17 Listen carefully to what wise people have said.

≈ Set your mind to apply what I’m teaching you

18 because internalising my instructions will be worthwhile—

→ then they’ll be easy for you to share with others.

19 I’ll instruct you today

→ so that you’ll put your trust in Yahweh.

20 Actually, I’ve written thirty proverbs

to advise and teach you—

21 to show you true and reliable principles

so that you can give accurate answers to those sent to you.

22 Don’t rob those in poverty just because they’re poor

≈ and don’t ‘crush’ a poor person at the community gate

23 → because Yahweh will take their side.

≈ Yes, he’ll plunder the lives of those who plunder them.

24 Don’t associate with angry people,

≈ and don’t go along with a hot-headed person,

25 → in case you end up copying their habits,

≈ and get yourself tangled in that trap.

26 Don’t be among those quick to shake hands

to guarantee the loans of others,

27 because if you’re unable to make the payment,

→ you could have your bed taken out from under you.

28 Don’t move an ancient boundary marker,

which your ancestors had placed there.

29 You’ve seen a man who’s skilled at his work—

→ he’ll take his position in front of kings.

^ He won’t do his work just for anybody.

23 When you sit down to eat with a political leader,

pay attention to what’s in front of you,

2 and put a knife to your throat,

if you have an enormous appetite.

3 Don’t crave their delicacies,

because it’s the food of lies.

4 Don’t just work to get rich.

Your wisdom should tell you to stop.

5 You glance at wealth then it’ll be gone,

because it’ll make wings for itself and fly away into the sky like an eagle.

6 Don’t eat the food of a stingy person,

and don’t crave for their delicacies,

7 because they’re always calculating internally—

telling you to eat and drink but it’s not really genuine.

8 You’ll vomit up the bit that you’ve eaten

and your pleasant greetings will have been wasted.

9 Don’t bother speaking to a foolish person

because they’ll despise the wise things that you say.

10 Don’t move an ancient boundary marker,

or encroach on the fields of those who are disadvantaged,

11 because the one who watches out for them is strong

and he’ll take up their case against you.

12 Make continual learning part of your values,

and use your ears for gaining knowledge.

13 It’s important to discipline your children.

They won’t die from getting a spanking.

14 Spank them with a stick

and you’ll keep them from the grave.

15 My child, if you value wisdom

then I’ll certainly be very happy.

16 My mind will be celebrating

when your lips speak out what’s right.

17 Don’t let yourself start envying sinners—

instead it should be Yahweh that you respect and strive to obey,

18 because then there’ll certainly be a future.

Your hope for the future won’t be chopped off.

19 My child, listen and become wise,

≈ and channel your values in the right direction.

20 Don’t associate with those drinking too much wine,

≈ or with those who gorge themselves on meat,

21 → because drunkards and gluttons will become impoverished,

≈ and their drowsiness will leave them dressed in rags.

22 Listen to what your father tells you,

and don’t despise your mother when she gets old.

23 Acquire truth and don’t sell it,

and similarly for wisdom, instruction, understanding.

24 The father of someone who does what’s right will be encouraged.

Yes, whoever fathers a sensible child will be glad.

25 Let your father be happy.

and may your mother celebrate.

26 My child, follow me with sincerity,

≈ and let your eyes observe my ways,

27 because a prostitute is a deep pit,

≈ and an adulteress is a narrow well.

28 They lie in wait like a robber would,

and keep adding to the number of men who become unfaithful.

29 Who has dread or sorrow or contentions?

≈ Who has complaints, or needless wounds, or bloodshot eyes.

30 It’s those who linger over wine,

or try various mixed drinks.

31 Don’t look at wine when it’s red and sparkling in the cup,

and when it would slide down smoothly.

32 → In the end it bites like a snake,

≈ and stings like a viper.

33 → Then your eyes will see strange things,

≈ and perverse things in your mind will get spoken.

34 → You’ll feel like someone sleeping out in the ocean—

≈ just like someone lying down at the top of a mast.

35 You’ll say, “They hit me but it didn’t hurt.

They beat me but I couldn’t feel it.

When will I wake up? I’ll have some more—where is it?”

24 Don’t be envious of evil men,

≈ and don’t try to associate with them,

2 because they have violent thoughts,

and their lips cause trouble.

3 It’s through wisdom that a house is built,

≈ and it’s established by understanding.

4 It’s through knowledge that its rooms get filled

→ with beautiful and valuable treasures.

5 A wise person is strong,

and those with knowledge increase their power,

6 → because you need wise guidance to go to war,

≈ and victory requires many advisers.

7 Wisdom is too much for fools.

→ They don’t open their mouths at the city gate.

8 The person who plans to do evil,

will be known by others as a master schemer.

9 A foolish plan is sinful,

and people hate a mocker.

10 If you display a lack of courage when you have troubles,

→ your strength is limited.

11 Rescue those being led away to their death,

≈ and those who will be staggering to their slaughter if you restrain.

12 If you just say that you didn’t know anything about it,

→ then the one who weighs motives will realise.

→ Then the one who guards your life will repay everyone according to what they’ve done.

13 My child, eat honey because it’s good,

≈ and honeycomb tastes sweet.

14 Wisdom is like that for your mind,

and if you find it, there’ll be a future for you,

and what you hope for won’t be taken away from you.

15 Don’t lie in wait like a wicked person does at a good person’s home.

Don’t devastate the place where a good person lives,

16 because a good person might fall several times then get up again,

^ but the wicked stumble when calamity comes.

17 Don’t cheer when your enemy falls,

≈ and when they stumble, don’t celebrate

18 → because Yahweh will see and disapprove,

→ and turn his anger away from them.

19 Don’t get yourself worrying because of evil people.

≈ Don’t be jealous of the wicked,

20 → because there’s no future for an evil person.

≈ The lamp of the wicked will be extinguished.

21 My child, honour Yahweh and the king and strive to obey them,

Don’t get involved with those who change sides

22 → because disaster will suddenly hit them

and who knows what ruin they both might bring then?