1While dining with a ruler,

pay attention to what is put before you.

2If you are a big eater,

put a knife to your throat;

3don’t desire all the delicacies,

for he might be trying to trick you.

4Don’t wear yourself out trying to get rich.

Be wise enough to know when to quit.

5In the blink of an eye wealth disappears,

for it will sprout wings

and fly away like an eagle.

6Don’t eat with people who are stingy;

don’t desire their delicacies.

7They are always thinking about how much it costs.a

“Eat and drink,” they say, but they don’t mean it.

8You will throw up what little you’ve eaten,

and your compliments will be wasted.

9Don’t waste your breath on fools,

for they will despise the wisest advice.

10Don’t cheat your neighbor by moving the ancient boundary markers;

don’t take the land of defenseless orphans.

11For their Redeemerb is strong;

he himself will bring their charges against you.

12Commit yourself to instruction;

listen carefully to words of knowledge.

13Don’t fail to discipline your children.

The rod of punishment won’t kill them.

14Physical discipline

may well save them from death.c

15My child,d if your heart is wise,

my own heart will rejoice!

16Everything in me will celebrate

when you speak what is right.

17Don’t envy sinners,

but always continue to fear the LORD.

18You will be rewarded for this;

your hope will not be disappointed.

19My child, listen and be wise:

Keep your heart on the right course.

20Do not carouse with drunkards

or feast with gluttons,

21for they are on their way to poverty,

and too much sleep clothes them in rags.

22Listen to your father, who gave you life,

and don’t despise your mother when she is old.

23Get the truth and never sell it;

also get wisdom, discipline, and good judgment.

24The father of godly children has cause for joy.

What a pleasure to have children who are wise.e

25So give your father and mother joy!

May she who gave you birth be happy.

26O my son, give me your heart.

May your eyes take delight in following my ways.

27A prostitute is a dangerous trap;

a promiscuous woman is as dangerous as falling into a narrow well.

28She hides and waits like a robber,

eager to make more men unfaithful.

29Who has anguish? Who has sorrow?

Who is always fighting? Who is always complaining?

Who has unnecessary bruises? Who has bloodshot eyes?

30It is the one who spends long hours in the taverns,

trying out new drinks.

31Don’t gaze at the wine, seeing how red it is,

how it sparkles in the cup, how smoothly it goes down.

32For in the end it bites like a poisonous snake;

it stings like a viper.

33You will see hallucinations,

and you will say crazy things.

34You will stagger like a sailor tossed at sea,

clinging to a swaying mast.

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?”