| Chapter 23 |
1 | When you sit to eat with a ruler, Consider diligently what is before you;
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2 | Put a knife to your throat, If you are a man given to appetite.
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3 | Don't be desirous of his dainties, Seeing they are deceitful food.
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4 | Don't weary yourself to be rich. In your wisdom, show restraint.
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5 | Why do you set your eyes on that which is not? For it certainly sprouts wings like an eagle and flies in the sky.
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6 | Don't eat the food of him who has a stingy eye, And don't crave his delicacies:
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7 | For as he thinks about the cost, so he is. 'Eat and drink!' he says to you, But his heart is not with you.
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8 | The morsel which you have eaten you shall vomit up, And lose your good words.
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9 | Don't speak in the ears of a fool, For he will despise the wisdom of your words.
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10 | Don't move the ancient boundary stone. Don't encroach on the fields of the fatherless:
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11 | For their Defender is strong. He will plead their case against you.
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12 | Apply your heart to instruction, And your ears to the words of knowledge.
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13 | Don't withhold correction from a child. If you punish him with the rod, he will not die.
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14 | Punish him with the rod, And save his soul from Sheol.
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15 | My son, if your heart is wise, Then my heart will be glad, even mine:
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16 | Yes, my heart will rejoice, When your lips speak what is right.
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17 | Don't let your heart envy sinners; But rather fear Yahweh all the day long.
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18 | Indeed surely there is a future hope, And your hope will not be cut off.
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19 | Listen, my son, and be wise, And keep your heart on the right path!
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20 | Don't be among ones drinking too much wine, Or those who gorge themselves on meat:
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21 | For the drunkard and the glutton shall become poor; And drowsiness clothes them in rags.
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22 | Listen to your father who gave you life, And don't despise your mother when she is old.
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23 | Buy the truth, and don't sell it: Get wisdom, discipline, and understanding.
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24 | The father of the righteous has great joy. Whoever fathers a wise child delights in him.
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25 | Let your father and your mother be glad! Let her who bore you rejoice!
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26 | My son, give me your heart; And let your eyes keep in my ways.
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27 | For a prostitute is a deep pit; And a wayward wife is a narrow well.
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28 | Yes, she lies in wait like a robber, And increases the unfaithful among men.
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29 | Who has woe? Who has sorrow? Who has strife? Who has complaints? Who has needless bruises? Who has bloodshot eyes?
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30 | Those who stay long at the wine; Those who go to seek out mixed wine.
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31 | Don't look at the wine when it is red, When it sparkles in the cup, When it goes down smoothly:
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32 | At the last it bites like a snake, And poisons like a viper.
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33 | Your eyes will see strange things, And your mind will imagine confusing things.
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34 | Yes, you will be as he who lies down in the midst of the sea, Or as he who lies on top of the rigging:
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35 | 'They hit me, and I was not hurt; They beat me, and I don't feel it! When will I wake up? I can do it again. I can find another.'
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