Proverbs 23
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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Proverbs 23: GW
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GOD'S WORD® Translation ©1995, 2003, 2013, 2014, 2019, 2020 by God's Word to the Nations Mission Society. All rights reserved.
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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