Proverbs 23
1 When you sit to eat with a ruler, consider diligently what is before you;
When you sit down for a meal with a ruler, look carefully at what is placed before you,
2 put a knife to your throat, if you are a man given to appetite.
and cut down if you have a big appetite.
3 Do not be desirous of his dainties, seeing they are deceitful food.
Don't be greedy for his fancy food, for it's offered with deceptive motives.
4 Do not weary yourself to be rich. In your wisdom, show restraint.
Don't wear yourself out trying to get rich—be wise enough not to bother!
5 Why do you set your eyes on that which is not? For it certainly sprouts wings like an eagle and flies in 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 food of him who has a stingy eye, and do not crave his delicacies:
Don't accept meal invitations from miserly people; don't be greedy for their fancy food,
7 for as he thinks about the cost, so he is. "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 The morsel which you have eaten you shall vomit up, and lose your good words.
You'll vomit up the little pieces you've eaten, and your kind words of appreciation will be wasted.
9 Do not speak in the ears of 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 the ancient boundary stone. Do not 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 Defender is strong. He will plead 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 the words of knowledge.
Focus your mind on instruction; listen intently to words of knowledge.
13 Do not withhold correction from a child. If you punish him with the 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, then my heart will be glad, even mine:
My son, if you think wisely then I'll be happy;
16 yes, my heart 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 rather fear YHWH all the day long.
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 keep your heart on the right path.
Pay attention, my son, and be wise; make sure your mind concentrates on following the right way.
20 Do not be among ones drinking too much wine, or those who 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 shall become poor; and drowsiness clothes 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 Buy the truth, and do not sell it. Get wisdom, discipline, and understanding.
Invest in truth—and don't sell it! Invest in wisdom, instruction, and understanding.
24 The father of the righteous has great joy. Whoever fathers a wise child delights in him.
Children who do right make their fathers very happy; a wise son brings joy to his father.
25 Let your father and your mother be glad. Let her who bore you 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 keep in my ways.
My son, give me your undivided attention, and cheerfully follow my example.
27 For a prostitute is a deep pit; and a wayward wife is a narrow well.
A prostitute is like being trapped in a pit; an immoral woman is like getting stuck a narrow well,
28 Yes, she lies in wait like a robber, and increases the unfaithful 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 strife? Who has complaints? Who has needless bruises? 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 stay long at the wine; those who go to seek out mixed wine.
—those who spend a long time drinking wine, those who are always trying some new cocktail.
31 Do not look at the wine when it is red, when it sparkles in the cup, when it 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 serpent, and poisons 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 imagine confusing things.
You'll hallucinate, seeing strange things, and your confused mind will make you say all kinds of craziness.
34 Yes, you will be as he who lies down in the midst of the sea, or as he who lies on top of the rigging:
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 hit me, and I was not hurt. They beat me, and I do not feel it. When will I wake up? I can do it again. I can find another."
“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.”
