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.

²⁶My son, give me your heart,
    and let your eyes observe^[a] my ways.
²⁷For 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?
³⁰Those who ^(L)tarry long over wine;
    those who go to try ^(M)mixed wine.
³¹Do not look at wine when it is red,
    when it sparkles in the cup
    and goes down smoothly.
³²In the end it ^(N)bites like a serpent
    and stings like an adder.
³³Your eyes will see strange things,
    and your heart utter ^(O)perverse things.
³⁴You 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.”