Proverbs 23
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International Standard VersionHolman Christian Standard Bible
1Whenever you sit down to dine with a ruler, carefully think about what is before you.1When you sit down to dine with a ruler, consider carefully what is before you,
2Put a knife to your own throat, if you have a big appetite. 2and put a knife to your throat if you have a big appetite;
3Don't crave his delicacies, because the meal is deceptive.3don't desire his choice food, for that food is deceptive.
4Don't exhaust yourself acquiring wealth; be smart enough to stop.4Don't wear yourself out to get rich; stop giving your attention to it.
5When you fix your gaze on it, it's gone, for it sprouts wings for itself and flies to the sky like an eagle.5As soon as your eyes fly to it, it disappears, for it makes wings for itself and flies like an eagle to the sky.
6Don't consume food provided by a miserly person, and don't desire his delicacies,6Don't eat a stingy person's bread, and don't desire his choice food,
7for as he thinks within himself, so he is. "Eat and drink!" he'll say to you, but his heart won't be with you.7for it's like someone calculating inwardly." Eat and drink," he says to you, but his heart is not with you.
8You'll vomit up what little you've eaten, and your compliments will have been wasted.8You will vomit the little you've eaten and waste your pleasant words.
9Don't speak when a fool is listening, because he'll despise your wise words.9Don't speak to a fool, for he will despise the insight of your words.
10Don't move ancient boundaries or invade fields belonging to orphans;10Don't move an ancient boundary marker, and don't encroach on the fields of the fatherless,
11for strong is their Redeemer who will take up their case against you.11for their Redeemer is strong, and He will take up their case against you.
12Learn diligently, and listen to words of knowledge.12Apply yourself to discipline and listen to words of knowledge.
13Don't withhold discipline from a child; if you punish him with a rod, he won't die.13Don't withhold discipline from a youth; if you beat him with a rod, he will not die.
14Punish him with a rod, and you will rescue his soul from Sheol. 14Strike him with a rod, and you will rescue his life from Sheol.
15My son, if your heart is wise, my own heart will greatly rejoice.15My son, if your heart is wise, my heart will indeed rejoice.
16My innermost being will be glad when your lips speak what is right.16My innermost being will cheer when your lips say what is right.
17Never let yourself envy sinners; instead, remain in fear of the LORD every day,17Don't let your heart envy sinners; instead, always fear the LORD.
18for there is surely a future life, and what you hope for will not be cut off.18For then you will have a future, and your hope will never fade.
19Listen, my son, and be wise, commit yourself to live God's way.19Listen, my son, and be wise; keep your mind on the right course.
20Don't associate with heavy drinkers or dine with gluttons,20Don't associate with those who drink too much wine or with those who gorge themselves on meat.
21because drunks and gluttons tend to become poor, and drowsiness will clothe them in rags.21For the drunkard and the glutton will become poor, and grogginess will clothe them in rags.
22Listen to the one who fathered you, and don't despise your mother in her old age.22Listen to your father who gave you life, and don't despise your mother when she is old.
23Purchase truth, but don't sell it; store up wisdom, instruction, and understanding.23Buy--and do not sell--truth, wisdom, instruction, and understanding.
24The father of a righteous person will greatly rejoice; whoever fathers a wise son will be glad because of him.24The father of a righteous son will rejoice greatly, and one who fathers a wise son will delight in him.
25Let your father and mother rejoice; make the one who gave birth to you happy.25Let your father and mother have joy, and let her who gave birth to you rejoice.
26Give me your heart, my son, and keep your eyes fixed on my ways,26My son, give me your heart, and let your eyes observe my ways.
27because a prostitute is a deep pit, and the adulterous woman a narrow well.27For a prostitute is a deep pit, and a stranger is a narrow well;
28Surely she lies in wait like a bandit, increasing those who are faithless among mankind.28indeed, she sets an ambush like a robber and increases those among men who are unfaithful.
29Who has woe? Who has grief? Who has contention? Who has complaints? Who has wounds without cause? Who has bloodshot eyes?29Who has woe? Who has sorrow? Who has conflicts? Who has complaints? Who has wounds for no reason? Who has red eyes?
30Those who linger over their wine, who consume mixed drinks.30Those who linger over wine, those who go looking for mixed wine.
31Don't stare into red wine, when it sparkles in the cup and goes down smoothly.31Don't gaze at wine because it is red, when it gleams in the cup and goes down smoothly.
32Eventually it will bite like a snake and sting like a serpent.32In the end it bites like a snake and stings like a viper.
33Your eyes will see strange things, and with slurred words you'll speak what you really believe.33Your eyes will see strange things, and you will say absurd things.
34You will be like someone who lies down in the sea, or like someone who sleeps on top of a mast.34You'll be like someone sleeping out at sea or lying down on the top of a ship's mast."
35"They struck me," you will say, "but I never felt it. They beat me, but I never knew it When will I wake up? I want another drink."35They struck me, but I feel no pain! They beat me, but I didn't know it! When will I wake up? I'll look for another drink."
The Holy Bible: International Standard Version® Release 2.1 Copyright © 1996-2012 The ISV Foundation
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED INTERNATIONALLY.
Holman Christian Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission.
Proverbs 22
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