17 Incline thine ear, and hear words of the wise, And thy heart set to my knowledge, 18 For they are pleasant when thou dost keep them in thy heart, They are prepared together for thy lips. 19 That thy trust may be in Jehovah, I caused thee to know to-day, even thou. 20 Have I not written to thee three times With counsels and knowledge? 21 To cause thee to know the certainty of sayings of truth, To return sayings of truth to those sending thee.
22 Rob not the poor because he [is] poor, And bruise not the afflicted in the gate. 23 For Jehovah pleadeth their cause, And hath spoiled the soul of their spoilers. 24 Shew not thyself friendly with an angry man, And with a man of fury go not in, 25 Lest thou learn his paths, And have received a snare to thy soul. 26 Be not thou among those striking hands, Among sureties [for] burdens. 27 If thou hast nothing to pay, Why doth he take thy bed from under thee? 28 Remove not a border of olden times, That thy fathers have made. 29 Hast thou seen a man speedy in his business? Before kings he doth station himself, He stations not himself before obscure men!