New Living Translation
Proverbs • Chapter 23
1
While dining with a ruler,<br>pay attention to what is put before you.<br>
2
If you are a big eater,<br>put a knife to your throat;<br>
3
don’t desire all the delicacies,<br>for he might be trying to trick you.<br>
4
Don’t wear yourself out trying to get rich.<br>Be wise enough to know when to quit.<br>
5
In the blink of an eye wealth disappears,<br>for it will sprout wings<br>and fly away like an eagle.<br>
6
Don’t eat with people who are stingy;<br>don’t desire their delicacies.<br>
7
They are always thinking about how much it costs.<br>“Eat and drink,” they say, but they don’t mean it.<br>
8
You will throw up what little you’ve eaten,<br>and your compliments will be wasted.<br>
9
Don’t waste your breath on fools,<br>for they will despise the wisest advice.<br>
10
Don’t cheat your neighbor by moving the ancient boundary markers;<br>don’t take the land of defenseless orphans.<br>
11
For their Redeemer is strong;<br>he himself will bring their charges against you.<br>
12
Commit yourself to instruction;<br>listen carefully to words of knowledge.<br>
13
Don’t fail to discipline your children.<br>The rod of punishment won’t kill them.<br>
14
Physical discipline<br>may well save them from death.<br>
15
My child, if your heart is wise,<br>my own heart will rejoice!<br>
16
Everything in me will celebrate<br>when you speak what is right.<br>
17
Don’t envy sinners,<br>but always continue to fear the LORD.<br>
18
You will be rewarded for this;<br>your hope will not be disappointed.<br>
19
My child, listen and be wise:<br>Keep your heart on the right course.<br>
20
Do not carouse with drunkards<br>or feast with gluttons,<br>
21
for they are on their way to poverty,<br>and too much sleep clothes them in rags.<br>
22
Listen to your father, who gave you life,<br>and don’t despise your mother when she is old.<br>
23
Get the truth and never sell it;<br>also get wisdom, discipline, and good judgment.<br>
24
The father of godly children has cause for joy.<br>What a pleasure to have children who are wise.<br>
25
So give your father and mother joy!<br>May she who gave you birth be happy.<br>
26
O my son, give me your heart.<br>May your eyes take delight in following my ways.<br>
27
A prostitute is a dangerous trap;<br>a promiscuous woman is as dangerous as falling into a narrow well.<br>
28
She hides and waits like a robber,<br>eager to make more men unfaithful.<br>
29
Who has anguish? Who has sorrow?<br>Who is always fighting? Who is always complaining?<br>Who has unnecessary bruises? Who has bloodshot eyes?<br>
30
It is the one who spends long hours in the taverns,<br>trying out new drinks.<br>
31
Don’t gaze at the wine, seeing how red it is,<br>how it sparkles in the cup, how smoothly it goes down.<br>
32
For in the end it bites like a poisonous snake;<br>it stings like a viper.<br>
33
You will see hallucinations,<br>and you will say crazy things.<br>
34
You will stagger like a sailor tossed at sea,<br>clinging to a swaying mast.<br>
35
And you will say, “They hit me, but I didn’t feel it.<br>I didn’t even know it when they beat me up.<br>When will I wake up<br>so I can look for another drink?”<br>