Proverbs 23 New International Version

Saying 7

23 When you sit to dine with a ruler,
    note well what^[a] is before you,
²and put a knife to your throat
    if you are given to gluttony.
³Do not crave his delicacies,^(A)
    for that food is deceptive.

Saying 8

⁴Do not wear yourself out to get rich;
    do not trust your own cleverness.
⁵Cast 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

⁶Do not eat the food of a begrudging host,
    do not crave his delicacies;^(D)
⁷for 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.
⁸You will vomit up the little you have eaten
    and will have wasted your compliments.

Saying 10

⁹Do not speak to fools,
for they will scorn your prudent words.^(E)

Saying 11

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

Saying 12

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

Saying 13

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

Saying 14

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

Saying 15

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

Saying 16

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

Saying 17

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

Saying 18

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

Saying 19

²⁹Who has woe? Who has sorrow?
    Who has strife? Who has complaints?
    Who has needless bruises? Who has bloodshot eyes?
³⁰Those who linger over wine,^(Z)
    who go to sample bowls of mixed wine.
³¹Do not gaze at wine when it is red,
    when it sparkles in the cup,
    when it goes down smoothly!
³²In the end it bites like a snake
    and poisons like a viper.
³³Your eyes will see strange sights,
    and your mind will imagine confusing things.
³⁴You 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)