17 (A)Do not let your heart envy sinners,
But (B)be zealous for the fear of the Lord all the day;
18 (C)For surely there is a [a]hereafter,
And your hope will not be cut off.

19 Hear, my son, and be wise;
And guide your heart in the way.
20 (D)Do not mix with winebibbers,
Or with gluttonous eaters of meat;
21 For the drunkard and the glutton will come to poverty,
And drowsiness will clothe a man with rags.

22 (E)Listen to your father who begot you,
And do not despise your mother when she is old.

23 (F)Buy the truth, and do not sell it,
Also wisdom and instruction and understanding.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 23:18 Future, lit. latter end

17 Let not thine heart envy sinners, but be thou in fear of the Lord all the day long.

18 For surely there is a reward, and thine expectation shall not be cut off.

19 Hear thou, my son, and be wise, and guide thine heart in the way.

20 Be not among winebibbers, among riotous eaters of flesh;

21 for the drunkard and the glutton shall come to poverty, and drowsiness shall clothe a man with rags.

22 Hearken unto thy father that begot thee, and despise not thy mother when she is old.

23 Buy the truth and sell it not, also wisdom and instruction and understanding.

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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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