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23:1  When you sit down to eat with a ruler, think about what is in front of you.
23:2  Put a knife to your neck if you are a man who is given to much eating.
23:3  Do not desire his special foods, for they are put there for no good reason.
23:4  Do not work hard to be rich. Stop trying to get things for yourself.
23:5  When you set your eyes upon it, it is gone. For sure, riches make themselves wings like an eagle that flies toward the heavens.
23:6  Do not eat the bread of a man who thinks only about himself. Do not have a desire for his fine food.
23:7  For as he thinks in his heart, so is he. He says to you, “Eat and drink!” But his heart is not with you.
23:8  You will spit up the piece of food you have eaten, and waste your good words.
23:9  Do not speak in the hearing of a fool, for he will hate the wisdom of your words.
23:10  Do not take away the old land-mark, or go into the fields of those without a father.
23:11  For the One Who saves them is strong. He will stand by them and give them help against you.
23:12  Open your heart to teaching, and your ears to words of much learning.
23:13  Do not keep from punishing the child if he needs it. If you beat him with the stick, he will not die.
23:14  Beat him with the stick, and save his soul from hell.
23:15  My son, if your heart is wise, my own heart will be glad also.
23:16  My heart will be full of joy when your lips speak what is right.
23:17  Do not let your heart be jealous of sinners, but live in the fear of the Lord always.
23:18  For sure there is a future and your hope will not be cut off.
23:19  Listen, my son, and be wise. Lead your heart in the way.
23:20  Do not be with those who drink too much wine or eat too much meat.
23:21  For the man who drinks too much or eats too much will become poor, and much sleep will dress a man in torn clothes.
23:22  Listen to your father who gave you life, and do not hate your mother when she is old.
23:23  Buy truth, and do not sell it. Get wisdom and teaching and understanding.
23:24  The father of one who is right with God will have much joy. He who has a wise son will be glad in him.
23:25  Let your father and mother be glad, and let her who gave birth to you be full of joy.
23:26  Give me your heart, my son. Let your eyes find joy in my ways.
23:27  For a woman who sells the use of her body is like a deep hole. A sinful woman is a narrow well.
23:28  She lies in wait as a robber, and makes many more men not faithful.
23:29  Who has trouble? Who has sorrow? Who is fighting? Who is complaining? Who is hurt without a reason? Who has eyes that have become red?
23:30  Those who stay a long time over wine. Those who go to taste mixed wine.
23:31  Do not look at wine when it is red, when it shines in the cup, when it is smooth in going down.
23:32  In the end it bites like a snake. It stings like the bite of a snake with poison.
23:33  Your eyes will see strange things. Your mind will say the wrong things.
23:34  And you will be like one who lies down in the center of the sea, or like one who lies above a ship’s sail.
23:35  “They hit me, but I was not hurt. They beat me, but I did not know it. When will I wake up? I will look for another drink.”