Proverbs 23:14-35

English Standard Version

¹⁹ Hear, my son, and ^(I)be wise,
    and ^(J)direct your heart in the way.
²⁰ Be not among ^(K)drunkards^[b]
    or among ^(L)gluttonous eaters of meat,
²¹ for the drunkard and the glutton will come to poverty,
    and ^(M)slumber will clothe them with rags.

^22 (N)Listen to your father who gave you life,
    ^(O)and do not despise your mother when she is old.
^23 (P)Buy truth, and do not sell it;
    buy wisdom, instruction, and understanding.
^24 (Q)The father of the righteous will greatly rejoice;
    he who fathers a wise son will be glad in him.
^25 (R)Let your father and mother be glad;
    let ^(S)her who bore you rejoice.

²⁶ My son, give me your heart,
    and let your eyes observe^[c] my ways.
²⁷ For a prostitute is ^(T)a deep pit;
    ^(U)an adulteress^[d] is a narrow ^(V)well.
^28 (W)She lies in wait like a robber
    and increases the traitors among mankind.

^29 (X)Who has woe? Who has sorrow?
    Who has strife? Who has complaining?
Who has ^(Y)wounds without cause?
    Who has ^(Z)redness of eyes?
³⁰ Those who ^(AA)tarry long over wine;
    those who go to try ^(AB)mixed wine.
³¹ Do not look at wine when it is red,
    when it sparkles in the cup
    and goes down smoothly.
³² In the end it ^(AC)bites like a serpent
    and stings like an adder.
³³ Your eyes will see strange things,
    and your heart utter ^(AD)perverse things.
³⁴ You will be like one who lies down in the midst of the sea,
    like one who lies on the top of a mast.^[e]
35 “They ^(AE)struck me,” you will say,^[f] “but I was not hurt;
    they beat me, but I did not feel it.
When shall I awake?
    I ^(AF)must have another drink.”