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
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