Proverbs 23
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1While dining with a ruler, pay attention to what is put before you.1When you sit to dine with a ruler, note well what is before you,
2If you are a big eater, put a knife to your throat;2and put a knife to your throat if you are given to gluttony.
3don’t desire all the delicacies, for he might be trying to trick you.3Do not crave his delicacies, for that food is deceptive.
4Don’t wear yourself out trying to get rich. Be wise enough to know when to quit.4Do not wear yourself out to get rich; do not trust your own cleverness.
5In the blink of an eye wealth disappears, for it will sprout wings and fly away 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.
6Don’t eat with people who are stingy; don’t desire their delicacies.6Do not eat the food of a begrudging host, do not crave his delicacies;
7They are always thinking about how much it costs. “Eat and drink,” they say, but they don’t mean it.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 throw up what little you’ve eaten, and your compliments will be wasted.8You will vomit up the little you have eaten and will have wasted your compliments.
9Don’t waste your breath on fools, for they will despise the wisest advice.9Do not speak to fools, for they will scorn your prudent words.
10Don’t cheat your neighbor by moving the ancient boundary markers; don’t take the land of defenseless orphans.10Do not move an ancient boundary stone or encroach on the fields of the fatherless,
11For their Redeemer is strong; he himself will bring their charges against you.11for their Defender is strong; he will take up their case against you.
12Commit yourself to instruction; listen carefully to words of knowledge.12Apply your heart to instruction and your ears to words of knowledge.
13Don’t fail to discipline your children. The rod of punishment won’t kill them.13Do not withhold discipline from a child; if you punish them with the rod, they will not die.
14Physical discipline may well save them from death.14Punish them with the rod and save them from death.
15My child, if your heart is wise, my own heart will rejoice!15My son, if your heart is wise, then my heart will be glad indeed;
16Everything in me will celebrate when you speak what is right.16my inmost being will rejoice when your lips speak what is right.
17Don’t envy sinners, but always continue to fear the LORD.17Do not let your heart envy sinners, but always be zealous for the fear of the LORD.
18You will be rewarded for this; your hope will not be disappointed.18There is surely a future hope for you, and your hope will not be cut off.
19My child, listen and be wise: Keep your heart on the right course.19Listen, my son, and be wise, and set your heart on the right path:
20Do not carouse with drunkards or feast with gluttons,20Do not join those who drink too much wine or gorge themselves on meat,
21for they are on their way to poverty, and too much sleep clothes them in rags.21for drunkards and gluttons become poor, and drowsiness clothes them in rags.
22Listen to your father, who gave you life, and don’t 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.
23Get the truth and never sell it; also get wisdom, discipline, and good judgment.23Buy the truth and do not sell it-- wisdom, instruction and insight as well.
24The father of godly children has cause for joy. What a pleasure to have children who are wise.24The father of a righteous child has great joy; a man who fathers a wise son rejoices in him.
25So give your father and mother joy! May she who gave you birth be happy.25May your father and mother rejoice; may she who gave you birth be joyful!
26O my son, give me your heart. May your eyes take delight in following my ways.26My son, give me your heart and let your eyes delight in my ways,
27A prostitute is a dangerous trap; a promiscuous woman is as dangerous as falling into a narrow well.27for an adulterous woman is a deep pit, and a wayward wife is a narrow well.
28She hides and waits like a robber, eager to make more men unfaithful.28Like a bandit she lies in wait and multiplies the unfaithful among men.
29Who has anguish? Who has sorrow? Who is always fighting? Who is always complaining? Who has unnecessary bruises? Who has bloodshot eyes?29Who has woe? Who has sorrow? Who has strife? Who has complaints? Who has needless bruises? Who has bloodshot eyes?
30It is the one who spends long hours in the taverns, trying out new drinks.30Those who linger over wine, who go to sample bowls of mixed wine.
31Don’t gaze at the wine, seeing how red it is, how it sparkles in the cup, how smoothly it goes down.31Do not gaze at wine when it is red, when it sparkles in the cup, when it goes down smoothly!
32For in the end it bites like a poisonous snake; it stings like a viper.32In the end it bites like a snake and poisons like a viper.
33You will see hallucinations, and you will say crazy things.33Your eyes will see strange sights, and your mind will imagine confusing things.
34You will stagger like a sailor tossed at sea, clinging to a swaying mast.34You will be like one sleeping on the high seas, lying on top of the rigging.
35And you will say, “They hit me, but I didn’t feel it. I didn’t even know it when they beat me up. When will I wake up so I can 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?"
Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.New International Version (NIV)

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Proverbs 22
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