Proverbs 22

• 1. Choose a good reputation over great riches, for being held in high esteem is better than having silver or gold.
• 2. The rich and the poor have this in common: The LORD made them both.
• 3. A prudent person foresees the danger ahead and takes precautions; the simpleton goes blindly on and suffers the consequences.
• 4. True humility and fear of the LORD lead to riches, honor, and long life.
• 5. The deceitful walk a thorny, treacherous road; whoever values life will stay away.
• 6. Teach your children to choose the right path, and when they are older, they will remain upon it.
• 7. Just as the rich rule the poor, so the borrower is servant to the lender.
• 8. Those who plant seeds of injustice will harvest disaster, and their reign of terror will end.
• 9. Blessed are those who are generous, because they feed the poor.
• 10. Throw out the mocker, and fighting, quarrels, and insults will disappear.
• 11. Anyone who loves a pure heart and gracious speech is the king's friend.
• 12. The LORD preserves knowledge, but he ruins the plans of the deceitful.
• 13. The lazy person is full of excuses, saying, "If I go outside, I might meet a lion in the street and be killed!"
• 14. The mouth of an immoral woman is a deep pit; those living under the LORD's displeasure will fall into it.
• 15. A youngster's heart is filled with foolishness, but discipline will drive it away.
• 16. A person who gets ahead by oppressing the poor or by showering gifts on the rich will end in poverty.
• 17. Listen to the words of the wise; apply your heart to my instruction.
• 18. For it is good to keep these sayings deep within yourself, 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 bring an accurate report to those who sent you.
• 22. Do not rob the poor because they are poor or exploit the needy in court.
• 23. For the LORD is their defender. He will injure anyone who injures them.
• 24. Keep away from angry, short-tempered people,
• 25. or you will learn to be like them and endanger your soul.
• 26. Do not co-sign another person's note or put up a guarantee for someone else's loan.
• 27. If you can't pay it, even your bed will be snatched from under you.
• 28. Do not steal your neighbor's property by moving the ancient boundary markers set up by your ancestors.
• 29. Do you see any truly competent workers? They will serve kings rather than ordinary people.

Proverbs 23

• 1. When dining with a ruler, pay attention to what is put before you.
• 2. If you are a big eater, put a knife to your throat,
• 3. and don't desire all the delicacies--deception may be involved.
• 4. Don't weary yourself trying to get rich. Why waste your time?
• 5. For riches can disappear as though they had the wings of a bird!
• 6. Don't eat with people who are stingy; don't desire their delicacies.
• 7. "Eat and drink," they say, but they don't mean it. They are always thinking about how much it costs.
• 8. You will vomit up the delicious food they serve, and you will have to take back your words of appreciation for their "kindness."
• 9. Don't waste your breath on fools, for they will despise the wisest advice.
• 10. Don't steal the land of defenseless orphans by moving the ancient boundary markers,
• 11. for their Redeemer is strong. He himself will bring their charges against you.
• 12. Commit yourself to instruction; attune your ears to hear words of knowledge.
• 13. Don't fail to correct your children. They won't die if you spank them.
• 14. Physical discipline may well save them from death.
• 15. My child, how I will rejoice if you become wise.
• 16. Yes, my heart will thrill when you speak what is right and just.
• 17. Don't envy sinners, but always continue to fear the LORD.
• 18. For surely you have a future ahead of you; your hope will not be disappointed.
• 19. My child, listen and be wise. Keep your heart on the right course.
• 20. Do not carouse with drunkards and gluttons,
• 21. for they are on their way to poverty. Too much sleep clothes a person with rags.
• 22. Listen to your father, who gave you life, and don't despise your mother's experience when she is old.
• 23. Get the truth and don't ever sell it; also get wisdom, discipline, and discernment.
• 24. The father of godly children has cause for joy. What a pleasure it is to have wise children.
• 25. So give your parents joy! May she who gave you birth be happy.
• 26. O my son, give me your heart. May your eyes delight in my ways of wisdom.
• 27. A prostitute is a deep pit; an adulterous woman is treacherous.
• 28. She hides and waits like a robber, looking for another victim who will be unfaithful to his wife.
• 29. Who has anguish? Who has sorrow? Who is always fighting? Who is always complaining? Who has unnecessary bruises? Who has bloodshot eyes?
• 30. It is the one who spends long hours in the taverns, trying out new drinks.
• 31. Don't let the sparkle and smooth taste of wine deceive you.
• 32. For in the end it bites like a poisonous serpent; it stings like a viper.
• 33. You will see hallucinations, and you will say crazy things.
• 34. You will stagger like a sailor tossed at sea, clinging to a swaying mast.
• 35. And 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 have another drink?"

Proverbs 24

• 1. Don't envy evil people; don't desire their company.
• 2. For they spend their days plotting violence, and their words are always stirring up trouble.
• 3. A house is built by wisdom and becomes strong through good sense.
• 4. Through knowledge its rooms are filled with all sorts of precious riches and valuables.
• 5. A wise man is mightier than a strong man, and a man of knowledge is more powerful than a strong man.
• 6. So don't go to war without wise guidance; victory depends on having many counselors.
• 7. Wisdom is too much for a fool. When the leaders gather, the fool has nothing to say.
• 8. A person who plans evil will get a reputation as a troublemaker.
• 9. The schemes of a fool are sinful; everyone despises a mocker.
• 10. If you fail under pressure, your strength is not very great.
• 11. Rescue those who are unjustly sentenced to death; don't stand back and let them die.
• 12. Don't try to avoid responsibility by saying you didn't know about it. For God knows all hearts, and he sees you. He keeps watch over your soul, and he knows you knew! And he will judge all people according to what they have done.
• 13. My child, eat honey, for it is good, and the honeycomb is sweet to the taste.
• 14. In 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.
• 15. Do not lie in wait like an outlaw at the home of the godly. And don't raid the house where the godly live.
• 16. They may trip seven times, but each time they will rise again. But one calamity is enough to lay the wicked low.
• 17. Do not rejoice when your enemies fall into trouble. Don't be happy when they stumble.
• 18. For the LORD will be displeased with you and will turn his anger away from them.
• 19. Do not fret because of evildoers; don't envy the wicked.
• 20. For the evil have no future; their light will be snuffed out.
• 21. My child, fear the LORD and the king, and don't associate with rebels.
• 22. For you will go down with them to sudden disaster. Who knows where the punishment from the LORD and the king will end?
• 23. Here are some further sayings of the wise: It is wrong to show favoritism when passing judgment.
• 24. A judge who says to the wicked, "You are innocent," will be cursed by many people and denounced by the nations.
• 25. But blessings are showered on those who convict the guilty.
• 26. It is an honor to receive an honest reply.
• 27. Develop your business first before building your house.
• 28. Do not testify spitefully against innocent neighbors; don't lie about them.
• 29. And don't say, "Now I can pay them back for all their meanness to me! I'll get even!"
• 30. I walked by the field of a lazy person, the vineyard of one lacking sense.
• 31. I saw that it was overgrown with thorns. It was covered with weeds, and its walls were broken down.
• 32. Then, as I looked and thought about it, I learned this lesson:
• 33. A little extra sleep, a little more slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest--
• 34. and poverty will pounce on you like a bandit; scarcity will attack you like an armed robber.

New Living Translation: 226 of 324 days.