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¹⁷The words of the wise:

Incline your ear and hear my words,
and apply your mind to my teaching;
¹⁸for it will be pleasant if you keep them within you,
if all of them are ready on your lips.
¹⁹So that your trust may be in the Lord,
I have made them known to you today—yes, to you.
²⁰Have I not written for you thirty sayings
of admonition and knowledge,
²¹to show you what is right and true,
so that you may give a true answer to those who sent you? ²²Do not rob the poor because they are poor,
or crush the afflicted at the gate;
²³for the Lord pleads their cause
and despoils of life those who despoil them.
²⁴Make no friends with those given to anger,
and do not associate with hotheads,
²⁵or you may learn their ways
and entangle yourself in a snare.
²⁶Do not be one of those who give pledges,
who become surety for debts.
²⁷If you have nothing with which to pay,
why should your bed be taken from under you?
²⁸Do not remove the ancient landmark
that your ancestors set up.
²⁹Do you see those who are skillful in their work?
They will serve kings;
they will not serve common people.