Proverbs 22:11-29

¹¹The Lord loves holy hearts, and all blameless persons are acceptable with him: a king rules with his lips.

¹²But the eyes of the Lord preserve discretion; but the transgressor despises wise words.

¹³The sluggard makes excuses, and says, There is a lion in the ways, and murderers in the streets.

¹⁴The mouth of a transgressor is a deep pit; and he that is hated of the Lord shall fall into it.

^14aEvil ways are before a man, and he does not like to turn away from them; but it is needful to turn aside from a perverse and bad way.

¹⁵Folly is attached to the heart of a child, but the rod and instruction are then far from him.

¹⁶He that oppresses the poor, increases his own substance, yet gives to the rich so as to make it less.

¹⁷Incline thine ear to the words of wise men: hear also my word, and apply thine heart,

¹⁸that thou mayest know that they are good: and if thou lay them to heart, they shall also gladden thee on thy lips.

¹⁹That thy hope may be in the Lord, and he may make thy way known to thee.

²⁰And do thou too repeatedly record them for thyself on the table of thine heart, for counsel and knowledge.

²¹I therefore teach thee truth, and knowledge good to hear; that thou mayest answer words of truth to them that question thee.

²²Do no violence to the poor, for he is needy: neither dishonour the helpless man in the gates.

²³For the Lord will plead his cause, and thou shalt deliver thy soul in safety.

²⁴Be not companion to a furious man; neither lodge with a passionate man:

²⁵lest thou learn of his ways, and get snares to thy soul.

²⁶Become not surety from respect of a man's person.

²⁷For if those have not whence to give compensation, they will take the bed that is under thee.

²⁸Remove not the old landmarks, which thy fathers placed.

²⁹It is fit that an observant man and one diligent in his business should attend on kings, and not attend on slothful men.