Proverbiorum 23
1 quando sederis ut comedas cum principe diligenter adtende quae posita sunt ante faciem tuam
When you sit to eat with a ruler, consider diligently what is before you;
2 et statue cultrum in gutture tuo si tamen habes in potestate animam tuam
put a knife to your throat, if you are a man given to appetite.
3 ne desideres de cibis eius in quo est panis mendacii
Do not be desirous of his dainties, seeing they are deceitful food.
4 noli laborare ut diteris sed prudentiae tuae pone modum
Do not weary yourself to be rich. In your wisdom, show restraint.
5 ne erigas oculos tuos ad opes quas habere non potes quia facient sibi pinnas quasi aquilae et avolabunt in caelum
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 ne comedas cum homine invido et ne desideres cibos eius
Do not eat the food of him who has a stingy eye, and do not crave his delicacies:
7 quoniam in similitudinem arioli et coniectoris aestimat quod ignorat comede et bibe dicet tibi et mens eius non est tecum
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 cibos quos comederas evomes et perdes pulchros sermones tuos
The morsel which you have eaten you shall vomit up, and lose your good words.
9 in auribus insipientium ne loquaris quia despicient doctrinam eloquii tui
Do not speak in the ears of a fool, for he will despise the wisdom of your words.
10 ne adtingas terminos parvulorum et agrum pupillorum ne introeas
Do not move the ancient boundary stone. Do not encroach on the fields of the fatherless:
11 propinquus enim eorum Fortis est et ipse iudicabit contra te causam illorum
for their Defender is strong. He will plead their case against you.
12 ingrediatur ad doctrinam cor tuum et aures tuae ad verba scientiae
Apply your heart to instruction, and your ears to the words of knowledge.
13 noli subtrahere a puero disciplinam si enim percusseris eum virga non morietur
Do not 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 fili mi si sapiens fuerit animus tuus gaudebit tecum cor meum
My son, if your heart is wise, then my heart will be glad, even mine:
16 et exultabunt renes mei cum locuta fuerint rectum labia tua
yes, my heart will rejoice, when your lips speak what is right.
17 non aemuletur cor tuum peccatores sed in timore Domini esto tota die
Do not let your heart envy sinners; but rather fear Jehovah all the day long.
18 quia habebis spem in novissimo et praestolatio tua non auferetur
For surely there is a future, and your hope will not be cut off.
19 audi fili mi et esto sapiens et dirige in via animum tuum
Listen, my son, and be wise, and keep your heart on the right path.
20 noli esse in conviviis potatorum nec in comesationibus eorum qui carnes ad vescendum conferunt
Do not be among ones drinking too much wine, or those who gorge themselves on meat:
21 quia vacantes potibus et dantes symbola consumentur et vestietur pannis dormitatio
for the drunkard and the glutton shall become poor; and drowsiness clothes them in rags.
22 audi patrem tuum qui genuit te et ne contemnas cum senuerit mater tua
Listen to your father who gave you life, and do not despise your mother when she is old.
23 veritatem eme et noli vendere sapientiam et doctrinam et intellegentiam
Buy the truth, and do not sell it. Get wisdom, discipline, and understanding.
24 exultat gaudio pater iusti qui sapientem genuit laetabitur in eo
The father of the righteous has great joy. Whoever fathers a wise child delights in him.
25 gaudeat pater tuus et mater tua et exultet quae genuit te
Let your father and your mother be glad. Let her who bore you rejoice.
26 praebe fili mi cor tuum mihi et oculi tui vias meas custodiant
My son, give me your heart; and let your eyes keep in my ways.
27 fovea enim profunda est meretrix et puteus angustus aliena
For a prostitute is a deep pit; and a wayward wife is a narrow well.
28 insidiatur in via quasi latro et quos incautos viderit interficit
Yes, she lies in wait like a robber, and increases the unfaithful among men.
29 cui vae cuius patri vae cui rixae cui foveae cui sine causa vulnera cui suffusio oculorum
Who has woe? Who has sorrow? Who has strife? Who has complaints? Who has needless bruises? Who has bloodshot eyes?
30 nonne his qui morantur in vino et student calicibus epotandis
Those who stay long at the wine; those who go to seek out mixed wine.
31 ne intuearis vinum quando flavescit cum splenduerit in vitro color eius ingreditur blande
Do not look at the wine when it is red, when it sparkles in the cup, when it goes down smoothly.
32 sed in novissimo mordebit ut coluber et sicut regulus venena diffundet
In the end, it bites like a serpent, and poisons like a viper.
33 oculi tui videbunt extraneas et cor tuum loquetur perversa
Your eyes will see strange things, and your mind will imagine confusing things.
34 et eris sicut dormiens in medio mari et quasi sopitus gubernator amisso clavo
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:
35 et dices verberaverunt me sed non dolui traxerunt me et ego non sensi quando evigilabo et rursum vina repperiam
"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."
