Proverbs 23
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1Whenever you sit down to dine with a ruler, carefully think about what is before you.1While dining with a ruler, pay attention to what is put before you.
2Put a knife to your own throat, if you have a big appetite. 2If you are a big eater, put a knife to your throat;
3Don't crave his delicacies, because the meal is deceptive.3don’t desire all the delicacies, for he might be trying to trick you.
4Don't exhaust yourself acquiring wealth; be smart enough to stop.4Don’t wear yourself out trying to get rich. Be wise enough to know when to quit.
5When you fix your gaze on it, it's gone, for it sprouts wings for itself and flies to the sky like an eagle.5In the blink of an eye wealth disappears, for it will sprout wings and fly away like an eagle.
6Don't consume food provided by a miserly person, and don't desire his delicacies,6Don’t eat with people who are stingy; don’t desire their delicacies.
7for as he thinks within himself, so he is. "Eat and drink!" he'll say to you, but his heart won't be with you.7They are always thinking about how much it costs. “Eat and drink,” they say, but they don’t mean it.
8You'll vomit up what little you've eaten, and your compliments will have been wasted.8You will throw up what little you’ve eaten, and your compliments will be wasted.
9Don't speak when a fool is listening, because he'll despise your wise words.9Don’t waste your breath on fools, for they will despise the wisest advice.
10Don't move ancient boundaries or invade fields belonging to orphans;10Don’t cheat your neighbor by moving the ancient boundary markers; don’t take the land of defenseless orphans.
11for strong is their Redeemer who will take up their case against you.11For their Redeemer is strong; he himself will bring their charges against you.
12Learn diligently, and listen to words of knowledge.12Commit yourself to instruction; listen carefully to words of knowledge.
13Don't withhold discipline from a child; if you punish him with a rod, he won't die.13Don’t fail to discipline your children. The rod of punishment won’t kill them.
14Punish him with a rod, and you will rescue his soul from Sheol. 14Physical discipline may well save them from death.
15My son, if your heart is wise, my own heart will greatly rejoice.15My child, if your heart is wise, my own heart will rejoice!
16My innermost being will be glad when your lips speak what is right.16Everything in me will celebrate when you speak what is right.
17Never let yourself envy sinners; instead, remain in fear of the LORD every day,17Don’t envy sinners, but always continue to fear the LORD.
18for there is surely a future life, and what you hope for will not be cut off.18You will be rewarded for this; your hope will not be disappointed.
19Listen, my son, and be wise, commit yourself to live God's way.19My child, listen and be wise: Keep your heart on the right course.
20Don't associate with heavy drinkers or dine with gluttons,20Do not carouse with drunkards or feast with gluttons,
21because drunks and gluttons tend to become poor, and drowsiness will clothe them in rags.21for they are on their way to poverty, and too much sleep clothes them in rags.
22Listen to the one who fathered you, and don't despise your mother in her old age.22Listen to your father, who gave you life, and don’t despise your mother when she is old.
23Purchase truth, but don't sell it; store up wisdom, instruction, and understanding.23Get the truth and never sell it; also get wisdom, discipline, and good judgment.
24The father of a righteous person will greatly rejoice; whoever fathers a wise son will be glad because of him.24The father of godly children has cause for joy. What a pleasure to have children who are wise.
25Let your father and mother rejoice; make the one who gave birth to you happy.25So give your father and mother joy! May she who gave you birth be happy.
26Give me your heart, my son, and keep your eyes fixed on my ways,26O my son, give me your heart. May your eyes take delight in following my ways.
27because a prostitute is a deep pit, and the adulterous woman a narrow well.27A prostitute is a dangerous trap; a promiscuous woman is as dangerous as falling into a narrow well.
28Surely she lies in wait like a bandit, increasing those who are faithless among mankind.28She hides and waits like a robber, eager to make more men unfaithful.
29Who has woe? Who has grief? Who has contention? Who has complaints? Who has wounds without cause? Who has bloodshot eyes?29Who has anguish? Who has sorrow? Who is always fighting? Who is always complaining? Who has unnecessary bruises? Who has bloodshot eyes?
30Those who linger over their wine, who consume mixed drinks.30It is the one who spends long hours in the taverns, trying out new drinks.
31Don't stare into red wine, when it sparkles in the cup and goes down smoothly.31Don’t gaze at the wine, seeing how red it is, how it sparkles in the cup, how smoothly it goes down.
32Eventually it will bite like a snake and sting like a serpent.32For in the end it bites like a poisonous snake; it stings like a viper.
33Your eyes will see strange things, and with slurred words you'll speak what you really believe.33You will see hallucinations, and you will say crazy things.
34You will be like someone who lies down in the sea, or like someone who sleeps on top of a mast.34You will stagger like a sailor tossed at sea, clinging to a swaying mast.
35"They struck me," you will say, "but I never felt it. They beat me, but I never knew it When will I wake up? I want another drink."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?”
The Holy Bible: International Standard Version® Release 2.1 Copyright © 1996-2012 The ISV Foundation
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED INTERNATIONALLY.
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.
Proverbs 22
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