Proverbs 23:1-25

Common English Bible

23 When you sit down to dine with a ruler,
    carefully consider what is in front of you.
² Place a knife at your throat
    to control your appetite.
³ Don’t long for the ruler’s delicacies;
    the food misleads.

⁴ Don’t wear yourself out trying to get rich;
    be smart enough to stop.
⁵ When your eyes fly to wealth
    it is gone; it grows wings
    like an eagle and flies heavenward.

⁶ Don’t eat food with stingy people;
    don’t long for their delicacies,
⁷     because they are like a hair in the throat.^[a]
They say to you, “Eat and drink!”
    but they don’t mean it.
⁸ You will eat scraps and vomit them out.
    You will waste your pleasant words.
⁹ Don’t speak in the ears of fools,
    for they will scorn your insightful words.

¹⁰ Don’t remove an ancient boundary marker;
    don’t invade the fields of orphans,
¹¹     for their redeemer is strong.
    He will bring charges against you.

¹² Bring your mind to instruction,
    your ear to knowledgeable sayings.

¹³ Don’t withhold instruction from children;
    if you strike them with a rod, they won’t die.
¹⁴ Strike them with a rod,
    and you will save their lives from the grave.^[b]

¹⁵ My child, if your heart is wise,
    then my heart too will be happy.
¹⁶ My inner being will rejoice
    when your lips speak with integrity.

¹⁷ Don’t let your heart envy sinners,
    but fear the Lord constantly;
¹⁸         then you will have a future,
        and your hope won’t be cut off.

¹⁹ Listen, my child, and be wise!
    Keep your mind straight on the path.
²⁰ Don’t hang out with those who get drunk on wine
    or those who eat too much meat,
²¹     because drunks and gluttons will be impoverished;
    their stupor will clothe them in rags.

²² Listen to your father, who gave you life;
    don’t despise your elderly mother.
²³ Buy truth and don’t sell it;
    buy wisdom, instruction, and understanding.
²⁴ The father of the righteous will be very happy;
    the one who gives life to the wise will rejoice.
²⁵ Your father and your mother will rejoice;
    she who gave you birth will be happy.