Proverbs 23
1When you sit to eat with a ruler, 1 observe carefully what is before you, 1
2and put a knife to your throat 1 if you are a person who likes to eat a lot of food. 1
3Do not crave his delicacies, 1 for it is the food of lies. 1
4Do not work too hard to gain wealth; 1 be wise enough to know when to stop. 1
5Will you let your eyes light upon it? 1 It will be gone, 1 for it will surely take up wings like an eagle 1 and fly off to the sky. 1
6Do not eat the food of one with an evil eye— 1 and do not crave his delicacies, 1
7for he is the kind of man who counts the price of the food. 1 “Eat and drink!” he says to you, 1 but his heart is not with you. 1
8You will vomit up the little you have eaten 1 and you will have wasted your compliments. 1
9Do not speak in the hearing of a fool, 1 for he will despise the wisdom of your words. 1
10Do not move an ancient boundary stone 1 or encroach on the fields of orphans, 1
11for their Redeemer is strong 1 and he will plead their case against you. 1
12Apply your heart to instruction 1 and your ears to words of knowledge. 1
13Do not withhold instruction from a child, 1 for if you discipline him, he will not die. 1
14It is you who must beat him with the rod 1 and save his soul from Sheol. 1
15My son, if your heart is wise, 1 then my heart also will be glad; 1
16my inmost being will rejoice 1 when your lips speak what is right. 1
17Do not let your heart envy sinners, 1 but continue in the fear of Yahweh all the day. 1
18Surely there is a future 1 and your hope will not be cut off. 1
19Hear—you!—my son, and be wise 1 and direct your heart in the way. 1
20Do not associate with drunkards, 1 or with gluttonous eaters of meat, 1
21for the drunkard and the glutton become poor 1 and slumber will clothe them with rags. 1
22Listen to your father who begot you 1 and do not despise your mother when she is old. 1
23Buy the truth, but do not sell it; 1 buy wisdom, instruction, and understanding. 1
24The father of the righteous person will greatly rejoice, 1 and he who begets a wise child will be glad in him. 1
25Let your father and your mother be glad 1 and let her who bore you rejoice. 1
26My son, give me your heart 1 and let your eyes observe my ways. 1
27For a prostitute is a deep pit, 1 and an immoral woman is a narrow well. 1
28She lies in wait like a robber 1 and she increases the number of the treacherous among humanity. 1
29Who has woe? Who has sorrow? Who has fights? 1 Who has complaining? Who has wounds for no reason? 1 Who has bloodshot eyes? 1
30Those who linger over wine, 1 those who try the mixed wine. 1
31Do not look at the wine when it is red, 1 when it sparkles in the cup 1 and goes down smoothly. 1
32In the last it bites like a serpent 1 and it stings like an adder. 1
33Your eyes will see strange things 1 and your heart will utter perverse things. 1
34You will be as one who sleeps on the high seas 1 or lies on the top of a mast. 1
35“They hit me,” you will say, “but I was not hurt. 1 They beat me, but I did not feel it. 1 When will I wake up? I will seek another drink.”