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Proverbs 22:17–24

Words of the Wise

17  pIncline your ear, and hear qthe words of the wise,

rand 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 sthirty sayings

of counsel and knowledge,

21  to tmake you know what is right and true,

that you may give a true answer to those who sent you?

22  uDo not rob the poor, because he is poor,

or vcrush the afflicted at wthe gate,

23  for xthe 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,

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Proverbs 22:17–24 — The New International Version (NIV)

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

apply your heart to what I teach,

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,

so that you bring back truthful reports

to those you serve?

22 Do not exploit the poor because they are poor

and do not crush the needy in court,

23 for the Lord will take up their case

and will exact life for life.

24 Do not make friends with a hot-tempered person,

do not associate with one easily angered,

Proverbs 22:17–24 — King James Version (KJV 1900)

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

And apply thine heart unto my knowledge.

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

They shall withal be fitted in thy lips.

19 That thy trust may be in the Lord,

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

20 Have not I written to thee excellent things

In counsels and knowledge,

21 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?

22 Rob not the poor, because he is poor:

Neither oppress the afflicted in the gate:

23 For the Lord will plead their cause,

And spoil the soul of those that spoiled them.

24 Make no friendship with an angry man;

And with a furious man thou shalt not go:

Proverbs 22:17–24 — New Living Translation (NLT)

17 Listen to the words of the wise;

apply your heart to my instruction.

18 For it is good to keep these sayings in your heart

and always ready on your lips.

19 I am teaching you today—yes, you—

so you will trust in the Lord.

20 I have written thirty sayings for you,

filled with advice and knowledge.

21 In this way, you may know the truth

and take an accurate report to those who sent you.

22 Don’t rob the poor just because you can,

or exploit the needy in court.

23 For the Lord is their defender.

He will ruin anyone who ruins them.

24 Don’t befriend angry people

or associate with hot-tempered people,

Proverbs 22:17–24 — The New King James Version (NKJV)

17 Incline your ear and hear the words of the wise,

And apply your heart to my knowledge;

18 For it is a pleasant thing if you keep them within you;

Let them all be fixed upon your lips,

19 So that your trust may be in the Lord;

I have instructed you today, even you.

20 Have I not written to you excellent things

Of counsels and knowledge,

21 That I may make you know the certainty of the words of truth,

That you may answer words of truth

To those who send to you?

22 Do not rob the poor because he is poor,

Nor oppress the afflicted at the gate;

23 For the Lord will plead their cause,

And plunder the soul of those who plunder them.

24 Make no friendship with an angry man,

And with a furious man do not go,

Proverbs 22:17–24 — New Century Version (NCV)

17 Listen carefully to what wise people say;

pay attention to what I am teaching you.

18 It will be good to keep these things in mind

so that you are ready to repeat them.

19 I am teaching them to you now

so that you will put your trust in the Lord.

20 I have written thirty sayings for you,

which give knowledge and good advice.

21 I am teaching you true and reliable words

so that you can give true answers to anyone who asks.

22 Do not abuse poor people because they are poor,

and do not take away the rights of the needy in court.

23 The Lord will defend them in court

and will take the life of those who take away their rights.

24 Don’t make friends with quick-tempered people

or spend time with those who have bad tempers.

Proverbs 22:17–24 — American Standard Version (ASV)

17 Incline thine ear, and hear the words of the wise,

And apply thy heart unto my knowledge.

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

If they be established together upon thy lips.

19 That thy trust may be in Jehovah,

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

20 Have not I written unto thee excellent things

Of counsels and knowledge,

21 To make thee know the certainty of the words of truth,

That thou mayest carry back words of truth to them that send thee?

22 Rob not the poor, because he is poor;

Neither oppress the afflicted in the gate:

23 For Jehovah will plead their cause,

And despoil of life those that despoil them.

24 Make no friendship with a man that is given to anger;

And with a wrathful man thou shalt not go:

Proverbs 22:17–24 — 1890 Darby Bible (DARBY)

17 Incline thine ear, and hear the words of the wise, and apply thy heart unto my knowledge. 18 For it is a pleasant thing if thou keep them within thee: they shall be together fitted on thy lips. 19 That thy confidence may be in Jehovah, I have made them known to thee this day, even to thee. 20 Have not I written to thee excellent things, in counsels and knowledge, 21 that I might make thee know the certainty of the words of truth; that thou mightest carry back words of truth to them that send thee?

22 Rob not the poor, because he is poor, neither oppress the afflicted in the gate; 23 for Jehovah will plead their cause, and despoil the soul of those that despoil them.

24 Make no friendship with an angry man, and go not with a furious man;

Proverbs 22:17–24 — GOD’S WORD Translation (GW)

17 Open your ears, and hear the words of wise people, 

and set your mind on the knowledge I give you. 

18 It is pleasant if you keep them in mind 

⸤so that⸥ they will be on the tip of your tongue, 

19 so that your trust may be in the Lord

Today I have made them known to you, especially to you. 

20 Didn’t I write to you previously with advice and knowledge 

21 in order to teach you the words of truth 

so that you can give an accurate report to those who send you? 

22 Do not rob the poor because they are poor 

or trample on the rights of an oppressed person at the city gate, 

23 because the Lord will plead their case 

and will take the lives of those who rob them. 

24 Do not be a friend of one who has a bad temper, 

and never keep company with a hothead, 

Proverbs 22:17–24 — The Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)

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

and apply your mind to my knowledge.

18 For it is pleasing if you keep them within you

and if they are constantly on your lips.

19 I have instructed you today—even you—

so that your confidence may be in the Lord.

20 Haven’t I written for you thirty sayings

about counsel and knowledge,

21 in order to teach you true and reliable words,

so that you may give a dependable report

to those who sent you?

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

and don’t crush the oppressed at the gate,

23 for the Lord will take up their case

and will plunder those who plunder them.

24 Don’t make friends with an angry man,

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

Proverbs 22:17–24 — The New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

17 The words of the wise:

Incline your ear and hear my words,

and apply your mind to my teaching;

18 for it will be pleasant if you keep them within you,

if all of them are ready on your lips.

19 So that your trust may be in the Lord,

I have made them known to you today—yes, to you.

20 Have I not written for you thirty sayings

of admonition and knowledge,

21 to show you what is right and true,

so that you may give a true answer to those who sent you?

22 Do not rob the poor because they are poor,

or crush the afflicted at the gate;

23 for the Lord pleads their cause

and despoils of life those who despoil them.

24 Make no friends with those given to anger,

and do not associate with hotheads,

Proverbs 22:17–24 — The Lexham English Bible (LEB)

17 Incline your ear and hear the words of the wise;

you shall apply your heart to my teaching.

18 For it is pleasant if you guard them within you;

together they will be ready upon your lips.

19 In order for your trust to be in Yahweh,

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

20 Have I not written for you thirty sayings

with admonitions and knowledge?

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

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

22 Do not rob the poor because he is poor,

and do not crush the afflicted at the gate;

23 For Yahweh will plead their case

and despoil those who despoil them of life.

24 Do not befriend an owner of anger,

and with a man of wrath you shall not associate;

Proverbs 22:17–24 — New International Reader’s Version (1998) (NIrV)

17 Pay attention and listen to the sayings of those who are wise.

Apply your heart to the sayings I teach.

18 It is pleasing when you keep them in your heart.

Have all of them ready on your lips.

19 You are the one I am teaching today.

I want you to trust in the Lord.

20 I have written 30 sayings for you.

They will give you knowledge and good advice.

21 I am teaching you words that are completely true.

Then you can give the right answers to the one who sent you.

22 Don’t take advantage of poor people just because they are poor.

Don’t beat down those who are in need by taking them to court.

23 The Lord will stand up for them in court.

He will take back the stolen goods from those who have robbed them.

24 Don’t be a friend with anyone who burns with anger.

Don’t go around with a person who gets angry easily.

Proverbs 22:17–24 — New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update (NASB95)

17 Incline your ear and hear the words of the wise,

And apply your mind to my knowledge;

18 For it will be pleasant if you keep them within you,

That they may be ready on your lips.

19 So that your trust may be in the Lord,

I have taught you today, even you.

20 Have I not written to you excellent things

Of counsels and knowledge,

21 To make you know the certainty of the words of truth

That you may correctly answer him who sent you?

22 Do not rob the poor because he is poor,

Or crush the afflicted at the gate;

23 For the Lord will plead their case

And take the life of those who rob them.

24 Do not associate with a man given to anger;

Or go with a hot-tempered man,


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