Proverbs 23
23
Saying 7
1When you sit to dine with a ruler,
note well what#23:1 Or who is before you,
2and put a knife to your throat
if you are given to gluttony.
3Do not crave his delicacies,
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,
for they will surely sprout wings
and fly off to the sky like an eagle.
Saying 9
6Do not eat the food of a begrudging host,
do not crave his delicacies;
7for he is the kind of person
who is always thinking about the cost.#23:7 Or for as he thinks within himself, / so he is; or for as he puts on a feast, / so he is
“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.
Saying 11
10Do not move an ancient boundary stone
or encroach on the fields of the fatherless,
11for their Defender is strong;
he will take up their case against you.
Saying 12
12Apply your heart to instruction
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.
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.
Saying 15
17Do not let your heart envy 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.
Saying 16
19Listen, my son, and be wise,
and set your heart on the right path:
20Do not join those who drink too much wine
or gorge themselves on meat,
21for drunkards and gluttons become poor,
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.
23Buy the truth and do not sell it—
wisdom, instruction and insight as well.
24The father of a righteous child has great joy;
a man who fathers a wise son rejoices in him.
25May your father and mother rejoice;
may she who gave you birth be joyful!
Saying 18
26My son, give me your heart
and let your eyes delight in my ways,
27for an adulterous woman is a deep pit,
and a wayward wife is a narrow well.
28Like a bandit she lies in wait
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,
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?”
Currently Selected:
Proverbs 23: NIV
Highlight
Share
Copy
Want to have your highlights saved across all your devices? Sign up or sign in
The Holy Bible, New International Version® NIV®
Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.®
Used by Permission of Biblica, Inc.® All rights reserved worldwide.
Proverbs 23
23
1When you sit down to dine with a ruler,
carefully consider what is in front of you.
2Place a knife at your throat
to control your appetite.
3Don’t long for the ruler’s delicacies;
the food misleads.
4Don’t wear yourself out trying to get rich;
be smart enough to stop.
5When your eyes fly to wealth
it is gone; it grows wings
like an eagle and flies heavenward.
6Don’t eat food with stingy people;
don’t long for their delicacies,
7because they are like a hair in the throat.#23.7 LXX; Heb uncertain
They say to you, “Eat and drink!”
but they don’t mean it.
8You will eat scraps and vomit them out.
You will waste your pleasant words.
9Don’t speak in the ears of fools,
for they will scorn your insightful words.
10Don’t remove an ancient boundary marker;
don’t invade the fields of orphans,
11for their redeemer is strong.
He will bring charges against you.
12Bring your mind to instruction,
your ear to knowledgeable sayings.
13Don’t withhold instruction from children;
if you strike them with a rod, they won’t die.
14Strike them with a rod,
and you will save their lives from the grave.#23.14 Heb Sheol
15My child, if your heart is wise,
then my heart too will be happy.
16My inner being will rejoice
when your lips speak with integrity.
17Don’t let your heart envy sinners,
but fear the LORD constantly;
18then you will have a future,
and your hope won’t be cut off.
19Listen, my child, and be wise!
Keep your mind straight on the path.
20Don’t hang out with those who get drunk on wine
or those who eat too much meat,
21because drunks and gluttons will be impoverished;
their stupor will clothe them in rags.
22Listen to your father, who gave you life;
don’t despise your elderly mother.
23Buy truth and don’t sell it;
buy wisdom, instruction, and understanding.
24The father of the righteous will be very happy;
the one who gives life to the wise will rejoice.
25Your father and your mother will rejoice;
she who gave you birth will be happy.
26My child, give your mind to me
and let your eyes keep to my path.
27A prostitute is a deep pit,
and a foreign woman is a narrow well.
28Indeed, she ambushes like a robber
and increases the number of the faithless.
29Who is suffering?
Who is uneasy?
Who has arguments?
Who has complaints?
Who has unnecessary wounds?
Who has glazed eyes?—
30those who linger over wine;
those who go looking for mixed wine.
31Don’t look at wine when it is red,
when it sparkles in the cup,
going down smoothly.
32In the end, it bites like a snake
and poisons like a viper.
33Your eyes will see strange things,
and your heart will speak distorted words.
34You will be like one who lies down while out on the sea#23.34 Or in the heart of the sea
or one who lies on top of a mast.
35“Though hit, I feel no pain;
though beaten up, I don’t know anything about it.
When I wake up,
I’ll look for wine again!”
Currently Selected:
:
Highlight
Share
Copy
Want to have your highlights saved across all your devices? Sign up or sign in
2011 Common English Bible. All rights reserved.