Proverbs 22-24 - Prayer Tents

Proverbs 22

22Choose a good reputation over great riches; being held in high esteem is better than silver or gold.H8034H977H7227H6239H2896H2580H3701H20912The rich and poor have this in common. The Lord made them both.H6223H7326H6298H3068H62133A prudent person foresees danger and takes precautions. The simpleton goes blindly on and suffers the consequences.H6175H7200H7451H5641H5641H6612H5674H60644True humility and fear of the Lord lead to riches, honor, and long life.H6118H6038H3374H3068H6239H3519H24165Corrupt people walk a thorny, treacherous road; whoever values life will avoid it.H6791H6341H1870H6141H8104H5315H73686Direct your children onto the right path, and when they are older, they will not leave it.H2596H5288H1870H6310H2204H54937Just as the rich rule the poor, so the borrower is servant to the lender.H6223H4910H7326H3867H5650H376H38678Those who plant injustice will harvest disaster, and their reign of terror will come to an end

.H2232H5766H7114H205H7626H5678H36159Blessed are those who are generous, because they feed the poor.H2896H5869H1288H5414H3899H180010Throw out the mocker, and fighting goes, too. Quarrels and insults will disappear.H1644H3887H4066H3318H1779H7036H767311Whoever loves a pure heart and gracious speech will have the king as a friend.H157H2890H2889H3820H2580H8193H4428H745312The Lord preserves those with knowledge, but he ruins the plans of the treacherous.H5869H3068H5341H1847H5557H1697H89813The lazy person claims, “There’s a lion out there! If I go outside, I might be killed!”H6102H559H738H2351H7523H8432H733914The mouth of an immoral woman is a dangerous trap; those who make the Lord angry will fall into it.H6310H2114H6013H7745H2194H3068H530715A youngster’s heart is filled with foolishness, but physical discipline will drive it far away.H200H7194H3820H5288H7626H4148H736816A person who gets ahead by oppressing the poor or by showering gifts on the rich will end in poverty.H6231H1800H7235H5414H6223H4270

Sayings of the Wise

17Listen to the words of the wise; apply your heart to my instruction.H5186H241H8085H1697H2450H7896H3820H184718For it is good to keep these sayings in your heart and always ready on your lips.H5273H8104H990H3162H3559H819319I am teaching you today—yes, you—so you will trust in the Lord.H4009H3068H3045H311720I have written thirty sayings

for you, filled with advice and knowledge.H3789H8032H7991H4156H184721In this way, you may know the truth and take an accurate report to those who sent you.H3045H7189H561H571H7725H561H571H797122Don’t rob the poor just because you can, or exploit the needy in court.H1497H1800H1800H1792H6041H817923For the Lord is their defender. He will ruin anyone who ruins them.H3068H7378H7379H6906H5315H690624Don’t befriend angry people or associate with hot-tempered people,H7462H639H1167H2534H376H93525or you will learn to be like them and endanger your soul.H502H734H3947H4170H531526Don’t agree to guarantee another person’s debt or put up security for someone else.H8628H3709H6148H485927If you can’t pay it, even your bed will be snatched from under you.H7999H3947H490428Don’t cheat your neighbor by moving the ancient boundary markers set up by previous generations.H5253H5769H1366H1H621329Do you see any truly competent workers? They will serve kings rather than working for ordinary people.H2372H376H4106H4399H3320H6440H4428H3320H6440H2823

Proverbs 23

23While dining with a ruler, pay attention to what is put before you.H3427H3898H4910H995H995H64402If you are a big eater, put a knife to your throat;H7760H7915H3930H1167H53153don’t desire all the delicacies, for he might be trying to trick you.H183H4303H3577H38994Don’t wear yourself out trying to get rich. Be wise enough to know when to quit.H3021H6238H2308H9985In the blink of an eye wealth disappears, for it will sprout wings and fly away like an eagle.H5774H5774H5869H6213H6213H3671H5774H5774H5404H80646Don’t eat with people who are stingy; don’t desire their delicacies.H3898H3899H7451H5869H183H43037They are always thinking about how much it costs

. “Eat and drink,” they say, but they don’t mean it.H8176H5315H398H8354H559H38208You will throw up what little you’ve eaten, and your compliments will be wasted.H6595H398H6958H7843H5273H16979Don’t waste your breath on fools, for they will despise the wisest advice.H1696H241H3684H936H7922H440510Don’t cheat your neighbor by moving the ancient boundary markers; don’t take the land of defenseless orphans.H5253H5769H1366H935H7704H349011For their Redeemer

is strong; he himself will bring their charges against you.H1350H2389H7378H737912Commit yourself to instruction; listen carefully to words of knowledge.H935H3820H4148H241H561H184713Don’t fail to discipline your children. They won’t die if you spank them.H4513H4148H5288H5221H7626H419114Physical discipline may well save them from death

.H5221H7626H5337H5315H758515My child

, if your heart is wise, my own heart will rejoice!H1121H3820H2449H3820H8055H58916Everything in me will celebrate when you speak what is right.H3629H5937H8193H1696H433917Don’t envy sinners, but always continue to fear the Lord.H3820H7065H2400H3374H3068H311718You will be rewarded for this; your hope will not be disappointed.H3426H319H8615H377219My child, listen and be wise. Keep your heart on the right course.H8085H1121H2449H833H3820H187020Do not carouse with drunkards or feast with gluttons,H3196H5433H2151H132021for they are on their way to poverty, and too much sleep clothes them in rags.H5433H2151H3423H5124H3847H716822Listen to your father, who gave you life, and don’t despise your mother when she is old.H8085H1H3205H936H517H220423Get the truth and never sell it; also get wisdom, discipline, and good judgment.H7069H571H4376H2451H4148H99824The father of godly children has cause for joy. What a pleasure to have children who are wise

.H1H6662H1524H1523H3205H2450H805525So give your father and mother joy! May she who gave you birth be happy.H1H517H8055H3205H152326O my son, give me your heart. May your eyes take delight in following my ways.H1121H5414H3820H5869H7521H5341H187027A prostitute is a dangerous trap; a promiscuous woman is as dangerous as falling into a narrow well.H2181H6013H7745H5237H6862H87528She hides and waits like a robber, eager to make more men unfaithful.H693H2863H3254H898H12029Who has anguish? Who has sorrow? Who is always fighting? Who is always complaining? Who has unnecessary bruises? Who has bloodshot eyes?H188H17H4079H4066H7879H6482H2600H2448H586930It is the one who spends long hours in the taverns, trying out new drinks.H309H3196H935H2713H446931Don’t gaze at the wine, seeing how red it is, how it sparkles in the cup, how smoothly it goes down.H7200H3196H119H5414H5869H3563H3599H1980H433932For in the end it bites like a poisonous snake; it stings like a viper.H319H5391H5175H6567H684833You will see hallucinations, and you will say crazy things.H5869H7200H2114H3820H1696H841934You will stagger like a sailor tossed at sea, clinging to a swaying mast.H7901H3820H3220H7901H7218H226035And you will say, “They hit me, but I didn’t feel it. I didn’t even know it when they beat me up. When will I wake up so I can look for another drink?”H5221H2470H1986H3045H6974H1245H3254

Proverbs 24

24Don’t envy evil people or desire their company.H7065H7451H582H1832For their hearts plot violence, and their words always stir up trouble.H3820H1897H7701H8193H1696H59993A house is built by wisdom and becomes strong through good sense.H2451H1004H1129H8394H35594Through knowledge its rooms are filled with all sorts of precious riches and valuables.H1847H2315H4390H3368H5273H19525The wise are mightier than the strong

, and those with knowledge grow stronger and stronger.H2450H1397H5797H376H1847H553H35816So don’t go to war without wise guidance; victory depends on having many advisers.H8458H6213H4421H7230H3289H86687Wisdom is too lofty for fools. Among leaders at the city gate, they have nothing to say.H2454H7311H191H6605H6310H81798A person who plans evil will get a reputation as a troublemaker.H2803H7489H7121H4209H11679The schemes of a fool are sinful; everyone detests a mocker.H2154H200H2403H3887H8441H12010If you fail under pressure, your strength is too small.H7503H3117H6869H3581H686211Rescue those who are unjustly sentenced to die; save them as they stagger to their death.H2820H5337H3947H4194H4131H202712Don’t excuse yourself by saying, “Look, we didn’t know.” For God understands all hearts, and he sees you. He who guards your soul knows you knew. He will repay all people as their actions deserve.H559H3045H8505H3826H995H5341H5315H3045H7725H120H646713My child

, eat honey, for it is good, and the honeycomb is sweet to the taste.H1121H398H1706H2896H5317H4966H244114In the same way, wisdom is sweet to your soul. If you find it, you will have a bright future, and your hopes will not be cut short.H3045H2451H5315H4672H3426H319H8615H377215Don’t wait in ambush at the home of the godly, and don’t raid the house where the godly live.H693H7563H5116H6662H7703H725816The godly may trip seven times, but they will get up again. But one disaster is enough to overthrow the wicked.H6662H5307H7651H6965H7563H3782H745117Don’t rejoice when your enemies fall; don’t be happy when they stumble.H8055H341H5307H3820H1523H378218For the Lord will be displeased with you and will turn his anger away from them.H3068H7200H7489H5869H7725H63919Don’t fret because of evildoers; don’t envy the wicked.H2734H7489H7065H756320For evil people have no future; the light of the wicked will be snuffed out.H319H7451H5216H7563H184621My child, fear the Lord and the king. Don’t associate with rebels,H1121H3372H3068H4428H6148H813822for disaster will hit them suddenly. Who knows what punishment will come from the Lord and the king?H343H6965H6597H3045H6365H8147

More Sayings of the Wise

23Here are some further sayings of the wise. It is wrong to show favoritism when passing judgment.H2450H2896H5234H6440H494124A judge who says to the wicked, “You are innocent,” will be cursed by many people and denounced by the nations.H559H7563H6662H5971H5344H3816H219425But it will go well for those who convict the guilty; rich blessings will be showered on them.H3198H5276H2896H1293H93526An honest answer is like a kiss of friendship.H5401H8193H7725H5228H169727Do your planning and prepare your fields before building your house.H3559H4399H2351H6257H7704H310H1129H100428Don’t testify against your neighbors without cause; don’t lie about them.H5707H7453H2600H6601H819329And don’t say, “Now I can pay them back for what they’ve done to me! I’ll get even with them!”H559H6213H6213H7725H376H646730I walked by the field of a lazy person, the vineyard of one with no common sense.H5674H7704H376H6102H3754H120H2638H382031I saw that it was overgrown with nettles. It was covered with weeds, and its walls were broken down.H5927H7063H2738H3680H6440H68H1444H204032Then, as I looked and thought about it, I learned this lesson.H2372H7896H3820H7200H3947H414833A little extra sleep, a little more slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest—H4592H8142H4592H8572H4592H2264H3027H790134then poverty will pounce on you like a bandit; scarcity will attack you like an armed robber.H7389H935H1980H4270H4043H376