Proverbs 22; Proverbs 23

Proverbs 22

1 A good name is to be chosen over great wealth; favor is better than silver and gold.

2 The rich and the poor have this in common: the Lord made them both.

3 A sensible person sees danger and takes cover, but the inexperienced keep going and are punished.

4 The result of humility is fear of the Lord, along with wealth, honor, and life.

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

6 Teach a youth about the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.

7 The rich rule over the poor, and the borrower is a slave to the lender.

8 The one who sows injustice will reap disaster, and the rod of his fury will be destroyed.

9 A generous person will be blessed, for he shares his food with the poor.

10 Drive out a mocker, and conflict goes too; then lawsuits and dishonor will cease.

11 The one who loves a pure heart and gracious lips-the king is his friend.

12 The Lord's eyes keep watch over knowledge, but He overthrows the words of the treacherous.

13 The slacker says, "There's a lion outside! I'll be killed in the streets!"

14 The mouth of the forbidden woman is a deep pit; a man cursed by the Lord will fall into it.

15 Foolishness is tangled up in the heart of a youth; the rod of discipline will drive it away from him.

16 Oppressing the poor to enrich oneself, and giving to the rich-both lead only to poverty.

17 Listen closely, pay attention to the words of the wise, and apply your mind to my knowledge.

18 For it is pleasing if you keep them within you and if they are constantly on your lips.

19 I have instructed you today-even you- so that your confidence may be in the Lord.

20 Haven't I written for you thirty sayings about counsel and knowledge,

21 in order to teach you true and reliable words, so that you may give a dependable report to those who sent you?

22 Don't rob a poor man because he is poor, and don't crush the oppressed at the gate,

23 for the Lord will take up their case and will plunder those who plunder them.

24 Don't make friends with an angry man, and don't be a companion of a hot-tempered man,

25 or you will learn his ways and entangle yourself in a snare.

26 Don't be one of those who enter agreements, who put up security for loans.

27 If you have no money to pay, even your bed will be taken from under you.

28 Don't move an ancient property line that your fathers set up.

29 Do you see a man skilled in his work? He will stand in the presence of kings. He will not stand in the presence of unknown men.

Proverbs 23

1 When you sit down to dine with a ruler, consider carefully what is before you,

2 and stick a knife in your throat if you have a big appetite;

3 don't desire his choice food, for that food is deceptive.

4 Don't wear yourself out to get rich; stop giving your attention to it.

5 As soon as your eyes fly to it, it disappears, for it makes wings for itself and flies like an eagle to the sky.

6 Don't eat a stingy person's bread, and don't desire his choice food,

7 for as he thinks within himself, so he is. "Eat and drink," he says to you, but his heart is not with you.

8 You will vomit the little you've eaten and waste your pleasant words.

9 Don't speak to a fool, for he will despise the insight of your words.

10 Don't move an ancient property line, and don't encroach on the fields of the fatherless,

11 for their Redeemer is strong, and He will take up their case against you.

12 Apply yourself to instruction and listen to words of knowledge.

13 Don't withhold correction from a youth; if you beat him with a rod, he will not die.

14 Strike him with a rod, and you will rescue his life from Sheol.

15 My son, if your heart is wise, my heart will indeed rejoice.

16 My innermost being will cheer when your lips say what is right.

17 Don't be jealous of sinners; instead, always fear the Lord.

18 For then you will have a future, and your hope will never fade.

19 Listen, my son, and be wise; keep your mind on the right course.

20 Don't associate with those who drink too much wine, or with those who gorge themselves on meat.

21 For the drunkard and the glutton will become poor, and grogginess will clothe [them] in rags.

22 Listen to your father who gave you life, and don't despise your mother when she is old.

23 Buy-and do not sell-truth, wisdom, instruction, and understanding.

24 The father of a righteous son will rejoice greatly, and one who fathers a wise son will delight in him.

25 Let your father and mother have joy, and let her who gave birth to you rejoice.

26 My son, give me your heart, and let your eyes observe my ways.

27 For a prostitute is a deep pit, and a forbidden woman is a narrow well;

28 indeed, she sets an ambush like a robber and increases those among men who are unfaithful.

29 Who has woe? Who has sorrow? Who has conflicts? Who has complaints? Who has wounds for no reason? Who has red eyes?

30 Those who linger over wine, those who go looking for mixed wine.

31 Don't gaze at wine when it is red, when it gleams in the cup and goes down smoothly.

32 In the end it bites like a snake and stings like a viper.

33 Your eyes will see strange things, and you will say absurd things.

34 You'll be like someone sleeping out at sea or lying down on the top of a ship's mast.

35 "They struck me, but I feel no pain! They beat me, but I didn't know it! When will I wake up? I'll look for another [drink]."