| International Standard Version | NET Bible |
| 1Whenever you sit down to dine with a ruler, carefully think about what is before you. | 1When you sit down to eat with a ruler, consider carefully what is before you, |
| 2Put a knife to your own throat, if you have a big appetite. | 2and put a knife to your throat if you possess a large appetite. |
| 3Don't crave his delicacies, because the meal is deceptive. | 3Do not crave that ruler's delicacies, for that food is deceptive. |
| 4Don't exhaust yourself acquiring wealth; be smart enough to stop. | 4Do not wear yourself out to become rich; be wise enough to restrain yourself. |
| 5When you fix your gaze on it, it's gone, for it sprouts wings for itself and flies to the sky like an eagle. | 5When you gaze upon riches, they are gone, for they surely make wings for themselves, and fly off into the sky like an eagle! |
| 6Don't consume food provided by a miserly person, and don't desire his delicacies, | 6Do not eat the food of a stingy person, do not crave his delicacies; |
| 7for as he thinks within himself, so he is. "Eat and drink!" he'll say to you, but his heart won't be 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'll vomit up what little you've eaten, and your compliments will have been wasted. | 8you will vomit up the little bit you have eaten, and will have wasted your pleasant words. |
| 9Don't speak when a fool is listening, because he'll despise your wise words. | 9Do not speak in the ears of a fool, for he will despise the wisdom of your words. |
| 10Don't move ancient boundaries or invade fields belonging to orphans; | 10Do not move an ancient boundary stone, or take over the fields of the fatherless, |
| 11for strong is their Redeemer who will take up their case against you. | 11for their Protector is strong; he will plead their case against you. |
| 12Learn diligently, and listen to words of knowledge. | 12Apply your heart to instruction and your ears to the words of knowledge. |
| 13Don't withhold discipline from a child; if you punish him with a rod, he won't die. | 13Do not withhold discipline from a child; even if you strike him with the rod, he will not die. |
| 14Punish him with a rod, and you will rescue 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 own heart will greatly rejoice. | 15My child, if your heart is wise, then my heart also will be glad; |
| 16My innermost being will be glad when your lips speak what is right. | 16my soul will rejoice when your lips speak what is right. |
| 17Never let yourself envy sinners; instead, remain in fear of the LORD every day, | 17Do not let your heart envy sinners, but rather be zealous in fearing the LORD all the time. |
| 18for there is surely a future life, and what you hope for will not be cut off. | 18For surely there is a future, and your hope will not be cut off. |
| 19Listen, my son, and be wise, commit yourself to live God's way. | 19Listen, my child, and be wise, and guide your heart on the right way. |
| 20Don't associate with heavy drinkers or dine with gluttons, | 20Do not spend time among drunkards, among those who eat too much meat, |
| 21because drunks and gluttons tend to become poor, and drowsiness will clothe them in rags. | 21because drunkards and gluttons become impoverished, and drowsiness clothes them with rags. |
| 22Listen to the one who fathered you, and don't despise your mother in her old age. | 22Listen to your father who begot you, and do not despise your mother when she is old. |
| 23Purchase truth, but don't sell it; store up wisdom, instruction, and understanding. | 23Acquire truth and do not sell it--wisdom, and discipline, and understanding. |
| 24The father of a righteous person will greatly rejoice; whoever fathers a wise son will be glad because of 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 rejoice; make the one who gave birth to you happy. | 25May your father and your mother have joy; may she who bore you rejoice. |
| 26Give me your heart, my son, and keep your eyes fixed on my ways, | 26Give me your heart, my son, and let your eyes observe my ways; |
| 27because a prostitute is a deep pit, and the adulterous woman a narrow well. | 27for a prostitute is like a deep pit; a harlot is like a narrow well. |
| 28Surely she lies in wait like a bandit, increasing those who are faithless among mankind. | 28Indeed, she lies in wait like a robber, and increases the unfaithful among men. |
| 29Who has woe? Who has grief? Who has contention? Who has complaints? Who has wounds without cause? Who has bloodshot 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 linger over their wine, who consume mixed drinks. | 30Those who linger over wine, those who go looking for mixed wine. |
| 31Don't stare into red wine, 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. |
| 32Eventually it will bite like a snake and sting like a serpent. | 32Afterward it bites like a snake, and stings like a viper. |
| 33Your eyes will see strange things, and with slurred words you'll speak what you really believe. | 33Your eyes will see strange things, and your mind will speak perverse things. |
| 34You will be like someone who lies down in the sea, or like someone who sleeps on 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 never felt it. They beat me, but I never knew it When will I wake up? I want 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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