Proverbs 23
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1When you sit down to eat with a ruler, observe carefully what is before you,1When you sit down to eat 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 possess a large appetite.
3Do not desire his delicacies, for they are deceptive food.3Do not crave that ruler's delicacies, for that food is deceptive.
4Do not toil to acquire wealth; be discerning enough to desist.4Do not wear yourself out to become rich; be wise enough to restrain yourself.
5When your eyes light on it, it is gone, for suddenly it sprouts wings, flying like an eagle toward heaven.5When you gaze upon riches, they are gone, for they surely make wings for themselves, and fly off into the sky like an eagle!
6Do not eat the bread of a man who is stingy; do not desire his delicacies,6Do not eat the food of a stingy person, do not crave his delicacies;
7for he is like one who is inwardly calculating. “Eat and drink!” he says to you, but his heart is not with you.7for he is like someone calculating the cost in his mind. "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 up the little bit you have eaten, and will have wasted your pleasant words.
9Do not speak in the hearing of a fool, for he will despise the good sense of your words.9Do not speak in the ears of a fool, for he will despise the wisdom of your words.
10Do not move an ancient landmark or enter the fields of the fatherless,10Do not move an ancient boundary stone, or take over the fields of the fatherless,
11for their Redeemer is strong; he will plead their cause against you.11for their Protector is strong; he will plead their case against you.
12Apply your heart to instruction and your ear to words of knowledge.12Apply your heart to instruction and your ears to the words of knowledge.
13Do not withhold discipline from a child; if you strike him with a rod, he will not die.13Do not withhold discipline from a child; even if you strike him with the rod, he will not die.
14If you strike him with the rod, you will save his soul from Sheol.14If you strike him with the rod, you will deliver him from death.
15My son, if your heart is wise, my heart too will be glad.15My child, if your heart is wise, then my heart also will be glad;
16My inmost being will exult when your lips speak what is right.16my soul will rejoice when your lips speak what is right.
17Let not your heart envy sinners, but continue in the fear of the LORD all the day.17Do not let your heart envy sinners, but rather be zealous in fearing the LORD all the time.
18Surely there is a future, and your hope will not be cut off.18For surely there is a future, and your hope will not be cut off.
19Hear, my son, and be wise, and direct your heart in the way.19Listen, my child, and be wise, and guide your heart on the right way.
20Be not among drunkards or among gluttonous eaters of meat,20Do not spend time among drunkards, among those who eat too much meat,
21for the drunkard and the glutton will come to poverty, and slumber will clothe them with rags.21because drunkards and gluttons become impoverished, and drowsiness clothes them with rags.
22Listen to your father who gave you life, and do not despise your mother when she is old.22Listen to your father who begot you, and do not despise your mother when she is old.
23Buy truth, and do not sell it; buy wisdom, instruction, and understanding.23Acquire truth and do not sell it--wisdom, and discipline, 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 person will rejoice greatly; whoever fathers a wise child will have joy in him.
25Let your father and mother be glad; let her who bore you rejoice.25May your father and your mother have joy; may she who bore you rejoice.
26My son, give me your heart, and let your eyes observe my ways.26Give me your heart, my son, and let your eyes observe my ways;
27For a prostitute is a deep pit; an adulteress is a narrow well.27for a prostitute is like a deep pit; a harlot is like a narrow well.
28She lies in wait like a robber and increases the traitors among mankind.28Indeed, she lies in wait like a robber, and increases the unfaithful among men.
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 contentions? Who has complaints? Who has wounds without cause? Who has dullness of the 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.31Do not look on the wine when it is red, when it sparkles in the cup, when it goes down smoothly.
32In the end it bites like a serpent and stings like an adder.32Afterward 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 your mind will speak perverse 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.34And you will be like one who lies down in the midst of the sea, and like one who lies down on the top of the rigging.
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.”35You will say, "They have struck me, but I am not harmed! They beat me, but I did not know it! When will I awake? I will look for another drink."
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Proverbs 22
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