Proverbs 23 – read and compare multiple versions
Proverbs 23
[1] When you sit to eat with a ruler,
consider diligently what is before you;
[2] put a knife to your throat
if you are a man given to appetite.
[3] Don’t be desirous of his dainties,
since they are deceitful food.
[4] Don’t weary yourself to be rich.
In your wisdom, show restraint.
[5] Why do you set your eyes on that which is not?
For it certainly sprouts wings like an eagle and flies in the sky.
[6] Don’t eat the food of him who has a stingy eye,
and don’t crave his delicacies,
[7] for as he thinks about the cost, so he is.
“Eat and drink!” he says to you,
but his heart is not with you.
[8] You will vomit up the morsel which you have eaten
and waste your pleasant words. [9] Don’t speak in the ears of a fool,
for he will despise the wisdom of your words. [10] Don’t move the ancient boundary stone.
Don’t encroach on the fields of the fatherless,
[11] for their Defender is strong.
He will plead their case against you. [12] Apply your heart to instruction,
and your ears to the words of knowledge.
[13] Don’t withhold correction from a child.
If you punish him with the rod, he will not die.
[14] Punish him with the rod,
and save his soul from Sheol. [15] My son, if your heart is wise,
then my heart will be glad, even mine.
[16] Yes, my heart will rejoice
when your lips speak what is right.
[17] Don’t let your heart envy sinners,
but rather fear Yahweh all day long.
[18] Indeed surely there is a future hope,
and your hope will not be cut off.
[19] Listen, my son, and be wise,
and keep your heart on the right path!
[20] Don’t be among ones drinking too much wine,
or those who gorge themselves on meat;
[21] for the drunkard and the glutton shall become poor;
and drowsiness clothes them in rags.
[22] Listen to your father who gave you life,
and don’t despise your mother when she is old.
[23] Buy the truth, and don’t sell it.
Get wisdom, discipline, and understanding.
[24] The father of the righteous has great joy.
Whoever fathers a wise child delights in him.
[25] Let your father and your mother be glad!
Let her who bore you rejoice!
[26] My son, give me your heart;
and let your eyes keep in my ways.
[27] For a prostitute is a deep pit;
and a wayward wife is a narrow well.
[28] Yes, she lies in wait like a robber,
and increases 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 stay long at the wine;
those who go to seek out mixed wine.
[31] Don’t look at the 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 things,
and your mind will imagine confusing things.
[34] Yes, you will be as he who lies down in the middle of the sea,
or as he who lies on top of the rigging:
[35] “They hit me, and I was not hurt!
They beat me, and I don’t feel it!
When will I wake up? I can do it again.
I will look for more.”
consider diligently what is before you;
[2] put a knife to your throat
if you are a man given to appetite.
[3] Don’t be desirous of his dainties,
since they are deceitful food.
[4] Don’t weary yourself to be rich.
In your wisdom, show restraint.
[5] Why do you set your eyes on that which is not?
For it certainly sprouts wings like an eagle and flies in the sky.
[6] Don’t eat the food of him who has a stingy eye,
and don’t crave his delicacies,
[7] for as he thinks about the cost, so he is.
“Eat and drink!” he says to you,
but his heart is not with you.
[8] You will vomit up the morsel which you have eaten
and waste your pleasant words. [9] Don’t speak in the ears of a fool,
for he will despise the wisdom of your words. [10] Don’t move the ancient boundary stone.
Don’t encroach on the fields of the fatherless,
[11] for their Defender is strong.
He will plead their case against you. [12] Apply your heart to instruction,
and your ears to the words of knowledge.
[13] Don’t withhold correction from a child.
If you punish him with the rod, he will not die.
[14] Punish him with the rod,
and save his soul from Sheol. [15] My son, if your heart is wise,
then my heart will be glad, even mine.
[16] Yes, my heart will rejoice
when your lips speak what is right.
[17] Don’t let your heart envy sinners,
but rather fear Yahweh all day long.
[18] Indeed surely there is a future hope,
and your hope will not be cut off.
[19] Listen, my son, and be wise,
and keep your heart on the right path!
[20] Don’t be among ones drinking too much wine,
or those who gorge themselves on meat;
[21] for the drunkard and the glutton shall become poor;
and drowsiness clothes them in rags.
[22] Listen to your father who gave you life,
and don’t despise your mother when she is old.
[23] Buy the truth, and don’t sell it.
Get wisdom, discipline, and understanding.
[24] The father of the righteous has great joy.
Whoever fathers a wise child delights in him.
[25] Let your father and your mother be glad!
Let her who bore you rejoice!
[26] My son, give me your heart;
and let your eyes keep in my ways.
[27] For a prostitute is a deep pit;
and a wayward wife is a narrow well.
[28] Yes, she lies in wait like a robber,
and increases 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 stay long at the wine;
those who go to seek out mixed wine.
[31] Don’t look at the 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 things,
and your mind will imagine confusing things.
[34] Yes, you will be as he who lies down in the middle of the sea,
or as he who lies on top of the rigging:
[35] “They hit me, and I was not hurt!
They beat me, and I don’t feel it!
When will I wake up? I can do it again.
I will look for more.”