Proverbs 22; Proverbs 23; Proverbs 24

Proverbs 22

1 You should want a good name more than you want great riches. To be highly respected is better than having silver or gold.

2 The LORD made rich people and poor people. That's what they have in common.

3 Wise people see danger and go to a safe place. But childish people keep going and suffer for it.

4 Have respect for the LORD and don't be proud. That will bring you wealth and honor and life.

5 Thorns and traps lie in the paths of evil people. But those who guard themselves stay far away from them.

6 Train a child in the way he should go. When he is old, he will not turn away from it.

7 Rich people rule over those who are poor. Borrowers are slaves to lenders.

8 Anyone who plants evil gathers a harvest of trouble. His power to beat others down will be destroyed.

9 Anyone who gives freely will be blessed. That's because he shares his food with those who are poor.

10 If you drive away those who make fun of others, fighting also goes away. Arguing and unkind words will stop.

11 Have a pure and loving heart, and speak kindly. Then you will be a friend of the king.

12 The eyes of the LORD keep watch over knowledge. But he does away with the words of those who aren't faithful.

13 People who don't want to work say, "There's a lion outside!" Or they say, "I'll be murdered if I go out into the streets!"

14 The mouth of a woman who commits adultery is like a deep pit. Any man the LORD is angry with will fall into it.

15 A child is going to do foolish things. But correcting him will drive his foolishness far away from him.

16 One person may beat poor people down in order to get rich. Another person may give gifts to rich people. Both of them will become poor.

17 Pay attention and listen to the sayings of those who are wise. Apply your heart to the sayings I teach.

18 It is pleasing when you keep them in your heart. Have all of them ready on your lips.

19 You are the one I am teaching today. I want you to trust in the Lord.

20 I have written 30 sayings for you. They will give you knowledge and good advice.

21 I am teaching you words that are completely true. Then you can give the right answers to the one who sent you.

22 Don't take advantage of poor people just because they are poor. Don't beat down those who are in need by taking them to court.

23 The LORD will stand up for them in court. He will take back the stolen goods from those who have robbed them.

24 Don't be a friend with anyone who burns with anger. Don't go around with a person who gets angry easily.

25 You might learn his habits. And then you will be trapped by them.

26 Don't agree to pay for what someone else owes.

27 Don't put up money for him. If you don't have the money to pay, your bed will be taken right out from under you!

28 Don't move old boundary stones that your people set up long ago.

29 Do you see a man who does good work? He will serve kings. He won't serve ordinary people.

Proverbs 23

1 When you sit down to eat with a ruler, look carefully at what's in front of you.

2 Put a knife to your throat if you like to eat too much.

3 Don't long for his fancy food. It can fool you.

4 Don't wear yourself out to get rich. Be wise enough to say no

5 When you take even a quick look at riches, they are gone. They grow wings and fly away into the sky like an eagle.

6 Don't eat the food of anyone who won't share it. Don't long for his fancy food.

7 He is the kind of person who is always thinking about how much it costs. "Eat and drink," he says to you. But he doesn't mean it.

8 You will throw up what little you have eaten. You will have wasted your words of praise.

9 Don't speak to a foolish person. He will laugh at your wise words.

10 Don't move old boundary stones. Don't try to take over the fields of children whose fathers have died.

11 The One who guards them is strong. He will stand up for them in court against you.

12 Apply your heart to what you are taught. Listen carefully to words of knowledge.

13 Don't hold back training from a child. If you correct him, he won't die.

14 So correct him. Then you will save him from death

15 My child, if your heart is wise, my heart will be glad.

16 Deep down inside, I will be happy when you say what is right.

17 Do not long for what sinners have. But always show great respect for the Lord.

18 There really is hope for you tomorrow. So your hope will not be cut off.

19 My child, listen and be wise. Keep your heart on the right path

20 Don't join those who drink too much wine. Don't join those who stuff themselves with meat.

21 Those who drink or eat too much will become poor. If they sleep too much, they'll have to wear rags

22 Listen to your father, who gave you life. Don't hate your mother when she is old.

23 Buy the truth. Don't sell it. Get wisdom, training and understanding.

24 The father of a godly child is very happy. Anyone who has a wise child is glad.

25 May your father and mother be glad. May the woman who gave birth to you be happy.

26 My son, give me your heart. Keep your eyes on the way I live.

27 A prostitute is like a deep pit. A wife who commits adultery is like a narrow well.

28 She hides and waits like a thief. She causes many men to sin.

29 Who has trouble? Who has sorrow? Who argues? Who has problems? Who has wounds for no reason? Who has red eyes?

30 Those who spend too much time with wine. Or those who like to taste wine that is mixed with spices.

31 Don't look at wine when it is red. Don't look at it when it bubbles in the cup. And don't look at it when it goes down smoothly.

32 In the end it bites like a snake. It bites like a poisonous serpent.

33 Your eyes will see strange sights. Your mind will imagine weird things.

34 You will feel like someone sleeping on the ocean. You will think you are lying among the ropes in a boat.

35 "They hit me," you will say. "But I'm not hurt! They beat me. But I don't feel it! When will I wake up so I can find another drink?"

Proverbs 24

1 Do not want what evil men have. Don't long to be with them.

2 In their hearts they plan to hurt others. With their lips they talk about making trouble.

3 By wisdom a house is built. Through understanding it is made secure.

4 Through knowledge its rooms are filled with priceless and beautiful things.

5 A wise man has great power. A man who has knowledge increases his strength.

6 If you go to war, you need guidance. If you want to win, you need many good advisers.

7 Wisdom is too high for anyone who is foolish. He has nothing to say when people meet at the city gate to conduct business.

8 Anyone who thinks up sinful things to do will be known as one who plans evil.

9 Foolish plans are sinful. People hate those who make fun of others.

10 If you grow weak when trouble comes, your strength is very small!

11 Save those who are being led away to death. Hold back those who are about to be killed.

12 Don't say, "But we didn't know anything about this." The One who knows what you are thinking sees it. The One who guards your life knows it. He will pay each person back for what he has done.

13 Eat honey, my child. It is good. Honey from a honeycomb has a sweet taste.

14 I want you to know that wisdom is sweet to you. If you find it, there is hope for you tomorrow. So your hope will not be cut off.

15 Don't hide and wait like a burglar at a godly person's house. Don't rob his home.

16 Even if godly people fall down seven times, they always get up. But those who are evil are brought down by trouble.

17 Don't be happy when your enemy falls. When he trips, don't let your heart be glad.

18 The LORD will see it, but he won't be pleased. He might turn his anger away from your enemy.

19 Don't be upset because of evil people. Don't long for what sinners have.

20 Tomorrow evil people won't have any hope. The lamps of sinners will be blown out.

21 My son, have respect for the LORD and the king. Don't join those who disobey them.

22 The LORD and the king will suddenly destroy them. Who knows what trouble those two can bring?

23 Here are more sayings of those who are wise. Taking sides in court is not good.

24 A curse will fall on those who say the guilty are not guilty. Nations will call down curses on them. People will speak against them.

25 But it will go well with those who sentence guilty people. Rich blessings will come to them.

26 An honest answer is like a kiss on the lips.

27 Finish your outdoor work. Get your fields ready. After that, build your house.

28 Don't give witness against your neighbor without any reason. Don't use your lips to tell lies.

29 Don't say, "I'll do to him what he did to me. I'll get even with that man for what he did."

30 I went past the field of someone who didn't want to work. I went past the vineyard of a man who didn't have any sense.

31 Thorns had grown up everywhere. The ground was covered with weeds. The stone wall had fallen down.

32 I applied my heart to what I observed. I learned a lesson from what I saw.

33 You might sleep a little or take a little nap. You might even fold your hands and rest.

34 Then you would be poor, as if someone had robbed you. You would have little, as if someone had stolen from you.