Proverbs 22:17–23

Pay attention and turn your ear to the sayings of the wise;

apply your heart to what I teach,

for it is pleasing when you keep them in your heart

and have all of them ready on your lips.

So that your trust may be in the Lord,

I teach you today, even you.

Have I not written thirty sayings for you,

sayings of counsel and knowledge,

teaching you to be honest and to speak the truth,

so that you bring back truthful reports

to those you serve?

Do not exploit the poor because they are poor

and do not crush the needy in court,

for the Lord will take up their case

and will exact life for life.

Listen closely, pay attention to the words of the wise,

and apply your mind to my knowledge.

For it is pleasing if you keep them within you

and if they are constantly on your lips.

I have instructed you today—even you—

so that your confidence may be in the Lord.

Haven’t I written for you thirty sayings

about counsel and knowledge,

in order to teach you true and reliable words,

so that you may give a dependable report

to those who sent you?

Don’t rob a poor person because he is poor,

and don’t crush the oppressed at the city gate,

for the Lord will champion their cause

and will plunder those who plunder them.

Listen to the words of the wise;

apply your heart to my instruction.

For it is good to keep these sayings in your heart

and always ready on your lips.

I am teaching you today—yes, you—

so you will trust in the Lord.

I have written thirty sayings for you,

filled with advice and knowledge.

In this way, you may know the truth

and take an accurate report to those who sent you.

Don’t rob the poor just because you can,

or exploit the needy in court.

For the Lord is their defender.

He will ruin anyone who ruins them.

Incline your ear and hear the words of the wise;

you shall apply your heart to my teaching.

For it is pleasant if you guard them within you;

together they will be ready upon your lips.

In order for your trust to be in Yahweh,

I have made them known to you today—even you.

Have I not written for you thirty sayings

with admonitions and knowledge?

In order to show you what is right—sayings of truth—

in order to return a true saying to him who sent you.

Do not rob the poor because he is poor,

and do not crush the afflicted at the gate;

For Yahweh will plead their case

and despoil those who despoil them of life.

Bow down thine ear, and hear the words of the wise,

And apply thine heart unto my knowledge.

For it is a pleasant thing if thou keep them within thee;

They shall withal be fitted in thy lips.

That thy trust may be in the Lord,

I have made known to thee this day, even to thee.

Have not I written to thee excellent things

In counsels and knowledge,

That I might make thee know the certainty of the words of truth;

That thou mightest answer the words of truth to them that send unto thee?

Rob not the poor, because he is poor:

Neither oppress the afflicted in the gate:

For the Lord will plead their cause,

And spoil the soul of those that spoiled them.