Home Master Index
←Prev   Proverbs 23 as rendered by/in  Next→ 


23:1  When you sit down to eat with a ruler, pay close attention to what is in front of you,
23:2  and put a knife to your throat if you have a big appetite.
23:3  Do not crave his delicacies, because this is food that deceives you.
23:4  Do not wear yourself out getting rich. Be smart enough to stop.
23:5  Will you catch only a fleeting glimpse of wealth before it is gone? It makes wings for itself like an eagle flying into the sky.
23:6  Do not eat the food of one who is stingy, and do not crave his delicacies.
23:7  As he calculates the cost to himself, this is what he does: He tells you, "Eat and drink," but he doesn't really mean it.
23:8  You will vomit the little bit you have eaten and spoil your pleasant conversation.
23:9  Do not talk directly to a fool, because he will despise the wisdom of your words.
23:10  Do not move an ancient boundary marker or enter fields that belong to orphans,
23:11  because the one who is responsible for them is strong. He will plead their case against you.
23:12  Live a more disciplined life, and listen carefully to words of knowledge.
23:13  Do not hesitate to discipline a child. If you spank him, he will not die.
23:14  Spank him yourself, and you will save his soul from hell.
23:15  My son, if you have a wise heart, my heart will rejoice as well.
23:16  My heart rejoices when you speak what is right.
23:17  Do not envy sinners in your heart. Instead, continue to fear the LORD.
23:18  There is indeed a future, and your hope will never be cut off.
23:19  My son, listen, be wise, and keep your mind going in the right direction.
23:20  Do not associate with those who drink too much wine, with those who eat too much meat,
23:21  because both a drunk and a glutton will become poor. Drowsiness will dress a person in rags.
23:22  Listen to your father since you are his son, and do not despise your mother because she is old.
23:23  Buy truth (and do not sell it), [that is,] buy wisdom, discipline, and understanding.
23:24  A righteous person's father will certainly rejoice. Someone who has a wise son will enjoy him.
23:25  May your father and your mother be glad. May she who gave birth to you rejoice.
23:26  My son, give me your heart. Let your eyes find happiness in my ways.
23:27  A prostitute is a deep pit. A loose woman is a narrow well.
23:28  She is like a robber, lying in ambush. She spreads unfaithfulness throughout society.
23:29  Who has trouble? Who has misery? Who has quarrels? Who has a complaint? Who has wounds for no reason? Who has bloodshot eyes?
23:30  Those who drink glass after glass of wine and mix it with everything.
23:31  Do not look at wine because it is red, because it sparkles in the cup, because it goes down smoothly.
23:32  Later it bites like a snake and strikes like a poisonous snake.
23:33  Your eyes will see strange sights, and your mouth will say embarrassing things.
23:34  You will be like someone lying down in the middle of the sea or like someone lying down on top of a ship's mast, saying,
23:35  "They strike me, but I feel no pain. They beat me, but I'm not aware of it. Whenever I wake up, I'm going to look for another drink."