Proverbs 22:17-29

Words of the Wise

17 ¹Incline your ear, and hear ²the words of the wise, ³and apply your heart to my knowledge,

18 for it will be pleasant if you keep them within you, if all of them are ready on your lips.

19 That your trust may be in the Lord, I have made them known to you today, even to you.

20 Have I not written for you ⁴thirty sayings of counsel and knowledge,

21 to ⁵make you know what is right and true, that you may give a true answer to those who sent you?

22 ⁶Do not rob the poor, because he is poor, or ⁷crush the afflicted at ⁸the gate,

23 for ⁹the Lord will plead their cause and rob of life those who rob them.

24 Make no friendship with a man given to anger, nor go with a wrathful man,

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

26 Be not one of those who ¹⁰give pledges, who put up security for debts.

27 If you have nothing with which to pay, why should ¹¹your bed be taken from under you?

28 Do not move the ancient ¹²landmark that your fathers have set.

29 Do you see a man skillful in his work? He will ¹³stand before kings; he will not stand before obscure men.

Proverbs 22:17-29 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO 1 KINGS 10

This chapter contains an account of the queen of Sheba's visit to King Solomon to her great satisfaction, 1Ki 10:1-13, of Solomon's merchandise and riches, and the magnificence of his court, 1Ki 10:14-23, of the rich presents sent to him, and of the purchase of chariots and horses, and other things, he made, 1Ki 10:24-29.

Cross References

• 1. 22:17 ch. 5:1
• 2. 22:17 ch. 1:6; 24:23
• 3. 22:17 [ch. 23:12]
• 4. 22:20 ch. 8:6
• 5. 22:21 [Luke 1:3, 4]
• 6. 22:22 [Ex. 23:6; Zech. 7:10; Mal. 3:5]
• 7. 22:22 See Job 5:4
• 8. 22:22 Job 31:21
• 9. 22:23 ch. 23:11; 1 Sam. 25:39; Ps. 12:5; 35:10; 68:5; 140:12; Jer. 51:36
• 10. 22:26 See Job 17:3
• 11. 22:27 [ch. 20:16; Ex. 22:26]
• 12. 22:28 ch. 23:10; Deut. 19:14; 27:17; Job 24:2; Hos. 5:10
• 13. 22:29 1 Kgs. 10:8; See Gen. 41:46