Proverbs 22:17-29

New American Standard Bible

^17 (A)Extend your ear and hear the words of the wise,
And apply your mind to my knowledge;
¹⁸ For it will be ^(B)pleasant if you keep them within you,
^[a]So that they may be ready on your lips.
¹⁹ So that your ^(C)trust may be in the Lord,
I have ^[b]taught you today, you indeed.
²⁰ Have I not written to you ^[c](D)excellent things
Of counsels and knowledge,
²¹ To make you ^(E)know the ^[d]certainty of the words of truth,
So that you may ^[e](F)correctly answer him who sent you?

^22 (G)Do not rob the poor because he is poor,
Nor ^(H)crush the needy at the gate;
²³ For the Lord will ^(I)plead their case
And ^[f]take the life of those who rob them.

²⁴ Do not make friends with a person given to anger,
Or go with a ^(J)hot-tempered person,
²⁵ Or you will ^(K)learn his ways
And ^[g]find a snare for yourself.

²⁶ Do not be among those who ^(L)shake hands,
Among those who become guarantors for debts.
²⁷ If you have nothing with which to repay,
Why should he ^(M)take your bed from under you?

^28 (N)Do not move the ancient boundary
Which your fathers have set.

²⁹ Do you see a person skilled in his work?
He will ^(O)stand before kings;
He will not stand before obscure people.