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17 Don’t let your heart envy sinners [Ps. 73],
    but always ·respect [fear; 1:7] the Lord.
18 Then you will have a future,
    and your ·wishes [hopes] will ·come true [L not be cut off].

19 Listen, my child, and be wise.
    Keep your ·mind on what is right [L heart straight on the path].
20 Don’t ·drink too much [get drunk on] wine
    or ·eat too much food [L stuff yourself with meat].
21 Those who ·drink [get drunk] and ·eat too much [stuff themselves] ·become poor [lose possessions].
    They ·sleep too much [or are in a stupor] and end up wearing rags.

22 Listen to your father, who ·gave you life [begot you],
    and do not ·forget [despise] your mother when she is old.
23 ·Learn [L Buy; Acquire] the truth and never ·reject [L sell] it.
    ·Get [Buy; Acquire] wisdom, ·self-control [instruction; discipline], and understanding.

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17 
Do not let your heart envy sinners [who live godless lives and have no hope of salvation],
But [continue to] live in the [reverent, worshipful] fear of the Lord day by day.
18 
Surely there is a future [and a reward],
And your hope and expectation will not be cut off.
19 
Listen, my son, and be wise,
And direct your heart in the way [of the Lord].
20 
Do not associate with heavy drinkers of wine,
Or with gluttonous eaters of meat,(A)
21 
For the heavy drinker and the glutton will come to poverty,
And the drowsiness [of overindulgence] will clothe one with rags.

22 
Listen to your father, who sired you,
And do not despise your mother when she is old.
23 
[a]Buy truth, and do not sell it;
Get wisdom and instruction and understanding.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 23:23 The ancient rabbis routinely assumed “truth” to refer to the Torah (Law), and they interpreted the first part of this command to mean that a student should pay a teacher to teach him the Torah if he can find no one to teach him for free. As for the second part, they said that if the student had to pay to learn, he should not view this as grounds to charge for teaching others, but should teach the Torah for free.

Saying 15

17 Do not let your heart envy(A) sinners,
    but always be zealous for the fear of the Lord.
18 There is surely a future hope for you,
    and your hope will not be cut off.(B)

Saying 16

19 Listen, my son,(C) and be wise,
    and set your heart on the right path:
20 Do not join those who drink too much wine(D)
    or gorge themselves on meat,
21 for drunkards and gluttons become poor,(E)
    and drowsiness clothes them in rags.

Saying 17

22 Listen to your father, who gave you life,
    and do not despise your mother when she is old.(F)
23 Buy the truth and do not sell it—
    wisdom, instruction and insight as well.(G)

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