Proverbs 23
1 When you sit down to dine with a ruler, consider carefully what is set before you,
When you sit down for a meal with a ruler, look carefully at what is placed before you,
2 and put a knife to your throat if you possess a great appetite.
and cut down if you have a big appetite.
3 Do not crave his delicacies, for that food is deceptive.
Don't be greedy for his fancy food, for it's offered with deceptive motives.
4 Do not wear yourself out to get rich; be wise enough to restrain yourself.
Don't wear yourself out trying to get rich—be wise enough not to bother!
5 When you glance at wealth, it disappears, for it makes wings for itself and flies like an eagle to the sky.
It disappears in the blink of an eye, suddenly growing wings and flying off into the sky like an eagle.
6 Do not eat the bread of a stingy man, and do not crave his delicacies;
Don't accept meal invitations from miserly people; don't be greedy for their fancy food,
7 for he is keeping track, inwardly counting the cost. “Eat and drink,” he says to you, but his heart is not with you.
for what they're thinking inside is what they really are. They say, “Come on, eat and drink!”—but in their minds they don't really care about you.
8 You will vomit up what little you have eaten and waste your pleasant words.
You'll vomit up the little pieces you've eaten, and your kind words of appreciation will be wasted.
9 Do not speak to a fool, for he will despise the wisdom of your words.
Don't talk to stupid people because they'll ridicule your wise words.
10 Do not move an ancient boundary stone or encroach on the fields of the fatherless,
Don't move ancient boundary markers, and don't encroach on fields belonging to orphans,
11 for their Redeemer is strong; He will take up their case against you.
for their Protector is powerful and he will plead their case against you.
12 Apply your heart to instruction and your ears to words of knowledge.
Focus your mind on instruction; listen intently to words of knowledge.
13 Do not withhold discipline from a child; although you strike him with a rod, he will not die.
Don't keep from disciplining your children—a beating won't kill them.
If you use physical correction you can save them from death. (Sheol h7585)
15 My son, if your heart is wise, my own heart will indeed rejoice.
My son, if you think wisely then I'll be happy;
16 My inmost being will rejoice when your lips speak what is right.
I'll be delighted when you say what's right.
17 Do not let your heart envy sinners, but always continue in the fear of the LORD.
Don't think enviously of sinners, but always remember to honor the Lord,
18 For surely there is a future, and your hope will not be cut off.
for there's definitely a future for you, and your hope will not be crushed.
19 Listen, my son, and be wise, and guide your heart on the right course.
Pay attention, my son, and be wise; make sure your mind concentrates on following the right way.
20 Do not join those who drink too much wine or gorge themselves on meat.
Don't join in with people who drink too much wine or who stuff themselves with meat.
21 For the drunkard and the glutton will come to poverty, and drowsiness will clothe them in rags.
For people who get drunk and overeat lose all they've got, and they spend so much time dozing that all they have left to wear is rags.
22 Listen to your father who gave you life, and do not despise your mother when she is old.
Pay attention to your father, and don't disregard your mother when she's old.
23 Invest in truth and never sell it— in wisdom and instruction and understanding.
Invest in truth—and don't sell it! Invest in wisdom, instruction, and understanding.
24 The father of a righteous man will greatly rejoice, and he who fathers a wise son will delight in him.
Children who do right make their fathers very happy; a wise son brings joy to his father.
25 May your father and mother be glad, and may she who gave you birth rejoice!
Make your father and mother happy; bring joy to her who gave birth to you.
26 My son, give me your heart, and let your eyes delight in my ways.
My son, give me your undivided attention, and cheerfully follow my example.
27 For a prostitute is a deep pit, and an adulteress is a narrow well.
A prostitute is like being trapped in a pit; an immoral woman is like getting stuck a narrow well,
28 Like a robber she lies in wait and multiplies the faithless among men.
Like a robber, she lies in wait ready to ambush men and make more of them unfaithful to their wives.
29 Who has woe? Who has sorrow? Who has contentions? Who has complaints? Who has needless wounds? Who has bloodshot eyes?
Who's in trouble? Who's in pain? Who's arguing? Who's complaining? Who's injured for no reason? Who's got bloodshot eyes?
30 Those who linger over wine, who go to taste mixed drinks.
—those who spend a long time drinking wine, those who are always trying some new cocktail.
31 Do not gaze at wine while it is red, when it sparkles in the cup and goes down smoothly.
Don't let the look of wine tempt you—how red it is, how it sparkles in the cup, how smooth it feels as it goes down.
32 In the end it bites like a snake and stings like a viper.
In the end it bites like a serpent, it stings like a snake.
33 Your eyes will see strange things, and your mind will utter perversities.
You'll hallucinate, seeing strange things, and your confused mind will make you say all kinds of craziness.
34 You will be like one sleeping on the high seas or lying on the top of a mast:
You'll stumble around like you're on the rolling ocean, you'll be tossed about like someone lying down at the top of a ship's mast, saying,
35 “They struck me, but I feel no pain! They beat me, but I did not know it! When can I wake up to search for another drink?”
“People punched me, but it didn't hurt me; they beat me, but I didn't feel a thing. I've got to get up because I need another drink.”
