Proverbs 23
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Holman Christian Standard BibleNET Bible
1When you sit down to dine 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 have a big appetite; 2and put a knife to your throat if you possess a large appetite.
3don't desire his choice food, for that food is deceptive. 3Do not crave that ruler's delicacies, for that food is deceptive.
4Don't wear yourself out to get rich; stop giving your attention to it. 4Do not wear yourself out to become rich; be wise enough to restrain yourself.
5As soon as your eyes fly to it, it disappears, for it makes wings for itself and flies like an eagle to the sky. 5When you gaze upon riches, they are gone, for they surely make wings for themselves, and fly off into the sky like an eagle!
6Don't eat a stingy person's bread, and don't desire his choice food, 6Do not eat the food of a stingy person, do not crave his delicacies;
7for it's like someone calculating inwardly." 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 the little you've eaten and waste your pleasant words. 8you will vomit up the little bit you have eaten, and will have wasted your pleasant words.
9Don't speak to a fool, for he will despise the insight of your words. 9Do not speak in the ears of a fool, for he will despise the wisdom of your words.
10Don't move an ancient boundary marker, and don't encroach on the fields of the fatherless, 10Do not move an ancient boundary stone, or take over the fields of the fatherless,
11for their Redeemer is strong, and He will take up their case against you. 11for their Protector is strong; he will plead their case against you.
12Apply yourself to discipline and listen to words of knowledge. 12Apply your heart to instruction and your ears to the words of knowledge.
13Don't withhold discipline from a youth; if you beat him with a rod, he will not die. 13Do not withhold discipline from a child; even if you strike him with the rod, he will not die.
14Strike him with a rod, and you will rescue his life from Sheol. 14If you strike him with the rod, you will deliver him from death.
15My son, if your heart is wise, my heart will indeed rejoice. 15My child, if your heart is wise, then my heart also will be glad;
16My innermost being will cheer when your lips say what is right. 16my soul will rejoice when your lips speak what is right.
17Don't let your heart envy sinners; instead, always fear the LORD. 17Do not let your heart envy sinners, but rather be zealous in fearing the LORD all the time.
18For then you will have a future, and your hope will never fade. 18For surely there is a future, and your hope will not be cut off.
19Listen, my son, and be wise; keep your mind on the right course. 19Listen, my child, and be wise, and guide your heart on the right way.
20Don't associate with those who drink too much wine or with those who gorge themselves on meat. 20Do not spend time among drunkards, among those who eat too much meat,
21For the drunkard and the glutton will become poor, and grogginess will clothe them in rags. 21because drunkards and gluttons become impoverished, and drowsiness clothes them with rags.
22Listen to your father who gave you life, and don't despise your mother when she is old. 22Listen to your father who begot you, and do not despise your mother when she is old.
23Buy--and do not sell--truth, wisdom, instruction, and understanding. 23Acquire truth and do not sell it--wisdom, and discipline, and understanding.
24The father of a righteous son will rejoice greatly, and one who fathers a wise son will delight in him. 24The father of a righteous person will rejoice greatly; whoever fathers a wise child will have joy in him.
25Let your father and mother have joy, and let her who gave birth to you rejoice. 25May your father and your mother have joy; may she who bore you rejoice.
26My son, give me your heart, and let your eyes observe my ways. 26Give me your heart, my son, and let your eyes observe my ways;
27For a prostitute is a deep pit, and a stranger is a narrow well; 27for a prostitute is like a deep pit; a harlot is like a narrow well.
28indeed, she sets an ambush like a robber and increases those among men who are unfaithful. 28Indeed, she lies in wait like a robber, and increases the unfaithful among men.
29Who has woe? Who has sorrow? Who has conflicts? Who has complaints? Who has wounds for no reason? Who has red 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.
31Don't gaze at wine because it is red, when it gleams in the cup and goes down smoothly. 31Do not look on the wine when it is red, when it sparkles in the cup, when it goes down smoothly.
32In the end 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 you will say absurd things. 33Your eyes will see strange things, and your mind will speak perverse things.
34You'll be like someone sleeping out at sea or lying down on the top of a ship's mast." 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.
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." 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."
Holman Christian Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission.NET Bible copyright © 1996-2006 by Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C. //netbible.com. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Proverbs 22
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