Proverbs 23 Parallel Bible Translations

Proverbs 23 ▼
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1 When you sit to dine with a ruler, note well what is before you, When you sit down to dine with a ruler, consider carefully what is set before you, When you sit down to eat with a ruler, observe carefully what is before you,
2 and put a knife to your throat if you are given to gluttony. and put a knife to your throat if you possess a great appetite. and put a knife to your throat if you are given to appetite.
3 Do not crave his delicacies, for that food is deceptive. Do not crave his delicacies, for that food is deceptive. Do not desire his delicacies, for they are deceptive food.
4 Do not wear yourself out to get rich; do not trust your own cleverness. Do not wear yourself out to get rich; be wise enough to restrain yourself. Do not toil to acquire wealth; be discerning enough to desist.
5 Cast but a glance at riches, and they are gone, for they will surely sprout wings and fly off to the sky like an eagle. When you glance at wealth, it disappears, for it makes wings for itself and flies like an eagle to the sky. When your eyes light on it, it is gone, for suddenly it sprouts wings, flying like an eagle toward heaven.
6 Do not eat the food of a begrudging host, do not crave his delicacies; Do not eat the bread of a stingy man, and do not crave his delicacies; Do not eat the bread of a man who is stingy; do not desire his delicacies,
7 for 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. for he is keeping track, inwardly counting the cost. “Eat and drink,” he says to you, but his heart is not with you. for he is like one who is inwardly calculating. “Eat and drink!” he says to you, but his heart is not with you.
8 You will vomit up the little you have eaten and will have wasted your compliments. You will vomit up what little you have eaten and waste your pleasant words. You will vomit up the morsels that you have eaten, and waste your pleasant words.
9 Do not speak to fools, for they will scorn your prudent words. Do not speak to a fool, for he will despise the wisdom of your words. Do not speak in the hearing of a fool, for he will despise the good sense of your words.
10 Do not move an ancient boundary stone or encroach on the fields of the fatherless, Do not move an ancient boundary stone or encroach on the fields of the fatherless, Do not move an ancient landmark or enter the fields of the fatherless,
11 for their Defender is strong; he will take up their case against you. for their Redeemer is strong; He will take up their case against you. for their Redeemer is strong; he will plead their cause against you.
12 Apply your heart to instruction and your ears to words of knowledge. Apply your heart to instruction and your ears to words of knowledge. Apply your heart to instruction and your ear to words of knowledge.
13 Do not withhold discipline from a child; if you punish them with the rod, they will not die. Do not withhold discipline from a child; although you strike him with a rod, he will not die. Do not withhold discipline from a child; if you strike him with a rod, he will not die.
14 Punish them with the rod and save them from death. Strike him with a rod, and you will deliver his soul from Sheol. If you strike him with the rod, you will save his soul from Sheol.
15 My son, if your heart is wise, then my heart will be glad indeed; My son, if your heart is wise, my own heart will indeed rejoice. My son, if your heart is wise, my heart too will be glad.
16 my inmost being will rejoice when your lips speak what is right. My inmost being will rejoice when your lips speak what is right. My inmost being will exult when your lips speak what is right.
17 Do not let your heart envy sinners, but always be zealous for the fear of the LORD. Do not let your heart envy sinners, but always continue in the fear of the LORD. Let not your heart envy sinners, but continue in the fear of the LORD all the day.
18 There is surely a future hope for you, and your hope will not be cut off. For surely there is a future, and your hope will not be cut off. Surely there is a future, and your hope will not be cut off.
19 Listen, my son, and be wise, and set your heart on the right path: Listen, my son, and be wise, and guide your heart on the right course. Hear, my son, and be wise, and direct your heart in the way.
20 Do not join those who drink too much wine or gorge themselves on meat, Do not join those who drink too much wine or gorge themselves on meat. Be not among drunkards or among gluttonous eaters of meat,
21 for drunkards and gluttons become poor, and drowsiness clothes them in rags. For the drunkard and the glutton will come to poverty, and drowsiness will clothe them in rags. for the drunkard and the glutton will come to poverty, and slumber will clothe them with rags.
22 Listen to your father, who gave you life, and do not despise your mother when she is old. Listen to your father who gave you life, and do not despise your mother when she is old. Listen to your father who gave you life, and do not despise your mother when she is old.
23 Buy the truth and do not sell it— wisdom, instruction and insight as well. Invest in truth and never sell it—in wisdom and instruction and understanding. Buy truth, and do not sell it; buy wisdom, instruction, and understanding.
24 The father of a righteous child has great joy; a man who fathers a wise son rejoices in him. The father of a righteous man will greatly rejoice, and he who fathers a wise son will delight in him. The father of the righteous will greatly rejoice; he who fathers a wise son will be glad in him.
25 May your father and mother rejoice; may she who gave you birth be joyful! May your father and mother be glad, and may she who gave you birth rejoice! Let your father and mother be glad; let her who bore you rejoice.
26 My son, give me your heart and let your eyes delight in my ways, My son, give me your heart, and let your eyes delight in my ways. My son, give me your heart, and let your eyes observe my ways.
27 for an adulterous woman is a deep pit, and a wayward wife is a narrow well. For a prostitute is a deep pit, and an adulteress is a narrow well. For a prostitute is a deep pit; an adulteress is a narrow well.
28 Like a bandit she lies in wait and multiplies the unfaithful among men. Like a robber she lies in wait and multiplies the faithless among men. She lies in wait like a robber and increases the traitors among mankind.
29 Who has woe? Who has sorrow? Who has strife? Who has complaints? Who has needless bruises? Who has bloodshot eyes? Who has woe? Who has sorrow? Who has contentions? Who has complaints? Who has needless wounds? Who has bloodshot eyes? Who has woe? Who has sorrow? Who has strife? Who has complaining? Who has wounds without cause? Who has redness of eyes?
30 Those who linger over wine, who go to sample bowls of mixed wine. Those who linger over wine, who go to taste mixed drinks. Those who tarry long over wine; those who go to try mixed wine.
31 Do not gaze at wine when it is red, when it sparkles in the cup, when it goes down smoothly! Do not gaze at wine while it is red, when it sparkles in the cup and goes down smoothly. Do not look at wine when it is red, when it sparkles in the cup and goes down smoothly.
32 In the end it bites like a snake and poisons like a viper. In the end it bites like a snake and stings like a viper. In the end it bites like a serpent and stings like an adder.
33 Your eyes will see strange sights, and your mind will imagine confusing things. Your eyes will see strange things, and your mind will utter perversities. Your eyes will see strange things, and your heart utter perverse things.
34 You will be like one sleeping on the high seas, lying on top of the rigging. You will be like one sleeping on the high seas or lying on the top of a mast: You will be like one who lies down in the midst of the sea, like one who lies on the top of a mast.
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?” “They struck me, but I feel no pain! They beat me, but I did not know it! When can I wake up to search for another drink?” “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.”
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