Proverbs 22:22–23:9

22 Don’t rob a poor man because he is poor,

and don’t crush the oppressed l at the * gate, m

23 for the Lord will take up their case n

and will plunder those who plunder them.

24 Don’t make friends with an angry man, o

and don’t be a companion of a hot-tempered man, p

25 or you will learn his ways q

and entangle yourself in a snare.

26 Don’t be one of those who enter agreements, r

who put up security for loans. s

27 If you have no money to pay,

even your bed will be taken from under you. t

28 Don’t move an ancient boundary marker,

that your fathers set up. u

29 Do you see a man skilled in his work?

He will stand in the presence of kings.

He will not stand in the presence of unknown men. v

23 When you sit down to dine with a ruler,

consider carefully what w is before you,

2 and put a knife to your throat

if you have a big x appetite;

3 don’t desire his choice food, y

for that food is deceptive.

4 Don’t wear yourself out to get rich; z

stop giving your attention to it.

5 As soon as your eyes fly to it, it disappears, a

for it makes wings for itself

and flies like an eagle to the sky.

6 Don’t eat a stingy person’s bread, b c

and don’t desire his choice food, d

7 for it’s like someone calculating inwardly. e f

“Eat and drink,” he says to you,

but his heart is not with you. g

8 You will vomit the little you’ve eaten

and waste your pleasant words.

9 Don’t speak to h a fool,

for he will despise the insight of your words. i