23
1 When
you sit to
eat with a
ruler,
consider diligently what is
before you;
2 put
a knife to
your throat
if you are
a man given
to appetite.
3 Don’t
be desirous of his
dainties,
since they are deceitful
food.
4 Don’t
weary yourself to be
rich.
In your wisdom, show restraint.
5 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 Don’t eat
the food of
him who has
a stingy eye,
and don’t crave his
delicacies,
7 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 You
will vomit up
the morsel which
you have eaten
and waste your
pleasant words.
9 Don’t speak
in the ears of
a fool,
for he
will despise the
wisdom of your
words.
10 Don’t move
the ancient
boundary stone.
Don’t encroach on
the fields of
the fatherless,
11 for
their Defender is
strong.
He will plead
their case against
you.
12 Apply your
heart to
instruction,
and your ears to
the words of
knowledge.
13 Don’t
withhold correction
from a child.
If you punish
him with the
rod, he will
not die.
14 Punish
him with the
rod,
and save his
soul from
Sheol.
15 My
son, if your
heart is wise,
then my heart
will be glad,
even mine.
16 Yes, my
heart will rejoice
when your lips
speak what is
right.
17 Don’t let
your heart envy
sinners,
but rather fear
the LORD all
day long.
18 Indeed
surely there is
a future hope,
and your hope
will not be
cut off.
19 Listen,
my son, and
be wise,
and keep your
heart on the right
path!
20 Don’t
be among ones drinking too much
wine,
or those who gorge themselves
on meat;
21 for
the drunkard and
the glutton shall
become poor;
and drowsiness
clothes them in
rags.
22 Listen
to your father
who gave you life,
and don’t despise your mother
when she is
old.
23 Buy
the truth, and don’t
sell it.
Get wisdom,
discipline, and understanding.
24 The
father of the
righteous has great
joy.
Whoever fathers a
wise child delights
in him.
25 Let
your father and
your mother be glad!
Let her who
bore you rejoice!
26 My
son, give me
your heart;
and let your
eyes keep in my
ways.
27 For
a prostitute is
a deep pit;
and a wayward wife
is a narrow well.
28 Yes,
she lies in wait like
a robber,
and increases
the unfaithful among men.
29 Who
has woe?
Who has sorrow?
Who has strife?
Who has complaints?
Who has needless
bruises?
Who has bloodshot
eyes?
30 Those who
stay long at the
wine;
those who go to
seek out mixed
wine.
31 Don’t look
at the 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 things,
and your mind
will imagine confusing things.
34 Yes, you
will be as
he who lies down
in the middle
of the sea,
or as he who
lies on top
of the rigging:
35 “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 will look
for more.”