Proverbs 23

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1When you sit and eat with an important person, remember who you are with. 2Never eat too much, even if you are very hungry. 3Don’t eat too much of his fine food. It might be a trick.

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4Don’t ruin your health trying to get rich. If you are smart, you will give it up. 5In the blink of an eye, money can disappear, as if it grew wings and flew away like a bird.

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6Don’t eat with selfish people. Control any desire you have for their finest foods. 7They might tell you to eat and drink all you want, but they don’t really mean it. They are the kind of people who are only thinking about the cost. 8And if you eat their food, you will get sick and be embarrassed.

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9Don’t try to teach fools. They will make fun of your wise words.

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10Never move an old property line, and don’t take land that belongs to orphans. 11The Lord will be against you. He is powerful and protects orphans.

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12Listen to your teacher and learn all you can.

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13Always correct children when they need it. If you spank them, it will not kill them. 14In fact, you might save their lives.

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15My son, it makes me happy when you make a wise decision. 16It makes me feel good inside when you say the right things.

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17Never envy evil people, but always respect the Lord. 18This will give you something to hope for that will not disappoint you.

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19So listen, my son, and be wise. Always be careful to follow the right path. 20Don’t make friends with people who drink too much wine and eat too much food. 21Those who eat and drink too much become poor. They sleep too much and end up wearing rags.

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22Listen to your father. Without him, you would never have been born. Respect your mother, even when she is old. 23Truth, wisdom, learning, and understanding are worth paying money for. They are worth far too much to ever sell. 24The father of a good person is very happy. A wise child brings him joy. 25Make both of your parents happy. Give your mother that same joy.

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26My son, listen closely to what I am saying. Let my life be your example. 27Prostitutes and bad women are a trap. They are like a deep well that you cannot escape. 28A bad woman waits for you like a thief, and she causes many men to be unfaithful to their wives.

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29-30Who gets into fights and arguments? Who gets hurt for no reason and has red, bloodshot eyes? People who stay out too late drinking wine, staring into their strong drinks.

31So be careful with wine. It is pretty and red as it sparkles in the cup. And it goes down so smoothly when you drink it. 32But in the end, it will bite like a snake.

33Wine will cause you to see strange things and to say things that make no sense. 34When you lie down, you will think you are on a rough sea and feel like you are at the top of the mast. 35You will say, “They hit me, but I never felt it. They beat me, but I don’t remember it. Now I can’t wake up. I need another drink.”

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Proverbs 23

1When you sit down to eat with a ruler,

pay close attention to what is in front of you,

2and put a knife to your throat if you have a big appetite.

3Do not crave his delicacies,

because this is food that deceives you.

4Do not wear yourself out getting rich.

Be smart enough to stop.

5Will you catch only a fleeting glimpse of wealth before it is gone?

It makes wings for itself like an eagle flying into the sky.

6Do not eat the food of one who is stingy,

and do not crave his delicacies.

7As he calculates the cost to himself, this is what he does:

He tells you, “Eat and drink,”

but he doesn’t really mean it.

8You will vomit the little bit you have eaten

and spoil your pleasant conversation.

9Do not talk directly to a fool,

because he will despise the wisdom of your words.

10Do not move an ancient boundary marker

or enter fields that belong to orphans,

11because the one who is responsible for them is strong.

He will plead their case against you.

Learning from Your Father

12Live a more disciplined life,

and listen carefully to words of knowledge.

13Do not hesitate to discipline a child.

If you spank him, he will not die.

14Spank him yourself,

and you will save his soul from hell.

15My son,

if you have a wise heart,

my heart will rejoice as well.

16My heart rejoices when you speak what is right.

17Do not envy sinners in your heart.

Instead, continue to fear the Lord.

18There is indeed a future,

and your hope will never be cut off.

19My son,

listen, be wise,

and keep your mind going in the right direction.

20Do not associate with those who drink too much wine,

with those who eat too much meat,

21because both a drunk and a glutton will become poor.

Drowsiness will dress a person in rags.

22Listen to your father since you are his son,

and do not despise your mother because she is old.

23Buy truth (and do not sell it),

⌞that is,⌟ buy wisdom, discipline, and understanding.

24A righteous person’s father will certainly rejoice.

Someone who has a wise son will enjoy him.

25May your father and your mother be glad.

May she who gave birth to you rejoice.

26My son,

give me your heart.

Let your eyes find happiness in my ways.

27A prostitute is a deep pit.

A loose woman is a narrow well.

28She is like a robber, lying in ambush.

She spreads unfaithfulness throughout society.

29Who has trouble?

Who has misery?

Who has quarrels?

Who has a complaint?

Who has wounds for no reason?

Who has bloodshot eyes?

30Those who drink glass after glass of wine

and mix it with everything.

31Do not look at wine

because it is red,

because it sparkles in the cup,

because it goes down smoothly.

32Later it bites like a snake

and strikes like a poisonous snake.

33Your eyes will see strange sights,

and your mouth will say embarrassing things.

34You will be like someone lying down in the middle of the sea

or like someone lying down on top of a ship’s mast, saying,

35“They strike me, but I feel no pain.

They beat me, but I’m not aware of it.

Whenever I wake up, I’m going to look for another drink.”

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