Mishlei (Pro) 23

1When you sit down to dine with a ruler,

think carefully about who is before you.

2If you have a big appetite,

put a knife to your throat!

3Don’t be greedy for his delicacies,

for they are deceptive food.

4Don’t exhaust yourself in pursuit of wealth;

be smart enough to desist.

5If you make your eyes rush at it,

it’s no longer there!

For wealth will surely grow wings,

like an eagle flying off to the sky.

6Don’t eat the food of a stingy man;

don’t be greedy for his delicacies.

7For he is like someone who keeps accounts —

“Eat! Drink!” he says to you,

but he doesn’t really mean it.

8The little you eat you will vomit up,

and your compliments will have been wasted.

9Don’t speak in the ears of a fool,

for he will only despise the common sense in your words.

10Don’t move the ancient boundary stone

or encroach on the land of the fatherless;

11for their Redeemer is strong;

he will take up their fight against you.

12Apply your mind to discipline

and your ears to words of knowledge.

13Don’t withhold discipline from a child —

if you beat him with a stick, he won’t die!

14If you beat him with a stick,

you will save him from Sh’ol.

15My son, if your heart is wise,

then my own heart too is glad;

16my inmost being rejoices

when your lips say what is right.

17Don’t envy sinners, but follow the example

of those who always fear God;

18for then you will have a future;

what you hope for will not be cut off.

19You, my son: listen, be wise,

and set your mind on the right way.

20Don’t be one of those who guzzle wine

or of those who eat meat to excess,

21for both drunkard and glutton will become poor —

drowsiness will clothe them with rags.

22Listen to your father, who gave you life;

and don’t despise your mother when she gets old.

23Buy the truth, don’t sell it,

also wisdom, discipline and discernment.

24A righteous person’s father will be filled with joy;

yes, he whose son is wise will rejoice in him.

25So let your father and mother be glad;

let her who gave you birth rejoice.

26My son, give me your heart;

let your eyes observe my ways.

27A prostitute is a deep ditch,

and a forbidden woman like a narrow well.

28She lies in wait to snatch her prey

and adds to the number of faithless men.

29Who has misery? Who has regret?

Who fights and complains all the time?

Who gets bruised for no good reason?

Who has bloodshot eyes?

30Those who spend their time over wine,

those always trying out mixed drinks.

31Don’t gaze at the red wine

as it gives its color to the cup.

It may glide down smoothly now;

32but in the end, it bites like a serpent —

yes, it strikes like a poisonous snake.

33Your eyes will see peculiar things,

your mind will utter nonsense.

34You will feel as if lying on the waves of the sea

or sprawled on top of the mast —

35“They hit me, but I didn’t feel it!

They beat me up, and I didn’t even know it!

When will I wake up? . . .

I’ll go get another drink.”

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Mishlei (Pro) 23: CJB

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Proverbs 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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