Proverbs 23
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1When you sit down to eat with a ruler, consider carefully what is before you, 1When you sit to dine with a ruler, note well 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 are given to gluttony.
3Do not crave that ruler's delicacies, for that food is deceptive. 3Do not crave his 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 get rich; do not trust your own cleverness.
5When you gaze upon riches, they are gone, for they surely make wings for themselves, and fly off into the sky like an eagle! 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.
6Do not eat the food of a stingy person, do not crave his delicacies; 6Do not eat the food of a begrudging host, 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 the kind of person who is always thinking about the cost. "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 you have eaten and will have wasted your compliments.
9Do not speak in the ears of a fool, for he will despise the wisdom of your words. 9Do not speak to fools, for they will scorn your prudent words.
10Do not move an ancient boundary stone, or take over the fields of the fatherless, 10Do not move an ancient boundary stone or encroach on the fields of the fatherless,
11for their Protector is strong; he will plead their case against you. 11for their Defender is strong; he will take up 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 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; if you punish them with the rod, they will not die.
14If you strike him with the rod, you will deliver him from death. 14Punish them with the rod and save them from death.
15My child, if your heart is wise, then my heart also will be glad; 15My son, if your heart is wise, then my heart will be glad indeed;
16my soul will rejoice when your lips speak what is right. 16my inmost being 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 always be zealous for the fear of the LORD.
18For surely there is a future, and your hope will not be cut off. 18There is surely a future hope for you, and your hope will not be cut off.
19Listen, my child, and be wise, and guide your heart on the right way. 19Listen, my son, and be wise, and set your heart on the right path:
20Do not spend time among drunkards, among those who eat too much meat, 20Do not join those who drink too much wine or gorge themselves on meat,
21because drunkards and gluttons become impoverished, and drowsiness clothes them with rags. 21for drunkards and gluttons become poor, and drowsiness clothes them in rags.
22Listen to your father who begot you, and do not despise your mother when she is old. 22Listen to your father, who gave you life, and do not despise your mother when she is old.
23Acquire truth and do not sell it--wisdom, and discipline, and understanding. 23Buy the truth and do not sell it-- wisdom, instruction and insight as well.
24The father of a righteous person will rejoice greatly; whoever fathers a wise child will have joy in him. 24The father of a righteous child has great joy; a man who fathers a wise son rejoices in him.
25May your father and your mother have joy; may she who bore you rejoice. 25May your father and mother rejoice; may she who gave you birth be joyful!
26Give me your heart, my son, and let your eyes observe my ways; 26My son, give me your heart and let your eyes delight in my ways,
27for a prostitute is like a deep pit; a harlot is like a narrow well. 27for an adulterous woman is a deep pit, and a wayward wife is a narrow well.
28Indeed, she lies in wait like a robber, and increases the unfaithful among men. 28Like a bandit she lies in wait and multiplies 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 strife? Who has complaints? Who has needless bruises? Who has bloodshot eyes?
30Those who linger over wine, those who go looking for mixed wine. 30Those who linger over wine, who go to sample bowls of 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 gaze at 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. 32In the end it bites like a snake and poisons like a viper.
33Your eyes will see strange things, and your mind will speak perverse things. 33Your eyes will see strange sights, and your mind will imagine confusing 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. 34You will be like one sleeping on the high seas, lying on 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." 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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Proverbs 22
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