| English Standard Version | New International Version |
| 1When you sit down to eat with a ruler, observe carefully what is 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 are given to appetite. | 2and put a knife to your throat if you are given to gluttony. |
| 3Do not desire his delicacies, for they are deceptive food. | 3Do not crave his delicacies, for that food is deceptive. |
| 4Do not toil to acquire wealth; be discerning enough to desist. | 4Do not wear yourself out to get rich; do not trust your own cleverness. |
| 5When your eyes light on it, it is gone, for suddenly it sprouts wings, flying like an eagle toward heaven. | 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 man who is stingy; do not desire his delicacies, | 6Do not eat the food of a begrudging host, 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 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 the morsels that 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 in the hearing of a fool, for he will despise the good sense of your words. | 9Do not speak to fools, for they will scorn your prudent words. |
| 10Do not move an ancient landmark or enter 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 plead their cause against you. | 11for their Defender is strong; he will take up 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 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; if you punish them with the rod, they will not die. |
| 14If you strike him with the rod, you will save his soul from Sheol. | 14Punish them with the rod and save them from death. |
| 15My son, if your heart is wise, my heart too will be glad. | 15My son, if your heart is wise, then my heart will be glad indeed; |
| 16My inmost being will exult when your lips speak what is right. | 16my inmost being 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 always be zealous for the fear of the LORD. |
| 18Surely 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. |
| 19Hear, my son, and be wise, and direct your heart in the way. | 19Listen, my son, and be wise, and set your heart on the right path: |
| 20Be not among drunkards or among gluttonous eaters of 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 slumber will clothe them with 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. |
| 23Buy truth, and do not sell it; buy wisdom, instruction, and understanding. | 23Buy the truth and do not sell it-- wisdom, instruction and insight as well. |
| 24The father of the righteous will greatly rejoice; he who fathers a wise son will be glad in him. | 24The father of a righteous child has great joy; a man who fathers a wise son rejoices in him. |
| 25Let your father and mother be glad; let her who bore you 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 observe my ways. | 26My son, give me your heart and let your eyes delight in my ways, |
| 27For a prostitute is a deep pit; an adulteress is a narrow well. | 27for an adulterous woman is a deep pit, and a wayward wife is a narrow well. |
| 28She lies in wait like a robber and increases the traitors among mankind. | 28Like a bandit she lies in wait and multiplies 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 strife? Who has complaints? Who has needless bruises? Who has bloodshot eyes? |
| 30Those who tarry long over wine; those who go to try mixed wine. | 30Those who linger over wine, who go to sample bowls of mixed wine. |
| 31Do not look at wine when 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 serpent and stings like an adder. | 32In the end it bites like a snake and poisons like a viper. |
| 33Your eyes will see strange things, and your heart utter perverse things. | 33Your eyes will see strange sights, and your mind will imagine confusing 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 will be like one sleeping on the high seas, lying on 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.” | 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?" |
| 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. | New International Version (NIV) Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. |
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