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?”
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Proverbs 23: NIV
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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 for a meal with a ruler, look carefully at what is placed before you,
2and cut down#23:2. Literally, “put a knife to your throat.” if you have a big appetite.
3Don't be greedy for his fancy food, for it's offered with deceptive motives.#23:3. Literally, “for it is the bread of lies.”
4Don't wear yourself out trying to get rich—be wise enough not to bother!
5It disappears in the blink of an eye, suddenly growing wings and flying off into the sky like an eagle.
6Don't accept meal invitations from miserly people; don't be greedy for their fancy food,
7for what they're thinking inside is what they really are. They say, “Come on, eat and drink!”—but in their minds they don't really care about you.#23:7. Literally, “his heart is not with you.”
8You'll vomit up the little pieces you've eaten, and your kind words of appreciation will be wasted.
9Don't talk to stupid people because they'll ridicule your wise words.
10Don't move ancient boundary markers, and don't encroach on fields belonging to orphans,
11for their Protector#23:11. The word used here is the kinsman-redeemer who had the responsibility to marry a widowed relative and protect the family. See Leviticus 25 and Numbers 35. In this case it is applied to God. is powerful and he will plead their case against you.
12Focus your mind on instruction; listen intently to words of knowledge.
13Don't keep from disciplining your children—a beating won't kill them.
14If you use physical correction you can save them from death.#23:14. “Death” literally, “Sheol,” the place of the dead, the grave.
15My son, if you think wisely then I'll be happy;
16I'll be delighted when you say what's right.
17Don't think enviously of sinners, but always remember to honor the Lord,
18for there's definitely a future for you, and your hope will not be crushed.
19Pay attention, my son, and be wise; make sure your mind concentrates on following the right way.
20Don't join in with people who drink too much wine or who stuff themselves with meat.
21For people who get drunk and overeat lose all they've got, and they spend so much time dozing that all they have left to wear is rags.
22Pay attention to your father, and don't disregard your mother when she's old.
23Invest in truth—and don't sell it! Invest in wisdom, instruction, and understanding.
24Children who do right make their fathers very happy; a wise son brings joy to his father.
25Make your father and mother happy; bring joy to her who gave birth to you.
26My son, give me your undivided attention, and cheerfully follow my example.
27A prostitute is like being trapped in a pit; an immoral woman is like getting stuck a narrow well,
28Like a robber, she lies in wait ready to ambush men and make more of them unfaithful to their wives.
29Who's in trouble? Who's in pain? Who's arguing? Who's complaining? Who's injured for no reason? Who's got bloodshot eyes?
30—those who spend a long time drinking wine, those who are always trying some new cocktail.#23:30. “Cocktail”: literally “mixed drink.”
31Don't let the look of wine tempt you—how red it is, how it sparkles in the cup, how smooth it feels as it goes down.
32In the end it bites like a serpent, it stings like a snake.
33You'll hallucinate, seeing strange things, and your confused mind will make you say all kinds of craziness.
34You'll stumble around like you're on the rolling ocean, you'll be tossed about like someone lying down at the top of a ship's mast, saying,
35“People punched me, but it didn't hurt me; they beat me, but I didn't feel a thing. I've got to get up because I need another drink.”
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Dr. Jonathan Gallagher. Released under Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 Unported License. Version 4.3. For corrections send email to jonathangallagherfbv@gmail.com