Proverbs 23

New International Reader's Version

23 When you sit down to eat with a ruler,
    look carefully at what’s in front of you.
² Put a knife to your throat
    if you like to eat too much.
³ Don’t long for his fancy food.
    It can fool you.

⁴ Don’t wear yourself out to get rich.
    Don’t trust how wise you think you are.
⁵ When you take even a quick look at riches, they are gone.
    They grow wings and fly away into the sky like an eagle.

⁶ Don’t eat the food of anyone who doesn’t want to share it.
    Don’t long for his fancy food.
⁷ He is the kind of person
    who is always thinking about how much it costs.
“Eat and drink,” he says to you.
    But he doesn’t mean it.
⁸ You will throw up what little you have eaten.
    You will have wasted your words of praise.

⁹ Don’t speak to foolish people.
    They will laugh at your wise words.

¹⁰ Don’t move old boundary stones.
    Don’t try to take over the fields of children whose fathers have died.
¹¹ That’s because the God who guards them is strong.
    He will stand up for them in court against you.

¹² Apply your heart to what you are taught.
    Listen carefully to words of knowledge.

¹³ Don’t hold back correction from a child.
    If you correct them, they won’t die.
¹⁴ So correct them.
    Then you will save them from death.

¹⁵ My son, if your heart is wise,
    my heart will be very glad.
¹⁶ Deep down inside, I will be happy
    when you say what is right.

¹⁷ Do not long for what sinners have.
    But always show great respect for the Lord.
¹⁸ There really is hope for you in days to come.
    So your hope will not be cut off.

¹⁹ My son, listen and be wise.
    Set your heart on the right path.
²⁰ Don’t join those who drink too much wine.
    Don’t join those who stuff themselves with meat.
²¹ Those who drink or eat too much will become poor.
    If they sleep too much, they’ll have to wear rags.

²² Listen to your father, who gave you life.
    Don’t hate your mother when she is old.
²³ Buy the truth and don’t sell it.
    Get wisdom, instruction and understanding as well.
²⁴ The father of a godly child is very happy.
    A man who has a wise son is glad.
²⁵ May your father and mother be glad.
    May the woman who gave birth to you be joyful.

²⁶ My son, give me your heart.
    May you be happy living the way you see me live.
²⁷ An unfaithful wife is like a deep pit.
    A wife who commits adultery is like a narrow well.
²⁸ She hides and waits like a thief.
    She causes many men to sin.

²⁹ Who has trouble? Who has sorrow?
    Who argues? Who has problems?
    Who has wounds for no reason? Who has red eyes?
³⁰ Those who spend too much time with wine.
    Or those who like to taste wine mixed with spices.
³¹ Don’t look at wine when it is red.
    Don’t look at it when it bubbles in the cup.
    And don’t look at it when it goes down smoothly.
³² In the end it bites like a snake.
    It bites like a poisonous serpent.
³³ Your eyes will see strange sights.
    Your mind will imagine weird things.
³⁴ You will feel like someone sleeping on the ocean.
    You will think you are lying among the ropes in a boat.
³⁵ “They hit me,” you will say. “But I’m not hurt!
    They beat me. But I don’t feel it!
When will I wake up
    so I can find another drink?”