Proverbs 23
1 When you sit to eat with a ruler, consider diligently what is before you;
When you sit to eat with a ruler, observe carefully what is before you,
2 put a knife to your throat, if you are a man given to appetite.
and put a knife to your throat if you are a person who likes to eat a lot of food.
3 Do not be desirous of his dainties, seeing they are deceitful food.
Do not crave his delicacies, for it is the food of lies.
4 Do not weary yourself to be rich. In your wisdom, show restraint.
Do not work too hard to gain wealth; be wise enough to know when to stop.
5 Why do you set your eyes on that which is not? For it certainly sprouts wings like an eagle and flies in the sky.
Will you let your eyes light upon it? It will be gone, for it will surely take up wings like an eagle and fly off to the sky.
6 Do not eat the food of him who has a stingy eye, and do not crave his delicacies:
Do not eat the food of one with an evil eye— and do not crave his delicacies,
7 for as he thinks about the cost, so he is. "Eat and drink." he says to you, but his heart is not with you.
for he is the kind of man who counts the price of the food. “Eat and drink!” he says to you, but his heart is not with you.
8 The morsel which you have eaten you shall vomit up, and lose your good words.
You will vomit up the little you have eaten and you will have wasted your compliments.
9 Do not speak in the ears of a fool, for he will despise the wisdom of your words.
Do not speak in the hearing of a fool, for he will despise the wisdom of your words.
10 Do not move the ancient boundary stone. Do not encroach on the fields of the fatherless:
Do not move an ancient boundary stone or encroach on the fields of orphans,
11 for their Defender is strong. He will plead their case against you.
for their Redeemer is strong and he will plead their case against you.
12 Apply your heart to instruction, and your ears to the words of knowledge.
Apply your heart to instruction and your ears to words of knowledge.
13 Do not withhold correction from a child. If you punish him with the rod, he will not die.
Do not withhold instruction from a child, for if you discipline him, he will not die.
It is you who must beat him with the rod and save his soul from Sheol. (Sheol h7585)
15 My son, if your heart is wise, then my heart will be glad, even mine:
My son, if your heart is wise, then my heart also will be glad;
16 yes, my heart will rejoice, when your lips speak what is right.
my inmost being will rejoice when your lips speak what is right.
17 Do not let your heart envy sinners; but rather fear the LORD all the day long.
Do not let your heart envy sinners, but continue in the fear of Yahweh all the day.
18 For surely there is a future, and your hope will not be cut off.
Surely there is a future and your hope will not be cut off.
19 Listen, my son, and be wise, and keep your heart on the right path.
Hear—you!—my son, and be wise and direct your heart in the way.
20 Do not be among ones drinking too much wine, or those who gorge themselves on meat:
Do not associate with drunkards, or with gluttonous eaters of meat,
21 for the drunkard and the glutton shall become poor; and drowsiness clothes them in rags.
for the drunkard and the glutton become poor and slumber will clothe them with rags.
22 Listen to your father who gave you life, and do not despise your mother when she is old.
Listen to your father who begot you and do not despise your mother when she is old.
23 Buy the truth, and do not sell it. Get wisdom, discipline, and understanding.
Buy the truth, but do not sell it; buy wisdom, instruction, and understanding.
24 The father of the righteous has great joy. Whoever fathers a wise child delights in him.
The father of the righteous person will greatly rejoice, and he who begets a wise child will be glad in him.
25 Let your father and your mother be glad. Let her who bore you rejoice.
Let your father and your mother be glad and let her who bore you rejoice.
26 My son, give me your heart; and let your eyes keep in my ways.
My son, give me your heart and let your eyes observe my ways.
27 For a prostitute is a deep pit; and a wayward wife is a narrow well.
For a prostitute is a deep pit, and an immoral woman is a narrow well.
28 Yes, she lies in wait like a robber, and increases the unfaithful among men.
She lies in wait like a robber and she increases the number of the treacherous among humanity.
29 Who has woe? Who has sorrow? Who has strife? Who has complaints? Who has needless bruises? Who has bloodshot eyes?
Who has woe? Who has sorrow? Who has fights? Who has complaining? Who has wounds for no reason? Who has bloodshot eyes?
30 Those who stay long at the wine; those who go to seek out mixed wine.
Those who linger over wine, those who try the mixed wine.
31 Do not look at the wine when it is red, when it sparkles in the cup, when it goes down smoothly.
Do not look at the wine when it is red, when it sparkles in the cup and goes down smoothly.
32 In the end, it bites like a serpent, and poisons like a viper.
In the last it bites like a serpent and it stings like an adder.
33 Your eyes will see strange things, and your mind will imagine confusing things.
Your eyes will see strange things and your heart will utter perverse things.
34 Yes, you will be as he who lies down in the midst of the sea, or as he who lies on top of the rigging:
You will be as one who sleeps on the high seas or lies on the top of a mast.
35 "They hit me, and I was not hurt. They beat me, and I do not feel it. When will I wake up? I can do it again. I can find another."
“They hit me,” you will say, “but I was not hurt. They beat me, but I did not feel it. When will I wake up? I will seek another drink.”
