Words of the Wise

17 (A)Incline your ear, and hear (B)the words of the wise,
    (C)and apply your heart to my knowledge,
18 for it will be pleasant if you keep them within you,
    if all of them are ready on your lips.
19 That your trust may be in the Lord,
    I have made them known to you today, even to you.
20 Have I not written for you (D)thirty sayings
    of counsel and knowledge,
21 to (E)make you know what is right and true,
    that you may give a true answer to those who sent you?

22 (F)Do not rob the poor, because he is poor,
    or (G)crush the afflicted at (H)the gate,
23 for (I)the Lord will plead their cause
    and rob of life those who rob them.
24 Make no friendship with a man given to anger,
    nor go with a wrathful man,
25 lest you learn his ways
    and entangle yourself in a snare.
26 Be not one of those who (J)give pledges,
    who put up security for debts.
27 If you have nothing with which to pay,
    why should (K)your bed be taken from under you?
28 Do not move the ancient (L)landmark
    that your fathers have set.
29 Do you see a man skillful in his work?
    He will (M)stand before kings;
    he will not stand before obscure men.

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Thirty Sayings of the Wise

Saying 1

17 Pay attention(A) and turn your ear to the sayings of the wise;(B)
    apply your heart to what I teach,(C)
18 for it is pleasing when you keep them in your heart
    and have all of them ready on your lips.
19 So that your trust may be in the Lord,
    I teach you today, even you.
20 Have I not written thirty sayings for you,
    sayings of counsel and knowledge,
21 teaching you to be honest and to speak the truth,(D)
    so that you bring back truthful reports
    to those you serve?

Saying 2

22 Do not exploit the poor(E) because they are poor
    and do not crush the needy in court,(F)
23 for the Lord will take up their case(G)
    and will exact life for life.(H)

Saying 3

24 Do not make friends with a hot-tempered person,
    do not associate with one easily angered,
25 or you may learn their ways
    and get yourself ensnared.(I)

Saying 4

26 Do not be one who shakes hands in pledge(J)
    or puts up security for debts;
27 if you lack the means to pay,
    your very bed will be snatched from under you.(K)

Saying 5

28 Do not move an ancient boundary stone(L)
    set up by your ancestors.

Saying 6

29 Do you see someone skilled(M) in their work?
    They will serve(N) before kings;(O)
    they will not serve before officials of low rank.

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