| Berean Study Bible | New International Version |
| 1When you sit down to dine with a ruler, consider carefully what is set before you, | 1When you sit to dine with a ruler, note well what is before you, |
| 2and put a knife to your throat if you possess a great appetite. | 2and put a knife to your throat if you are given to gluttony. |
| 3Do not crave his delicacies, for that food is deceptive. | 3Do not crave his delicacies, for that food is deceptive. |
| 4Do not wear yourself out to get rich; be wise enough to restrain yourself. | 4Do not wear yourself out to get rich; do not trust your own cleverness. |
| 5When you glance at wealth, it disappears, for it makes wings for itself and flies like an eagle to the sky. | 5Cast but a glance at riches, and they are gone, for they will surely sprout wings and fly off to the sky like an eagle. |
| 6Do not eat the bread of a stingy man, and do not crave his delicacies; | 6Do not eat the food of a begrudging host, do not crave his delicacies; |
| 7for he is keeping track, inwardly counting the cost. “Eat and drink,” he says to you, but his heart is not with you. | 7for he is the kind of person who is always thinking about the cost. "Eat and drink," he says to you, but his heart is not with you. |
| 8You will vomit up what little you have eaten and waste your pleasant words. | 8You will vomit up the little you have eaten and will have wasted your compliments. |
| 9Do not speak to a fool, for he will despise the wisdom of your words. | 9Do not speak to fools, for they will scorn your prudent words. |
| 10Do not move an ancient boundary stone or encroach on the fields of the fatherless, | 10Do not move an ancient boundary stone or encroach on the fields of the fatherless, |
| 11for their Redeemer is strong; He will take up their case against you. | 11for their Defender is strong; he will take up their case against you. |
| 12Apply your heart to instruction and your ears to words of knowledge. | 12Apply your heart to instruction and your ears to words of knowledge. |
| 13Do not withhold discipline from a child; although you strike him with a rod, he will not die. | 13Do not withhold discipline from a child; if you punish them with the rod, they will not die. |
| 14Strike him with a rod, and you will deliver his soul from Sheol. | 14Punish them with the rod and save them from death. |
| 15My son, if your heart is wise, my own heart will indeed rejoice. | 15My son, if your heart is wise, then my heart will be glad indeed; |
| 16My inmost being will rejoice when your lips speak what is right. | 16my inmost being will rejoice when your lips speak what is right. |
| 17Do not let your heart envy sinners, but always continue in the fear of the LORD. | 17Do not let your heart envy sinners, but always be zealous for the fear of the LORD. |
| 18For surely there is a future, and your hope will not be cut off. | 18There is surely a future hope for you, and your hope will not be cut off. |
| 19Listen, my son, and be wise, and guide your heart on the right course. | 19Listen, my son, and be wise, and set your heart on the right path: |
| 20Do not join those who drink too much wine or gorge themselves on meat. | 20Do not join those who drink too much wine or gorge themselves on meat, |
| 21For the drunkard and the glutton will come to poverty, and drowsiness will clothe them in rags. | 21for drunkards and gluttons become poor, and drowsiness clothes them in rags. |
| 22Listen to your father who gave you life, and do not despise your mother when she is old. | 22Listen to your father, who gave you life, and do not despise your mother when she is old. |
| 23Invest in truth and never sell it—in wisdom and instruction and understanding. | 23Buy the truth and do not sell it-- wisdom, instruction and insight as well. |
| 24The father of a righteous man will greatly rejoice, and he who fathers a wise son will delight in him. | 24The father of a righteous child has great joy; a man who fathers a wise son rejoices in him. |
| 25May your father and mother be glad, and may she who gave you birth rejoice! | 25May your father and mother rejoice; may she who gave you birth be joyful! |
| 26My son, give me your heart, and let your eyes delight in my ways. | 26My son, give me your heart and let your eyes delight in my ways, |
| 27For a prostitute is a deep pit, and an adulteress is a narrow well. | 27for an adulterous woman is a deep pit, and a wayward wife is a narrow well. |
| 28Like a robber she lies in wait and multiplies the faithless among men. | 28Like a bandit she lies in wait and multiplies the unfaithful among men. |
| 29Who has woe? Who has sorrow? Who has contentions? Who has complaints? Who has needless wounds? Who has bloodshot eyes? | 29Who has woe? Who has sorrow? Who has strife? Who has complaints? Who has needless bruises? Who has bloodshot eyes? |
| 30Those who linger over wine, who go to taste mixed drinks. | 30Those who linger over wine, who go to sample bowls of mixed wine. |
| 31Do not gaze at wine while it is red, when it sparkles in the cup and goes down smoothly. | 31Do not gaze at wine when it is red, when it sparkles in the cup, when it goes down smoothly! |
| 32In the end it bites like a snake and stings like a viper. | 32In the end it bites like a snake and poisons like a viper. |
| 33Your eyes will see strange things, and your mind will utter perversities. | 33Your eyes will see strange sights, and your mind will imagine confusing things. |
| 34You will be like one sleeping on the high seas or lying on the top of a mast: | 34You will be like one sleeping on the high seas, lying on top of the rigging. |
| 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?” | 35"They hit me," you will say, "but I'm not hurt! They beat me, but I don't feel it! When will I wake up so I can find another drink?" |
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