Proverbs 23
1 When you sit down to eat a meal with a (government official/king), think carefully about what (OR, who) is in front of you.
When you sit down for a meal with a ruler, look carefully at what is placed before you,
2 [Even] if you (have a big appetite/want to eat a lot of food), restrain yourself.
and cut down if you have a big appetite.
3 Do not want to eat [a lot of] his fine food, because he may be trying to trick you.
Don't be greedy for his fancy food, for it's offered with deceptive motives.
4 Do not [cause yourself to become very tired by] working very hard to become rich; be wise and stop doing that,
Don't wear yourself out trying to get rich—be wise enough not to bother!
5 because as soon as you look [MTY] at [all the money that you have acquired], it will be gone; it will [disappear as if it] suddenly grew wings [SIM] and flew up into the sky like an eagle.
It disappears in the blink of an eye, suddenly growing wings and flying off into the sky like an eagle.
6 [If] someone who is stingy [invites you to a meal], do not eat [a lot of] his fine food,
Don't accept meal invitations from miserly people; don't be greedy for their fancy food,
7 because he will be thinking about how much [the food cost that you are eating]. He [will] say to you, “Eat and drink all that you want!”, but that is not what he [will] really be thinking.
for what they're thinking inside is what they really are. They say, “Come on, eat and drink!”—but in their minds they don't really care about you.
8 [When you realize what he is really thinking, it will cause you to want to] vomit what you have eaten; and your kind words [telling him that you are enjoying the meal] will be wasted.
You'll vomit up the little pieces you've eaten, and your kind words of appreciation will be wasted.
9 (Do not [waste time by]/It is useless) talking to foolish people; they will [only] despise the wise things that you say.
Don't talk to stupid people because they'll ridicule your wise words.
10 Do not [steal someone’s property by] removing a boundary marker that has been there for a long time, and do not take for yourself the land that belongs to orphans,
Don't move ancient boundary markers, and don't encroach on fields belonging to orphans,
11 because Yahweh is strong, and he is [like] a relative that has the responsibility to defend them, he will [stand up in court and] argue for them and against you.
for their Protector is powerful and he will plead their case against you.
12 Pay attention to what [your teachers] teach you, and try to learn from the wise things that they say.
Focus your mind on instruction; listen intently to words of knowledge.
13 Do not refuse to discipline your children; if you punish/spank them, it will not cause them to die,
Don't keep from disciplining your children—a beating won't kill them.
If you use physical correction you can save them from death. (Sheol h7585)
15 My son/child, if you [SYN] become wise, I [SYN] will be very happy.
My son, if you think wisely then I'll be happy;
16 I [SYN] will rejoice when I hear you [SYN] say what is right/wise.
I'll be delighted when you say what's right.
17 Do not envy sinful people; instead, revere Yahweh all of your life.
Don't think enviously of sinners, but always remember to honor the Lord,
18 [If you do that], you will be happy in the future, and [God] will certainly [do for you what you are] confidently expecting him to do.
for there's definitely a future for you, and your hope will not be crushed.
19 My son/child, listen carefully to me and become wise, and think about (all that you do/your behavior).
Pay attention, my son, and be wise; make sure your mind concentrates on following the right way.
20 Do not associate with those who drink a lot of (wine/strong drink) or with those who (are gluttons/eat more than they should),
Don't join in with people who drink too much wine or who stuff themselves with meat.
21 because drunkards and gluttons will become poor; and if all that you do is eat and sleep, you will [soon] (be wearing rags/not have any money to buy clothes).
For people who get drunk and overeat lose all they've got, and they spend so much time dozing that all they have left to wear is rags.
22 Pay attention to what your father tells you, and (do not neglect/take care of) [LIT] your mother when she is old.
Pay attention to your father, and don't disregard your mother when she's old.
23 Try to know/learn what is wise, and get good instruction and understanding; and do not throw those things away.
Invest in truth—and don't sell it! Invest in wisdom, instruction, and understanding.
24 Righteous [children] will cause their parents to be very happy; those whose children are wise are proud of them.
Children who do right make their fathers very happy; a wise son brings joy to his father.
25 [Do what will] cause your father to be glad and enable your mother [also] to be happy.
Make your father and mother happy; bring joy to her who gave birth to you.
26 My son, heed what I say to you, and allow what I do to be an example for you.
My son, give me your undivided attention, and cheerfully follow my example.
27 Prostitutes and immoral women [DOU] are [like] [MET] a deep pit or a well [that you may fall into].
A prostitute is like being trapped in a pit; an immoral woman is like getting stuck a narrow well,
28 They wait [for you] like robbers [SIM], and they cause many men to (be unfaithful to/have sex with women who are not) their wives.
Like a robber, she lies in wait ready to ambush men and make more of them unfaithful to their wives.
29 I will tell you [RHQ] what kind of people are always miserable and sad. I will tell you [RHQ] which people are always causing arguments/quarrels and who are always complaining. I will tell you [RHQ] who are injured in fights and whose eyes are always red/bloodshot.
Who's in trouble? Who's in pain? Who's arguing? Who's complaining? Who's injured for no reason? Who's got bloodshot eyes?
30 [It is] those who drink a lot of wine, who try drinking other kinds of strong drinks.
—those who spend a long time drinking wine, those who are always trying some new cocktail.
31 Do not look with pleasure at red wine that looks nice, and which sparkles when it is [poured out] into cups, and which tastes good as you drink it,
Don't let the look of wine tempt you—how red it is, how it sparkles in the cup, how smooth it feels as it goes down.
32 because the next morning [you will feel like] you have been bitten by a poisonous snake [DOU].
In the end it bites like a serpent, it stings like a snake.
33 You [SYN] will [think that you are] seeing strange/weird things, and you [SYN] will not be able to think clearly or speak clearly.
You'll hallucinate, seeing strange things, and your confused mind will make you say all kinds of craziness.
34 You will think you are in a ship that is tossing on the sea; you be like [SIM] someone who is trying to sleep when the ship is rolling from one side to the other.
You'll stumble around like you're on the rolling ocean, you'll be tossed about like someone lying down at the top of a ship's mast, saying,
35 You will say, “[I think that] someone struck me, but he did not hurt me; he hit me, but I did not feel it. When will I (wake up/feel normal again) in order that I can drink some more wine?”
“People punched me, but it didn't hurt me; they beat me, but I didn't feel a thing. I've got to get up because I need another drink.”
