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18for it is pleasing when you keep them in your heart
and have all of them ready on your lips.

19So that your trust may be in the LORD,
I teach you today, even you.

20Have I not written thirtyOr not formerly written; or not written excellent sayings for you,
sayings of counsel and knowledge,

21teaching you true and reliable words,
so that you can give sound answers
to him who sent you?

22Do not exploit the poor because they are poor
and do not crush the needy in court,

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

24Do not make friends with a hot-tempered man,
do not associate with one easily angered,

25or you may learn his ways
and get yourself ensnared.

26Do not be a man who strikes hands in pledge
or puts up security for debts;

27if you lack the means to pay,
your very bed will be snatched from under you.

28Do not move an ancient boundary stone
set up by your forefathers.

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

2and put a knife to your throat
if you are given to gluttony.

3Do not crave his delicacies,
for that food is deceptive.

4Do not wear yourself out to get rich;
have the wisdom to show restraint.

5Cast but a glance at riches, and they are gone,
for they will surely sprout wings
and fly off to the sky like an eagle.

6Do not eat the food of a stingy man,
do not crave his delicacies;

7for he is the kind of man
who is always thinking about the cost.Or for as he thinks within himself, / so he is; or for as he puts on a feast, / so he is
“Eat and drink,” he says to you,
but his heart is not with you.

8You will vomit up the little you have eaten
and will have wasted your compliments.

9Do not speak to a fool,
for he will scorn the wisdom of your words.

10Do not move an ancient boundary stone
or encroach on the fields of the fatherless,

11for their Defender is strong;
he will take up their case against you.

12Apply your heart to instruction
and your ears to words of knowledge.

13Do not withhold discipline from a child;
if you punish him with the rod, he will not die.

14Punish him with the rod
and save his soul from death.Hebrew Sheol

15My son, if your heart is wise,
then my heart will be glad;

16my inmost being will rejoice
when your lips speak what is right.

17Do not let your heart envy sinners,
but always be zealous for the fear of the LORD.

18There is surely a future hope for you,
and your hope will not be cut off.

19Listen, my son, and be wise,
and keep your heart on the right path.

20Do not join those who drink too much wine
or gorge themselves on meat,

21for drunkards and gluttons become poor,
and drowsiness clothes them in rags.

22Listen to your father, who gave you life,
and do not despise your mother when she is old.

23Buy the truth and do not sell it;
get wisdom, discipline and understanding.

24The father of a righteous man has great joy;
he who has a wise son delights in him.

25May your father and mother be glad;
may she who gave you birth rejoice!

26My son, give me your heart
and let your eyes keep to my ways,

27for a prostitute is a deep pit
and a wayward wife is a narrow well.

28Like a bandit she lies in wait,
and multiplies the unfaithful among men.

29Who has woe? Who has sorrow?
Who has strife? Who has complaints?
Who has needless bruises? Who has bloodshot eyes?

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?”

2for their hearts plot violence,
and their lips talk about making trouble.

3By wisdom a house is built,
and through understanding it is established;

4through knowledge its rooms are filled
with rare and beautiful treasures.

5A wise man has great power,
and a man of knowledge increases strength;

6for waging war you need guidance,
and for victory many advisers.

7Wisdom is too high for a fool;
in the assembly at the gate he has nothing to say.

8He who plots evil
will be known as a schemer.

9The schemes of folly are sin,
and men detest a mocker.

10If you falter in times of trouble,
how small is your strength!

11Rescue those being led away to death;
hold back those staggering toward slaughter.

12If you say, “But we knew nothing about this,”
does not he who weighs the heart perceive it?
Does not he who guards your life know it?
Will he not repay each person according to what he has done?

13Eat honey, my son, for it is good;
honey from the comb is sweet to your taste.

14Know also that wisdom is sweet to your soul;
if you find it, there is a future hope for you,
and your hope will not be cut off.

15Do not lie in wait like an outlaw against a righteous man's house,
do not raid his dwelling place;

16for though a righteous man falls seven times, he rises again,
but the wicked are brought down by calamity.

17Do not gloat when your enemy falls;
when he stumbles, do not let your heart rejoice,

18or the LORD will see and disapprove
and turn his wrath away from him.

19Do not fret because of evil men
or be envious of the wicked,

20for the evil man has no future hope,
and the lamp of the wicked will be snuffed out.

21Fear the LORD and the king, my son,
and do not join with the rebellious,

22for those two will send sudden destruction upon them,
and who knows what calamities they can bring?