Proverbs 23
1 Ref When you sit to eat with a ruler, Consider diligently what is before you;
2 Ref Put a knife to your throat, If you are a man given to appetite.
3 Ref Don't be desirous of his dainties, Seeing they are deceitful food.
4 Ref Don't weary yourself to be rich. In your wisdom, show restraint.
5 Ref Why do you set your eyes on that which is not? For it certainly sprouts wings like an eagle and flies in the sky.
6 Ref Don't eat the food of him who has a stingy eye, And don't crave his delicacies:
7 Ref For as he thinks about the cost, so he is. "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.
9 Ref Don't speak in the ears of a fool, For he will despise the wisdom of your words.
10 Ref Don't move the ancient boundary stone. Don't encroach on the fields of the fatherless:
11 Ref For their Defender is strong. He will plead their case against you.
12 Ref Apply your heart to instruction, And your ears to the words of knowledge.
13 Ref Don't withhold correction from a child. If you punish him with the rod, he will not die.
14 Ref Punish him with the rod, And save his soul from Sheol.
15 Ref My son, if your heart is wise, Then my heart will be glad, even mine:
16 Ref Yes, my heart will rejoice, When your lips speak what is right.
17 Ref Don't let your heart envy sinners; But rather fear Yahweh all the day long.
18 Ref Indeed surely there is a future hope, And your hope will not be cut off.
19 Ref Listen, my son, and be wise, And keep your heart on the right path!
20 Ref Don't be among ones drinking too much wine, Or those who gorge themselves on meat:
21 Ref For the drunkard and the glutton shall become poor; And drowsiness clothes them in rags.
22 Ref Listen to your father who gave you life, And don't despise your mother when she is old.
23 Ref Buy the truth, and don't sell it: Get wisdom, discipline, and understanding.
24 Ref The father of the righteous has great joy. Whoever fathers a wise child delights in him.
25 Ref Let your father and your mother be glad! Let her who bore you rejoice!
26 Ref My son, give me your heart; And let your eyes keep in my ways.
27 Ref For a prostitute is a deep pit; And a wayward wife is a narrow well.
28 Ref Yes, she lies in wait like a robber, And increases the unfaithful among men.
29 Ref Who has woe? Who has sorrow? Who has strife? Who has complaints? Who has needless bruises? Who has bloodshot eyes?
30 Ref Those who stay long at the wine; Those who go to seek out mixed wine.
31 Ref Don't look at the wine when it is red, When it sparkles in the cup, When it goes down smoothly:
32 Ref In the end, it bites like a snake, And poisons like a viper.
33 Ref Your eyes will see strange things, And your mind will imagine confusing things.
34 Ref 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:
35 Ref "They hit me, and I was not hurt; They beat me, and I don't feel it! When will I wake up? I can do it again. I can find another."