22
Second Collection of Proverbs
17 Incline your ear and hear my words,
and set your heart to know their beauty.
18 Keep them in your mind,
have them ever fixed on your lips.
19 That your trust may be in the Lord
I teach you them this day,
20 As I wrote for you heretofore
concerning counsels of wisdom —
21 to acquaint you with words of truth,
and with answers for those who would question you.
22 Rob not the poor because he is poor,
and crush not the weak in the gate;
23 For the Lord will defend their cause,
and will rob of their lives those who rob them.
24 Make no friend of a man prone to anger,
nor go with a man of passion,
25 in case you learn his ways.
and get yourself ensnared.
26 Be not one of those that give pledges,
of those that are surety for debt;
27 for if you have nothing to pay,
your bed will be taken from under you.
28 Remove not the ancient landmark
established by your fathers.
29 Do you see a man expert in his business?
He will stand in the presence of kings.
but before obscure men he will not stand.