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Saying 7

23 When you sit down to eat with a ruler,
    look carefully at what’s in front of you.
Put a knife to your throat
    if you like to eat too much.
Don’t long for his fancy food.
    It can fool you.

Saying 8

Don’t wear yourself out to get rich.
    Don’t trust how wise you think you are.
When you take even a quick look at riches, they are gone.
    They grow wings and fly away into the sky like an eagle.

Saying 9

Don’t eat the food of anyone who doesn’t want to share it.
    Don’t long for his fancy food.
He is the kind of person
    who is always thinking about how much it costs.
“Eat and drink,” he says to you.
    But he doesn’t mean it.
You will throw up what little you have eaten.
    You will have wasted your words of praise.

Saying 10

Don’t speak to foolish people.
    They will laugh at your wise words.

Saying 11

10 Don’t move old boundary stones.
    Don’t try to take over the fields of children whose fathers have died.
11 That’s because the God who guards them is strong.
    He will stand up for them in court against you.

Saying 12

12 Apply your heart to what you are taught.
    Listen carefully to words of knowledge.

Saying 13

13 Don’t hold back correction from a child.
    If you correct them, they won’t die.
14 So correct them.
    Then you will save them from death.

Saying 14

15 My son, if your heart is wise,
    my heart will be very glad.
16 Deep down inside, I will be happy
    when you say what is right.

Saying 15

17 Do not long for what sinners have.
    But always show great respect for the Lord.
18 There really is hope for you in days to come.
    So your hope will not be cut off.

Saying 16

19 My son, listen and be wise.
    Set your heart on the right path.
20 Don’t join those who drink too much wine.
    Don’t join those who stuff themselves with meat.
21 Those who drink or eat too much will become poor.
    If they sleep too much, they’ll have to wear rags.

Saying 17

22 Listen to your father, who gave you life.
    Don’t hate your mother when she is old.
23 Buy the truth and don’t sell it.
    Get wisdom, instruction and understanding as well.
24 The father of a godly child is very happy.
    A man who has a wise son is glad.
25 May your father and mother be glad.
    May the woman who gave birth to you be joyful.

Saying 18

26 My son, give me your heart.
    May you be happy living the way you see me live.
27 An unfaithful wife is like a deep pit.
    A wife who commits adultery is like a narrow well.
28 She hides and waits like a thief.
    She causes many men to sin.

Saying 19

29 Who has trouble? Who has sorrow?
    Who argues? Who has problems?
    Who has wounds for no reason? Who has red eyes?
30 Those who spend too much time with wine.
    Or those who like to taste wine mixed with spices.
31 Don’t look at wine when it is red.
    Don’t look at it when it bubbles in the cup.
    And don’t look at it when it goes down smoothly.
32 In the end it bites like a snake.
    It bites like a poisonous serpent.
33 Your eyes will see strange sights.
    Your mind will imagine weird things.
34 You will feel like someone sleeping on the ocean.
    You will think you are lying among the ropes in a boat.
35 “They hit me,” you will say. “But I’m not hurt!
    They beat me. But I don’t feel it!
When will I wake up
    so I can find another drink?”

Saying 7

23 When you sit to dine with a ruler,
    note well what[a] is before you,
and put a knife to your throat
    if you are given to gluttony.
Do not crave his delicacies,(A)
    for that food is deceptive.

Saying 8

Do not wear yourself out to get rich;
    do not trust your own cleverness.
Cast but a glance at riches, and they are gone,(B)
    for they will surely sprout wings
    and fly off to the sky like an eagle.(C)

Saying 9

Do not eat the food of a begrudging host,
    do not crave his delicacies;(D)
for he is the kind of person
    who is always thinking about the cost.[b]
“Eat and drink,” he says to you,
    but his heart is not with you.
You will vomit up the little you have eaten
    and will have wasted your compliments.

Saying 10

Do not speak to fools,
    for they will scorn your prudent words.(E)

Saying 11

10 Do not move an ancient boundary stone(F)
    or encroach on the fields of the fatherless,
11 for their Defender(G) is strong;(H)
    he will take up their case against you.(I)

Saying 12

12 Apply your heart to instruction(J)
    and your ears to words of knowledge.

Saying 13

13 Do not withhold discipline from a child;
    if you punish them with the rod, they will not die.
14 Punish them with the rod
    and save them from death.(K)

Saying 14

15 My son, if your heart is wise,
    then my heart will be glad indeed;
16 my inmost being will rejoice
    when your lips speak what is right.(L)

Saying 15

17 Do not let your heart envy(M) sinners,
    but always be zealous for the fear of the Lord.
18 There is surely a future hope for you,
    and your hope will not be cut off.(N)

Saying 16

19 Listen, my son,(O) and be wise,
    and set your heart on the right path:
20 Do not join those who drink too much wine(P)
    or gorge themselves on meat,
21 for drunkards and gluttons become poor,(Q)
    and drowsiness clothes them in rags.

Saying 17

22 Listen to your father, who gave you life,
    and do not despise your mother when she is old.(R)
23 Buy the truth and do not sell it—
    wisdom, instruction and insight as well.(S)
24 The father of a righteous child has great joy;
    a man who fathers a wise son rejoices in him.(T)
25 May your father and mother rejoice;
    may she who gave you birth be joyful!(U)

Saying 18

26 My son,(V) give me your heart
    and let your eyes delight in my ways,(W)
27 for an adulterous woman is a deep pit,(X)
    and a wayward wife is a narrow well.
28 Like a bandit she lies in wait(Y)
    and multiplies the unfaithful among men.

Saying 19

29 Who has woe? Who has sorrow?
    Who has strife? Who has complaints?
    Who has needless bruises? Who has bloodshot eyes?
30 Those who linger over wine,(Z)
    who go to sample bowls of mixed wine.
31 Do not gaze at wine when it is red,
    when it sparkles in the cup,
    when it goes down smoothly!
32 In the end it bites like a snake
    and poisons like a viper.
33 Your eyes will see strange sights,
    and your mind will imagine confusing things.
34 You will be like one sleeping on the high seas,
    lying on top of the rigging.
35 “They hit me,” you will say, “but I’m not hurt!
    They beat me, but I don’t feel it!
When will I wake up
    so I can find another drink?”(AA)

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 23:1 Or who
  2. Proverbs 23:7 Or for as he thinks within himself, / so he is; or for as he puts on a feast, / so he is