| NET Bible | New International Version |
| 1When you sit down to eat with a ruler, consider 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 possess a large appetite. | 2and put a knife to your throat if you are given to gluttony. |
| 3Do not crave that ruler's delicacies, for that food is deceptive. | 3Do not crave his delicacies, for that food is deceptive. |
| 4Do not wear yourself out to become rich; be wise enough to restrain yourself. | 4Do not wear yourself out to get rich; do not trust your own cleverness. |
| 5When you gaze upon riches, they are gone, for they surely make wings for themselves, and fly off into the sky like an eagle! | 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 food of a stingy person, do not crave his delicacies; | 6Do not eat the food of a begrudging host, do not crave his delicacies; |
| 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; | 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 little bit you have eaten, and will have wasted your pleasant words. | 8You will vomit up the little you have eaten and will have wasted your compliments. |
| 9Do not speak in the ears of 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 take over the fields of the fatherless, | 10Do not move an ancient boundary stone or encroach on the fields of the fatherless, |
| 11for their Protector is strong; he will plead 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 the words of knowledge. | 12Apply your heart to instruction and your ears to words of knowledge. |
| 13Do not withhold discipline from a child; even if you strike him with the 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 deliver him from death. | 14Punish them with the rod and save them from death. |
| 15My child, if your heart is wise, then my heart also will be glad; | 15My son, if your heart is wise, then my heart will be glad indeed; |
| 16my soul 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 rather be zealous in fearing the LORD all the time. | 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 child, and be wise, and guide your heart on the right way. | 19Listen, my son, and be wise, and set your heart on the right path: |
| 20Do not spend time among drunkards, among those who eat too much meat, | 20Do not join those who drink too much wine or gorge themselves on meat, |
| 21because drunkards and gluttons become impoverished, and drowsiness clothes them with rags. | 21for drunkards and gluttons become poor, and drowsiness clothes them in rags. |
| 22Listen to your father who begot you, 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. |
| 23Acquire truth and do not sell it--wisdom, and discipline, and understanding. | 23Buy the truth and do not sell it-- wisdom, instruction and insight as well. |
| 24The father of a righteous person will rejoice greatly; whoever fathers a wise child will have joy 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 your mother have joy; may she who bore you rejoice. | 25May your father and mother rejoice; may she who gave you birth be joyful! |
| 26Give me your heart, my son, 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 like a deep pit; a harlot is like a narrow well. | 27for an adulterous woman is a deep pit, and a wayward wife is a narrow well. |
| 28Indeed, she lies in wait like a robber, and increases the unfaithful 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 wounds without cause? Who has dullness of the 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, those who go looking for mixed wine. | 30Those who linger over wine, who go to sample bowls of mixed wine. |
| 31Do not look on the wine when it is red, when it sparkles in the cup, when it goes down smoothly. | 31Do not gaze at wine when it is red, when it sparkles in the cup, when it goes down smoothly! |
| 32Afterward 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 speak perverse things. | 33Your eyes will see strange sights, and your mind will imagine confusing things. |
| 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. | 34You will be like one sleeping on the high seas, lying on top of the rigging. |
| 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." | 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?" |
|
