ProverbsChapter 23

Tap any verse to comment or suggest a better wording.

¹When you sit down to eat with a ruler,
think carefully about what is in front of you. ²If you have a big appetite,
put a knife to your throat. ³Do not long for his fancy foods,
because that food will fool you. ⁴Do not wear yourself out trying to get rich.
Be wise enough to stop. ⁵Just glance at riches, and they are gone.
They grow wings and fly off to the sky like an eagle. ⁶Do not eat the bread of a stingy man.
Do not long for his fancy foods. ⁷For he is keeping track. Inside, he is counting the cost.
"Eat and drink," he says to you.
But his heart is not with you. ⁸You will throw up the little you have eaten.
You will waste your kind words. ⁹Do not speak to a fool,
because he will hate the wisdom of your words. ¹⁰Do not move an old boundary stone.
Do not take over the fields of children who have no father. ¹¹For their Redeemer is strong.
He will stand up for them against you. ¹²Set your heart on teaching.
Open your ears to words of knowledge. ¹³Do not hold back correction from a child.
If you hit him with a rod, he will not die. ¹⁴Hit him with a rod,
and you will save his soul from the grave.a ¹⁵My son, if your heart is wise,
my own heart will be glad. ¹⁶Deep inside I will be full of joy
when your lips say what is right. ¹⁷Do not let your heart be jealous of sinners.
Always keep living in the fear of the LORD. ¹⁸For there surely is a future for you.
Your hope will not be cut off. ¹⁹Listen, my son, and be wise.
Keep your heart on the right path. ²⁰Do not join those who drink too much wine.
Do not join those who stuff themselves with meat. ²¹For the drunk and the one who eats too much will become poor.
Sleepiness will dress them in rags. ²²Listen to your father, who gave you life.
Do not look down on your mother when she is old. ²³Buy truth, and never sell it.
Buy wisdom, teaching, and understanding. ²⁴The father of a son who does right will be full of joy.
The man who has a wise son will be glad because of him. ²⁵May your father and mother be glad.
May the mother who gave birth to you be full of joy! ²⁶My son, give me your heart.
Let your eyes enjoy my ways. ²⁷For a prostitute is a deep pit.
A woman who cheats on her husband is a narrow well. ²⁸She hides and waits like a robber.
She makes more and more men unfaithful. ²⁹Who has trouble? Who has sadness?
Who has fights? Who has complaints?
Who has wounds for no reason? Who has red eyes? ³⁰Those who stay up late drinking wine.
Those who go to try mixed drinks. ³¹Do not stare at wine when it is red,
when it sparkles in the cup and goes down smooth. ³²In the end it bites like a snake.
It stings like a poisonous snake. ³³Your eyes will see strange things.
Your mind will say twisted things. ³⁴You will be like someone sleeping out on the open sea.
You will be like someone lying on top of a ship's mast. ³⁵You will say, "They hit me, but I don't feel any pain!
They beat me, but I didn't even know it!
When will I wake up so I can look for another drink?"