,
because he’ll despise your wise words.
10 Don’t move ancient boundaries
or invade fields belonging to orphans;
11 for strong is their Redeemer
who will take up their case against you.
12 Learn diligently,
and listen to words of knowledge.
13 Don’t withhold discipline from a child;
if you punish him with a rod,
he won’t die.
14 Punish him with a rod,
and you will rescue his soul from Sheol.[j]
On Listening to Your Parents
15 My son, if your heart is wise,
my own heart will greatly rejoice.
16 My innermost being will be glad
when your lips speak what is right.
17 Never let yourself envy sinners;
instead, remain[k] in fear of the Lord every day,
18 for there is surely a future life,
and what you hope for will not be cut off.
19 Listen, my son, and be wise,
commit yourself to live God’s[l] way.
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.
22 Listen to the one who fathered you,
and don’t despise your mother in her old age.
23 Purchase truth, but don’t sell it;
store up[m] wisdom, instruction, and understanding.
24 The father of a righteous person will greatly rejoice;
whoever fathers a wise son will be glad because of him.
25 Let your father and mother rejoice;
make the one who gave birth to you happy.
26 Give me your heart, my son,
and keep your eyes fixed on my ways,
27 because a prostitute is a deep pit,
and the adulterous[n] woman a narrow well.
28 Surely she lies in wait like a bandit,
increasing those who are faithless among mankind.
On Sobriety
29 Who has woe? Who has grief?
Who has contention? Who has complaints?
Who has wounds without cause?
Who has bloodshot eyes?
30 Those who linger over their wine,
who consume mixed drinks.
31 Don’t stare into red wine,
when it sparkles in the cup
and goes down smoothly.
32 Eventually it will bite like a snake
and sting like a serpent.
33 Your eyes will see strange things,
and with slurred words you’ll speak what you really believe.
34 You will be like someone who lies down in the sea,
or like someone who sleeps on top of a mast.
35 “They struck me,” you will say,[o]
“but I never felt it.
They beat me,
but I never knew it.
When will I wake up?
I want another drink.”
Copyright © 1995-2014 by ISV Foundation. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED INTERNATIONALLY. Used by permission of Davidson Press, LLC.