English Standard Version

Christian Standard Bible

1When you sit down to eat with a ruler, observe carefully what is before you,

1When you sit down to dine with a ruler, consider carefully what is before you,

2and put a knife to your throat if you are given to appetite.

2and put a knife to your throat if you have a big appetite;

3Do not desire his delicacies, for they are deceptive food.

3don't desire his choice food, for that food is deceptive.

4Do not toil to acquire wealth; be discerning enough to desist.

4Don't wear yourself out to get rich; because you know better, stop!

5When your eyes light on it, it is gone, for suddenly it sprouts wings, flying like an eagle toward heaven.

5As soon as your eyes fly to it, it disappears, for it makes wings for itself and flies like an eagle to the sky.

6Do not eat the bread of a man who is stingy; do not desire his delicacies,

6Don't eat a stingy person's bread, and don't desire his choice food,

7for he is like one who is inwardly calculating. “Eat and drink!” he says to you, but his heart is not with you.

7for it's like someone calculating inwardly. "Eat and drink," he says to you, but his heart is not with you.

8You will vomit up the morsels that you have eaten, and waste your pleasant words.

8You will vomit the little you've eaten and waste your pleasant words.

9Do not speak in the hearing of a fool, for he will despise the good sense of your words.

9Don't speak to a fool, for he will despise the insight of your words.

10Do not move an ancient landmark or enter the fields of the fatherless,

10Don't move an ancient boundary marker, and don't encroach on the fields of the fatherless,

11for their Redeemer is strong; he will plead their cause against you.

11for their Redeemer is strong, and he will champion their cause against you.

12Apply your heart to instruction and your ear to words of knowledge.

12Apply yourself to discipline and listen to words of knowledge.

13Do not withhold discipline from a child; if you strike him with a rod, he will not die.

13Don't withhold discipline from a youth; if you punish him with a rod, he will not die.

14If you strike him with the rod, you will save his soul from Sheol.

14Punish him with a rod, and you will rescue his life from Sheol.

15My son, if your heart is wise, my heart too will be glad.

15My son, if your heart is wise, my heart will indeed rejoice.

16My inmost being will exult when your lips speak what is right.

16My innermost being will celebrate when your lips say what is right.

17Let not your heart envy sinners, but continue in the fear of the LORD all the day.

17Don't let your heart envy sinners; instead, always fear the LORD.

18Surely there is a future, and your hope will not be cut off.

18For then you will have a future, and your hope will not be dashed.

19Hear, my son, and be wise, and direct your heart in the way.

19Listen, my son, and be wise; keep your mind on the right course.

20Be not among drunkards or among gluttonous eaters of meat,

20Don't associate with those who drink too much wine or with those who gorge themselves on meat.

21for the drunkard and the glutton will come to poverty, and slumber will clothe them with rags.

21For the drunkard and the glutton will become poor, and grogginess will clothe 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 don't despise your mother when she is old.

23Buy truth, and do not sell it; buy wisdom, instruction, and understanding.

23Buy--and do not sell--truth, wisdom, instruction, and understanding.

24The father of the righteous will greatly rejoice; he who fathers a wise son will be glad in him.

24The father of a righteous son will rejoice greatly, and one who fathers a wise son will delight in him.

25Let your father and mother be glad; let her who bore you rejoice.

25Let your father and mother have joy, and let her who gave birth to you rejoice.

26My son, give me your heart, and let your eyes observe my ways.

26My son, give me your heart, and let your eyes observe my ways.

27For a prostitute is a deep pit; an adulteress is a narrow well.

27For a prostitute is a deep pit, and a wayward woman is a narrow well;

28She lies in wait like a robber and increases the traitors among mankind.

28indeed, she sets an ambush like a robber and increases the number of unfaithful people.

29Who has woe? Who has sorrow? Who has strife? Who has complaining? Who has wounds without cause? Who has redness of eyes?

29Who has woe? Who has sorrow? Who has conflicts? Who has complaints? Who has wounds for no reason? Who has red eyes?

30Those who tarry long over wine; those who go to try mixed wine.

30Those who linger over wine; those who go looking for mixed wine.

31Do not look at wine when it is red, when it sparkles in the cup and goes down smoothly.

31Don't gaze at wine because it is red, because it gleams in the cup and goes down smoothly.

32In the end it bites like a serpent and stings like an adder.

32In the end it bites like a snake and stings like a viper.

33Your eyes will see strange things, and your heart utter perverse things.

33Your eyes will see strange things, and you will say absurd things.

34You will be like one who lies down in the midst of the sea, like one who lies on the top of a mast.

34You'll be like someone sleeping out at sea or lying down on the top of a ship's mast.

35“They struck me,” you will say, “but I was not hurt; they beat me, but I did not feel it. When shall I awake? I must have another drink.”

35"They struck me, but I feel no pain! They beat me, but I didn't know it! When will I wake up? I'll look for another drink."

ESV Text Edition: 2016. The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®) copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. The ESV® text has been reproduced in cooperation with and by permission of Good News Publishers. Unauthorized reproduction of this publication is prohibited. All rights reserved.

The Christian Standard Bible. Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission.