Proverbs 22:17-23:14

Evangelical Heritage Version

²⁰ Have I not written to you already^[b] with advice and knowledge,
²¹ in order to make accurate, true words known to you,
so that you may reply with true words to those who sent you?

²² Do not rob a poor person because he is poor,
and do not crush an oppressed person in court,^[c]
23 because the Lord will defend their cause,
and he will rob those who rob them of their lives.

²⁴ Do not be friends with a hothead.
Do not go along with someone who has a hot temper.
²⁵ If you do, you will learn his ways
and set a trap for yourself.^[d]

²⁶ Do not be among those who shake hands to guarantee debts.
²⁷ If you do not have enough to repay,
why should your bed be taken out from under you?

²⁸ Do not move an ancient boundary marker
    that your ancestors made.

²⁹ Do you see a person who is efficient in his work?
He will serve kings.
He will not serve nobodies.^[e]

23 When you sit down to eat with a ruler,
pay close attention to what is put in front of you,
² and put a knife to your throat if you have a big appetite.
³ Do not crave his delicious food.
That food is deceptive.

⁴ Do not wear yourself out getting rich.
Have the good judgment to know when to stop.
⁵ Will your eyes get a glimpse of wealth before it is gone?
No, it will sprout wings for itself.
Like an eagle it will fly away into the sky.

⁶ Do not eat the food of a miser.
Do not crave his delicious food,
⁷ because he is calculating how much things cost him.
So when he says to you, “Eat and drink,”
he does not mean it.
⁸ You will vomit up the little bit you ate
and spoil your pleasant conversation.

⁹ Do not speak within earshot of a fool,
because he will despise your sensible words.

¹⁰ Do not move an ancient boundary marker,
and do not enter the fields of the fatherless,
¹¹ because their Redeemer is strong.
He will defend their cause against you.

¹² Apply your heart to discipline
and your ear to words that give knowledge.

¹³ Do not withhold discipline from a child,
for if you strike him with a rod, he will not die.
¹⁴ Strike him yourself with a rod,
and you will rescue his soul from death.