Proverbs 23

1 When you sit down to dine with a ruler, consider carefully what is set before you,

1 When you sit to eat with a ruler, consider diligently what is before you;

2 and put a knife to your throat if you possess a great appetite.

2 put a knife to your throat if you are a man given to appetite.

3 Do not crave his delicacies, for that food is deceptive.

3 Don’t be desirous of his dainties, since they are deceitful food.

4 Do not wear yourself out to get rich; be wise enough to restrain yourself.

4 Don’t weary yourself to be rich. In your wisdom, show restraint.

5 When you glance at wealth, it disappears, for it makes wings for itself and flies like an eagle to the sky.

5 Why do you set your eyes on that which is not? For it certainly sprouts wings like an eagle and flies in the sky.

6 Do not eat the bread of a stingy man, and do not crave his delicacies;

6 Don’t eat the food of him who has a stingy eye, and don’t crave his delicacies,

7 for he is keeping track, inwardly counting the cost. “Eat and drink,” he says to you, but his heart is not with you.

7 for as he thinks about the cost, so he is. “Eat and drink!” he says to you, but his heart is not with you.

8 You will vomit up what little you have eaten and waste your pleasant words.

8 You will vomit up the morsel which you have eaten and waste your pleasant words.

9 Do not speak to a fool, for he will despise the wisdom of your words.

9 Don’t speak in the ears of a fool, for he will despise the wisdom of your words.

10 Do not move an ancient boundary stone or encroach on the fields of the fatherless,

10 Don’t move the ancient boundary stone. Don’t encroach on the fields of the fatherless,

11 for their Redeemer is strong; He will take up their case against you.

11 for their Defender is strong. He will plead their case against you.

12 Apply your heart to instruction and your ears to words of knowledge.

12 Apply your heart to instruction, and your ears to the words of knowledge.

13 Do not withhold discipline from a child; although you strike him with a rod, he will not die.

13 Don’t withhold correction from a child. If you punish him with the rod, he will not die.

14 Strike him with a rod, and you will deliver his soul from Sheol.

14 Punish him with the rod, and save his soul from Sheol.

15 My son, if your heart is wise, my own heart will indeed rejoice.

15 My son, if your heart is wise, then my heart will be glad, even mine.

16 My inmost being will rejoice when your lips speak what is right.

16 Yes, my heart will rejoice when your lips speak what is right.

17 Do not let your heart envy sinners, but always continue in the fear of the LORD.

17 Don’t let your heart envy sinners, but rather fear Yahweh all day long.

18 For surely there is a future, and your hope will not be cut off.

18 Indeed surely there is a future hope, and your hope will not be cut off.

19 Listen, my son, and be wise, and guide your heart on the right course.

19 Listen, my son, and be wise, and keep your heart on the right path!

20 Do not join those who drink too much wine or gorge themselves on meat.

20 Don’t be among ones drinking too much wine, or those who gorge themselves on meat;

21 For the drunkard and the glutton will come to poverty, and drowsiness will clothe them in rags.

21 for the drunkard and the glutton shall become poor; and drowsiness clothes them in rags.

22 Listen to your father who gave you life, and do not despise your mother when she is old.

22 Listen to your father who gave you life, and don’t despise your mother when she is old.

23 Invest in truth and never sell it—in wisdom and instruction and understanding.

23 Buy the truth, and don’t sell it. Get wisdom, discipline, and understanding.

24 The father of a righteous man will greatly rejoice, and he who fathers a wise son will delight in him.

24 The father of the righteous has great joy. Whoever fathers a wise child delights in him.

25 May your father and mother be glad, and may she who gave you birth rejoice!

25 Let your father and your mother be glad! Let her who bore you rejoice!

26 My son, give me your heart, and let your eyes delight in my ways.

26 My son, give me your heart; and let your eyes keep in my ways.

27 For a prostitute is a deep pit, and an adulteress is a narrow well.

27 For a prostitute is a deep pit; and a wayward wife is a narrow well.

28 Like a robber she lies in wait and multiplies the faithless among men.

28 Yes, she lies in wait like a robber, and increases the unfaithful among men.

29 Who has woe? Who has sorrow? Who has contentions? Who has complaints? Who has needless wounds? Who has bloodshot eyes?

29 Who has woe? Who has sorrow? Who has strife? Who has complaints? Who has needless bruises? Who has bloodshot eyes?

30 Those who linger over wine, who go to taste mixed drinks.

30 Those who stay long at the wine; those who go to seek out mixed wine.

31 Do not gaze at wine while it is red, when it sparkles in the cup and goes down smoothly.

31 Don’t look at the wine when it is red, when it sparkles in the cup, when it goes down smoothly.

32 In the end it bites like a snake and stings like a viper.

32 In the end, it bites like a snake, and poisons like a viper.

33 Your eyes will see strange things, and your mind will utter perversities.

33 Your eyes will see strange things, and your mind will imagine confusing things.

34 You will be like one sleeping on the high seas or lying on the top of a mast:

34 Yes, you will be as he who lies down in the middle of the sea, or as he who lies on top of the rigging:

35 “They struck me, but I feel no pain! They beat me, but I did not know it! When can I wake up to search for another drink?”

35 “They hit me, and I was not hurt! They beat me, and I don’t feel it! When will I wake up? I can do it again. I will look for more.”