Proverbs 23
1 When you sit down for a meal with a ruler, look carefully at what is placed before you,
When you sit to eat with a ruler, consider diligently what is before you;
2 and cut down if you have a big appetite.
put a knife to your throat if you are a man given to appetite.
3 Don't be greedy for his fancy food, for it's offered with deceptive motives.
Don’t be desirous of his dainties, since they are deceitful food.
4 Don't wear yourself out trying to get rich—be wise enough not to bother!
Don’t weary yourself to be rich. In your wisdom, show restraint.
5 It disappears in the blink of an eye, suddenly growing wings and flying off into the sky like an eagle.
Why do you set your eyes on that which is not? For it certainly sprouts wings like an eagle and flies in the sky.
6 Don't accept meal invitations from miserly people; don't be greedy for their fancy food,
Don’t eat the food of him who has a stingy eye, and don’t crave his delicacies,
7 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.
for as he thinks about the cost, so he is. “Eat and drink!” he says to you, but his heart is not with you.
8 You'll vomit up the little pieces you've eaten, and your kind words of appreciation will be wasted.
You will vomit up the morsel which you have eaten and waste your pleasant words.
9 Don't talk to stupid people because they'll ridicule your wise words.
Don’t speak in the ears of a fool, for he will despise the wisdom of your words.
10 Don't move ancient boundary markers, and don't encroach on fields belonging to orphans,
Don’t move the ancient boundary stone. Don’t encroach on the fields of the fatherless,
11 for their Protector is powerful and he will plead their case against you.
for their Defender is strong. He will plead their case against you.
12 Focus your mind on instruction; listen intently to words of knowledge.
Apply your heart to instruction, and your ears to the words of knowledge.
13 Don't keep from disciplining your children—a beating won't kill them.
Don’t withhold correction from a child. If you punish him with the rod, he will not die.
Punish him with the rod, and save his soul from Sheol. (Sheol h7585)
15 My son, if you think wisely then I'll be happy;
My son, if your heart is wise, then my heart will be glad, even mine.
16 I'll be delighted when you say what's right.
Yes, my heart will rejoice when your lips speak what is right.
17 Don't think enviously of sinners, but always remember to honor the Lord,
Don’t let your heart envy sinners, but rather fear the LORD all day long.
18 for there's definitely a future for you, and your hope will not be crushed.
Indeed surely there is a future hope, and your hope will not be cut off.
19 Pay attention, my son, and be wise; make sure your mind concentrates on following the right way.
Listen, my son, and be wise, and keep your heart on the right path!
20 Don't join in with people who drink too much wine or who stuff themselves with meat.
Don’t be amongst ones drinking too much wine, or those who gorge themselves on meat;
21 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.
for the drunkard and the glutton shall become poor; and drowsiness clothes them in rags.
22 Pay attention to your father, and don't disregard your mother when she's old.
Listen to your father who gave you life, and don’t despise your mother when she is old.
23 Invest in truth—and don't sell it! Invest in wisdom, instruction, and understanding.
Buy the truth, and don’t sell it. Get wisdom, discipline, and understanding.
24 Children who do right make their fathers very happy; a wise son brings joy to his father.
The father of the righteous has great joy. Whoever fathers a wise child delights in him.
25 Make your father and mother happy; bring joy to her who gave birth to you.
Let your father and your mother be glad! Let her who bore you rejoice!
26 My son, give me your undivided attention, and cheerfully follow my example.
My son, give me your heart; and let your eyes keep in my ways.
27 A prostitute is like being trapped in a pit; an immoral woman is like getting stuck a narrow well,
For a prostitute is a deep pit; and a wayward wife is a narrow well.
28 Like a robber, she lies in wait ready to ambush men and make more of them unfaithful to their wives.
Yes, she lies in wait like a robber, and increases the unfaithful amongst men.
29 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?
Who has woe? Who has sorrow? Who has strife? Who has complaints? Who has needless bruises? Who has bloodshot eyes?
30 —those who spend a long time drinking wine, those who are always trying some new cocktail.
Those who stay long at the wine; those who go to seek out mixed wine.
31 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.
Don’t look at the wine when it is red, when it sparkles in the cup, when it goes down smoothly.
32 In the end it bites like a serpent, it stings like a snake.
In the end, it bites like a snake, and poisons like a viper.
33 You'll hallucinate, seeing strange things, and your confused mind will make you say all kinds of craziness.
Your eyes will see strange things, and your mind will imagine confusing things.
34 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,
Yes, you will be as he who lies down in the middle of the sea, or as he who lies on top of the rigging:
35 “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.”
“They hit me, and I was not hurt! They beat me, and I don’t feel it! When will I wake up? I can do it again. I will look for more.”
