Proverbs 23:19-35

English Standard Version

¹⁹ Hear, my son, and ^(A)be wise,
    and ^(B)direct your heart in the way.
²⁰ Be not among ^(C)drunkards^[a]
    or among ^(D)gluttonous eaters of meat,
²¹ for the drunkard and the glutton will come to poverty,
    and ^(E)slumber will clothe them with rags.

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

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

^29 (P)Who has woe? Who has sorrow?
    Who has strife? Who has complaining?
Who has ^(Q)wounds without cause?
    Who has ^(R)redness of eyes?
³⁰ Those who ^(S)tarry long over wine;
    those who go to try ^(T)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 ^(U)bites like a serpent
    and stings like an adder.
³³ Your eyes will see strange things,
    and your heart utter ^(V)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.^[d]
35 “They ^(W)struck me,” you will say,^[e] “but I was not hurt;
    they beat me, but I did not feel it.
When shall I awake?
    I ^(X)must have another drink.”