Proverbs 23:23-35
English Standard Version
23 (A)Buy truth, and do not sell it;
buy wisdom, instruction, and understanding.
24 (B)The father of the righteous will greatly rejoice;
he who fathers a wise son will be glad in him.
25 (C)Let your father and mother be glad;
let (D)her who bore you rejoice.
26 My son, give me your heart,
and let your eyes observe[a] my ways.
27 For a prostitute is (E)a deep pit;
(F)an adulteress[b] is a narrow (G)well.
28 (H)She lies in wait like a robber
and increases the traitors among mankind.
29 (I)Who has woe? Who has sorrow?
Who has strife? Who has complaining?
Who has (J)wounds without cause?
Who has (K)redness of eyes?
30 Those who (L)tarry long over wine;
those who go to try (M)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 (N)bites like a serpent
and stings like an adder.
33 Your eyes will see strange things,
and your heart utter (O)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.[c]
35 “They (P)struck me,” you will say,[d] “but I was not hurt;
they beat me, but I did not feel it.
When shall I awake?
I (Q)must have another drink.”
Footnotes
- Proverbs 23:26 Or delight in
- Proverbs 23:27 Hebrew a foreign woman
- Proverbs 23:34 Or of the rigging
- Proverbs 23:35 Hebrew lacks you will say
Proverbs 23:23-35
New International Version
23 Buy the truth and do not sell it—
wisdom, instruction and insight as well.(A)
24 The father of a righteous child has great joy;
a man who fathers a wise son rejoices in him.(B)
25 May your father and mother rejoice;
may she who gave you birth be joyful!(C)
Saying 18
26 My son,(D) give me your heart
and let your eyes delight in my ways,(E)
27 for an adulterous woman is a deep pit,(F)
and a wayward wife is a narrow well.
28 Like a bandit she lies in wait(G)
and multiplies the unfaithful among men.
Saying 19
29 Who has woe? Who has sorrow?
Who has strife? Who has complaints?
Who has needless bruises? Who has bloodshot eyes?
30 Those who linger over wine,(H)
who go to sample bowls of mixed wine.
31 Do not gaze at wine when it is red,
when it sparkles in the cup,
when it goes down smoothly!
32 In the end it bites like a snake
and poisons like a viper.
33 Your eyes will see strange sights,
and your mind will imagine confusing things.
34 You will be like one sleeping on the high seas,
lying on top of the rigging.
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?”(I)
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
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