Proverbs 23:15-24:22

New International Version

¹⁵ My son, if your heart is wise,
    then my heart will be glad indeed;
¹⁶ my inmost being will rejoice
    when your lips speak what is right.^(A)

¹⁷ Do not let your heart envy^(B) 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.^(C)

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

²² Listen to your father, who gave you life,
    and do not despise your mother when she is old.^(G)
23 Buy the truth and do not sell it—
    wisdom, instruction and insight as well.^(H)
24 The father of a righteous child has great joy;
    a man who fathers a wise son rejoices in him.^(I)
25 May your father and mother rejoice;
    may she who gave you birth be joyful!^(J)

²⁶ My son,^(K) give me your heart
    and let your eyes delight in my ways,^(L)
27 for an adulterous woman is a deep pit,^(M)
    and a wayward wife is a narrow well.
²⁸ Like a bandit she lies in wait^(N)
    and multiplies the unfaithful among men.

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,^(O)
    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?”^(P)

24 Do not envy^(Q) the wicked,
    do not desire their company;
² for their hearts plot violence,^(R)
    and their lips talk about making trouble.^(S)

³ By wisdom a house is built,^(T)
    and through understanding it is established;
⁴ through knowledge its rooms are filled
    with rare and beautiful treasures.^(U)

⁵ The wise prevail through great power,
    and those who have knowledge muster their strength.
⁶ Surely you need guidance to wage war,
    and victory is won through many advisers.^(V)

⁷ Wisdom is too high for fools;
    in the assembly at the gate they must not open their mouths.

⁸ Whoever plots evil
    will be known as a schemer.
⁹ The schemes of folly are sin,
    and people detest a mocker.

¹⁰ If you falter in a time of trouble,
    how small is your strength!^(W)
11 Rescue those being led away to death;
    hold back those staggering toward slaughter.^(X)
12 If you say, “But we knew nothing about this,”
    does not he who weighs^(Y) the heart perceive it?
Does not he who guards your life know it?
    Will he not repay^(Z) everyone according to what they have done?^(AA)

¹³ Eat honey, my son, for it is good;
    honey from the comb is sweet to your taste.
¹⁴ Know also that wisdom is like honey for you:
    If you find it, there is a future hope for you,
    and your hope will not be cut off.^(AB)

¹⁵ Do not lurk like a thief near the house of the righteous,
    do not plunder their dwelling place;
¹⁶ for though the righteous fall seven times, they rise again,
    but the wicked stumble when calamity strikes.^(AC)

¹⁷ Do not gloat^(AD) when your enemy falls;
    when they stumble, do not let your heart rejoice,^(AE)
18 or the Lord will see and disapprove
    and turn his wrath away from them.^(AF)

¹⁹ Do not fret^(AG) because of evildoers
    or be envious of the wicked,
²⁰ for the evildoer has no future hope,
    and the lamp of the wicked will be snuffed out.^(AH)

²¹ Fear the Lord and the king,^(AI) my son,
    and do not join with rebellious officials,
²² for those two will send sudden destruction^(AJ) on them,
    and who knows what calamities they can bring?