If you say, “But we didn’t know about this,”
won’t He who weighs hearts consider it?
Won’t He who protects your life know?
Won’t He repay a person according to his work?

Then they will call me, but I won’t answer;
they will search for me, but won’t find me.

Don’t set foot on the path of the wicked;
don’t proceed in the way of evil ones.

Don’t let your mouth speak dishonestly,
and don’t let your lips talk deviously.

She doesn’t consider the path of life;
she doesn’t know that her ways are unstable.

Don’t let your heart turn aside to her ways;
don’t stray onto her paths.

Doesn’t Wisdom call out?
Doesn’t Understanding make her voice heard?

Don’t rob a poor man because he is poor,
and don’t crush the oppressed at the gate,

Don’t make friends with an angry man,
and don’t be a companion of a hot-tempered man,

Don’t eat a stingy person’s bread,
and don’t desire his choice food,

Don’t move an ancient boundary marker,
and don’t encroach on the fields of the fatherless,

Wicked man, don’t set an ambush,
at the camp of the righteous man;
don’t destroy his dwelling.

Don’t gloat when your enemy falls,
and don’t let your heart rejoice when he stumbles,

Don’t be agitated by evildoers,
and don’t envy the wicked.

Don’t testify against your neighbor without cause.
Don’t deceive with your lips.

Don’t brag about yourself before the king,
and don’t stand in the place of the great;

Don’t boast about tomorrow,
for you don’t know what a day might bring.

Don’t abandon your friend or your father’s friend,
and don’t go to your brother’s house
in your time of calamity;
better a neighbor nearby than a brother far away.

so that strangers don't enrich themselves at your expense, and your work won't end up the possession of foreigners.

A person doesn't gain security by wickedness, but the righteous won't be uprooted.

Don't withhold discipline from a child; if you punish him with a rod, he won't die.

because riches don't endure forever, and crowns don't last from one generation to the next.

so that I don't become overfed and deny you by saying, "Who is the LORD?" or so that I don't become poor and steal, and then misuse the name of my God.

Listen, my son, to your father’s instruction,
and don’t reject your mother’s teaching,

My son, if sinners entice you,
don’t be persuaded.

my son, don’t travel that road with them
or set foot on their path,

Because they hated knowledge,
didn’t choose to fear the Lord,

My son, don’t forget my teaching,
but let your heart keep my commands;

Don’t consider yourself to be wise;
fear the Lord and turn away from evil.

Maintain your competence and discretion.
My son, don’t lose sight of them.

Don’t fear sudden danger
or the ruin of the wicked when it comes,

When it is in your power,
don’t withhold good from the one it belongs to.

Don’t say to your neighbor, “Go away! Come back later.
I’ll give it tomorrow”—when it is there with you.

Don’t plan any harm against your neighbor,
for he trusts you and lives near you.

Don’t accuse anyone without cause,
when he has done you no harm.

Don’t envy a violent man
or choose any of his ways;

for I am giving you good instruction.
Don’t abandon my teaching.

Get wisdom, get understanding;
don’t forget or turn away from the words of my mouth.

Don’t abandon wisdom, and she will watch over you;
love her, and she will guard you.

Hold on to instruction; don’t let go.
Guard it, for it is your life.

Avoid it; don’t travel on it.
Turn away from it, and pass it by.

For they can’t sleep
unless they have done what is evil;
they are robbed of sleep
unless they make someone stumble.

But the way of the wicked is like the darkest gloom;
they don’t know what makes them stumble.

Don’t lose sight of them;
keep them within your heart.

Don’t turn to the right or to the left;
keep your feet away from evil.

So now, my sons, listen to me,
and don’t turn away from the words of my mouth.

Keep your way far from her.
Don’t go near the door of her house.

I didn’t obey my teachers
or listen closely to my mentors.

Don’t give sleep to your eyes
or slumber to your eyelids.

My son, keep your father’s command,
and don’t reject your mother’s teaching.

Don’t lust in your heart for her beauty
or let her captivate you with her eyelashes.

People don’t despise the thief if he steals
to satisfy himself when he is hungry.

My husband isn’t home;
he went on a long journey.

until an arrow pierces its liver,
like a bird darting into a snare—
he doesn’t know it will cost him his life.

Listen to instruction and be wise;
don’t ignore it.

Don’t rebuke a mocker, or he will hate you;
rebuke a wise man, and he will love you.

But he doesn’t know that the departed spirits are there,
that her guests are in the depths of Sheol.

A lazy man doesn’t roast his game,
but to a diligent man, his wealth is precious.

A wise son responds to his father’s discipline,
but a mocker doesn’t listen to rebuke.

A mocker seeks wisdom and doesn’t find it,
but knowledge comes easily to the perceptive.

Don’t those who plan evil go astray?
But those who plan good find loyalty and faithfulness.

A mocker doesn’t love one who corrects him;
he will not consult the wise.

Discipline your son while there is hope;
don’t be intent on killing him.

The slacker buries his hand in the bowl;
he doesn’t even bring it back to his mouth.

Don’t love sleep, or you will become poor;
open your eyes, and you’ll have enough to eat.

Don’t say, “I will avenge this evil!”
Wait on the Lord, and He will rescue you.

He is filled with craving all day long,
but the righteous give and don’t hold back.

Haven’t I written for you thirty sayings
about counsel and knowledge,

Don’t be one of those who enter agreements,
who put up security for loans.

Don’t move an ancient boundary marker
that your fathers set up.

don’t desire his choice food,
for that food is deceptive.

Don’t wear yourself out to get rich;
stop giving your attention to it.

Don’t speak to a fool,
for he will despise the insight of your words.

Don’t let your heart envy sinners;
instead, always fear the Lord.

Don’t associate with those who drink too much wine
or with those who gorge themselves on meat.

Listen to your father who gave you life,
and don’t despise your mother when she is old.

Don’t gaze at wine because it is red,
when it gleams in the cup
and goes down smoothly.

“They struck me, but I feel no pain!
They beat me, but I didn’t know it!
When will I wake up?
I’ll look for another drink.”

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Don’t envy evil men
or desire to be with them,

My son, fear the Lord, as well as the king,
and don’t associate with rebels,

Don’t say, “I’ll do to him what he did to me;
I’ll repay the man for what he has done.”

Don’t take a matter to court hastily.
Otherwise, what will you do afterward
if your opponent humiliates you?

Don’t answer a fool according to his foolishness
or you’ll be like him yourself.

When he speaks graciously, don’t believe him,
for there are seven abominations in his heart.

A greedy man is in a hurry for wealth;
he doesn’t know that poverty will come to him.

A slave cannot be disciplined by words;
though he understands, he doesn’t respond.

Don’t add to His words,
or He will rebuke you, and you will be proved a liar.

Two things I ask of You;
don’t deny them to me before I die:

Don’t slander a servant to his master
or he will curse you, and you will become guilty.

Three things are beyond me;
four I can’t understand:

a lion, which is mightiest among beasts
and doesn’t retreat before anything,

Don’t spend your energy on women
or your efforts on those who destroy kings.