| 1When you sit down to eat with a ruler, consider carefully what is before you, | 1When you sit down to eat with a ruler, consider carefully what is before you, |
| 2and put a knife to your throat if you possess a large appetite. | 2and put a knife to your throat if you possess a large appetite. |
| 3Do not crave that ruler's delicacies, for that food is deceptive. | 3Do not crave that ruler's delicacies, for that food is deceptive. |
| 4Do not wear yourself out to become rich; be wise enough to restrain yourself. | 4Do not wear yourself out to become rich; be wise enough to restrain yourself. |
| 5When you gaze upon riches, they are gone, for they surely make wings for themselves, and fly off into the sky like an eagle! | 5When you gaze upon riches, they are gone, for they surely make wings for themselves, and fly off into the sky like an eagle! |
| 6Do not eat the food of a stingy person, do not crave his delicacies; | 6Do not eat the food of a stingy person, do not crave his delicacies; |
| 7for he is like someone calculating the cost in his mind. "Eat and drink," he says to you, but his heart is not with you; | 7for he is like someone calculating the cost in his mind. "Eat and drink," he says to you, but his heart is not with you; |
| 8you will vomit up the little bit you have eaten, and will have wasted your pleasant words. | 8you will vomit up the little bit you have eaten, and will have wasted your pleasant words. |
| 9Do not speak in the ears of a fool, for he will despise the wisdom of your words. | 9Do not speak in the ears of a fool, for he will despise the wisdom of your words. |
| 10Do not move an ancient boundary stone, or take over the fields of the fatherless, | 10Do not move an ancient boundary stone, or take over the fields of the fatherless, |
| 11for their Protector is strong; he will plead their case against you. | 11for their Protector is strong; he will plead their case against you. |
| 12Apply your heart to instruction and your ears to the words of knowledge. | 12Apply your heart to instruction and your ears to the words of knowledge. |
| 13Do not withhold discipline from a child; even if you strike him with the rod, he will not die. | 13Do not withhold discipline from a child; even if you strike him with the rod, he will not die. |
| 14If you strike him with the rod, you will deliver him from death. | 14If you strike him with the rod, you will deliver him from death. |
| 15My child, if your heart is wise, then my heart also will be glad; | 15My child, if your heart is wise, then my heart also will be glad; |
| 16my soul will rejoice when your lips speak what is right. | 16my soul will rejoice when your lips speak what is right. |
| 17Do not let your heart envy sinners, but rather be zealous in fearing the LORD all the time. | 17Do not let your heart envy sinners, but rather be zealous in fearing the LORD all the time. |
| 18For surely there is a future, and your hope will not be cut off. | 18For surely there is a future, and your hope will not be cut off. |
| 19Listen, my child, and be wise, and guide your heart on the right way. | 19Listen, my child, and be wise, and guide your heart on the right way. |
| 20Do not spend time among drunkards, among those who eat too much meat, | 20Do not spend time among drunkards, among those who eat too much meat, |
| 21because drunkards and gluttons become impoverished, and drowsiness clothes them with rags. | 21because drunkards and gluttons become impoverished, and drowsiness clothes them with rags. |
| 22Listen to your father who begot you, and do not despise your mother when she is old. | 22Listen to your father who begot you, and do not despise your mother when she is old. |
| 23Acquire truth and do not sell it--wisdom, and discipline, and understanding. | 23Acquire truth and do not sell it--wisdom, and discipline, and understanding. |
| 24The father of a righteous person will rejoice greatly; whoever fathers a wise child will have joy in him. | 24The father of a righteous person will rejoice greatly; whoever fathers a wise child will have joy in him. |
| 25May your father and your mother have joy; may she who bore you rejoice. | 25May your father and your mother have joy; may she who bore you rejoice. |
| 26Give me your heart, my son, and let your eyes observe my ways; | 26Give me your heart, my son, and let your eyes observe my ways; |
| 27for a prostitute is like a deep pit; a harlot is like a narrow well. | 27for a prostitute is like a deep pit; a harlot is like a narrow well. |
| 28Indeed, she lies in wait like a robber, and increases the unfaithful among men. | 28Indeed, she lies in wait like a robber, and increases the unfaithful among men. |
| 29Who has woe? Who has sorrow? Who has contentions? Who has complaints? Who has wounds without cause? Who has dullness of the eyes? | 29Who has woe? Who has sorrow? Who has contentions? Who has complaints? Who has wounds without cause? Who has dullness of the eyes? |
| 30Those who linger over wine, those who go looking for mixed wine. | 30Those who linger over wine, those who go looking for mixed wine. |
| 31Do not look on the wine when it is red, when it sparkles in the cup, when it goes down smoothly. | 31Do not look on the wine when it is red, when it sparkles in the cup, when it goes down smoothly. |
| 32Afterward it bites like a snake, and stings like a viper. | 32Afterward it bites like a snake, and stings like a viper. |
| 33Your eyes will see strange things, and your mind will speak perverse things. | 33Your eyes will see strange things, and your mind will speak perverse things. |
| 34And you will be like one who lies down in the midst of the sea, and like one who lies down on the top of the rigging. | 34And you will be like one who lies down in the midst of the sea, and like one who lies down on the top of the rigging. |
| 35You will say, "They have struck me, but I am not harmed! They beat me, but I did not know it! When will I awake? I will look for another drink." | 35You will say, "They have struck me, but I am not harmed! They beat me, but I did not know it! When will I awake? I will look for another drink." |
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