23 When sitting down to eat with a ruler,
    take a moment to think about who you are with and what you are doing.
² If you are the type who eats too much too fast,
    do whatever is necessary to curb your enthusiasm for food.
³ Also, do not eye the ruler’s delicacies,
    for the food may not be what it seems.
⁴ Do not overwork yourself just to become wealthy;
    have enough sense to know when to quit.
⁵ As soon as you become fixed on riches, they vanish.
    For suddenly they sprout wings
    and become like a soaring eagle flying high in the sky.
⁶ Do not sit down and eat the bread of a tight-fisted fellow
    or desire any of his delicacies,
⁷ For deep down he’s keeping track of the cost.
    He may say, “Eat up! Drink your fill!”
    but he does not mean a word of it.
⁸ You’ll be sick and lose what little you did eat,
    and you’ll waste your breath carrying on a pleasant conversation.
⁹ Do not waste your wisdom on a fool,
    for he doesn’t care for anything you have to say.
¹⁰ Do not shift the property line by moving the boundary markers your ancestors established
    or try to steal property from orphans
¹¹ Because their Redeemer is strong,
    and He will plead their case against you.
¹² Develop a disciplined life.
    Be attentive so you can be well informed.
¹³ Do not withhold discipline from children,
    since corporal punishment will not kill them.
¹⁴ In fact, it may be that kind of punishment
    that will save them from an early grave.
¹⁵ My son, if you live wisely,
    then my life will be fulfilled.
¹⁶ My very soul will jump for joy
    when you speak what is true and right.
¹⁷ Don’t be envious of those wrapped up in sin,
    but always maintain a healthy respect for the Eternal.
¹⁸ Your future with Him will be certain,
    and you will not have hoped in vain.
¹⁹ Listen, my son, be wise,
    and steer your life on the right course.
²⁰ Do not spend time with heavy wine drinkers
    or those who gorge themselves on meat.
²¹ For both the drunk and the glutton will end up broke,
    sleeping life away, and clothed in rags.

²² Pay attention to your father—after all, he gave you life—
    and don’t ignore your mother in her old age.
²³ Invest in truth, sock it away!
    Never cash in wisdom, guidance, or insight.
²⁴ The parents of the right-living will celebrate;
    yes, parents of children who make wise choices are happy.
²⁵ So make your parents happy;
    delight your mother—after all, she brought you into this world.

²⁶ My son, devote yourself to me fully.
    Observe my ways, and follow my directions:
²⁷ Being drawn to a prostitute is like falling down into a deep well,
    and being involved with a wicked woman is like descending into a narrow well.
    You may never get out alive.
²⁸ She waits for you, ready to ambush you like a thief
    and ready to multiply unfaithfulness among men.

²⁹ Who is wallowing in anguish? Who is full of sorrow?
    Who has conflicts? Who has complaints?
Who has bruises and can’t remember where they came from?
    Who has bloodshot eyes?
³⁰ You know who: those who stay up late finishing off the wine,
    those who can’t stop savoring spiced wines.
³¹ Look away from the enticing beauty of wine, the deep red hue;
    ignore how it shimmers in the cup
    and glides down your throat.
³² Eventually, when you least expect it, it strikes like a snake;
    it stings like viper venom.
³³ Your vision will blur, and you’ll imagine strange things;
    you will say crazy, hurtful things and regret it later.
³⁴ You will reel and stagger as if caught on a wave of seasickness,
    as a sailor who holds on to a mast for dear life.
³⁵ You will say, “They slapped me, but it didn’t hurt.
    They beat me, and I didn’t feel a thing!
Whenever I wake up from this stupor,
    I’ll have another drink!”