Proverbs 23 – search, read, and compare multiple versions of the Bible
World English Bible Classic
[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.”
Footnotes
- ⓘ 23:14 Sheol is the place of the dead.
King James Version
[1] When thou sittest H3427 (QalImpf) to eat H3898 (QalInf) with a ruler, H4910 (QalActPtc)
Consider H995 (QalImpf) diligently H995 (QalInf) what is before H6440 thee:
[2] And put H7760 (QalPerf) a knife H7915 to thy throat, H3930
If thou be a man given H1167 to appetite. H5315
[3] Be not desirous H183 (HithImpf) of his dainties: H4303
For they are deceitful H3577 meat. H3899
[4] Labour H3021 (QalImpf) not to be rich: H6238 (HiphInf)
Cease H2308 (QalImpv) from thine own wisdom. H998
[5] Wilt thou set H5774 (HiphImpf/Qere) thine eyes H5869 upon that which is not?§
For riches certainly H6213 (QalInf) make H6213 (QalImpf) themselves wings; H3671
They fly away H5774 (QalImpf/Qere) as an eagle H5404 toward heaven. H8064
[6] Eat H3898 (QalImpf) thou not the bread H3899 of him that hath an evil H7451 eye, H5869
Neither desire H183 (HithImpf) thou his dainty meats: H4303
[7] For as he thinketh H8176 (QalPerf) in his heart, H5315 so is he:
Eat H398 (QalImpv) and drink, H8354 (QalImpv) saith H559 (QalImpf) he to thee;
But his heart H3820 is not with thee.
[8] The morsel H6595 which thou hast eaten H398 (QalPerf) shalt thou vomit up, H6958 (HiphImpf)
And lose H7843 (PielPerf) thy sweet H5273 words. H1697
[9] Speak H1696 (PielImpf) not in the ears H241 of a fool: H3684
For he will despise H936 (QalImpf) the wisdom H7922 of thy words. H4405
[10] Remove H5253 (HiphImpf) not the old H5769 landmark; H1366§
And enter H935 (QalImpf) not into the fields H7704 of the fatherless: H3490
[11] For their redeemer H1350 (QalActPtc) is mighty; H2389
He shall plead H7378 (QalImpf) their cause H7379 with thee.
[12] Apply H935 (HiphImpv) thine heart H3820 unto instruction, H4148
And thine ears H241 to the words H561 of knowledge. H1847
[13] Withhold H4513 (QalImpf) not correction H4148 from the child: H5288
For if thou beatest H5221 (HiphImpf) him with the rod, H7626 he shall not die. H4191 (QalImpf)
[14] Thou shalt beat H5221 (HiphImpf) him with the rod, H7626
And shalt deliver H5337 (HiphImpf) his soul H5315 from hell. H7585
[15] My son, H1121 if thine heart H3820 be wise, H2449 (QalPerf)
My heart H3820 shall rejoice, H8055 (QalImpf) even mine. H589§
[16] Yea, my reins H3629 shall rejoice, H5937 (QalImpf)
When thy lips H8193 speak H1696 (PielInf) right things. H4339
[17] Let not thine heart H3820 envy H7065 (PielImpf) sinners: H2400
But be thou in the fear H3374 of the Lord H3068 all the day H3117 long.
[18] For surely there is H3426 an end; H319§
And thine expectation H8615 shall not be cut off. H3772 (NiphImpf)
[19] Hear H8085 (QalImpv) thou, my son, H1121 and be wise, H2449 (QalImpv)
And guide H833 (PielImpv) thine heart H3820 in the way. H1870
[20] Be not among winebibbers; H3196
Among riotous eaters H2151 (QalActPtc) of flesh: H1320§
[21] For the drunkard H5433 (QalActPtc) and the glutton H2151 (QalActPtc) shall come to poverty: H3423 (NiphImpf)
And drowsiness H5124 shall clothe H3847 (HiphImpf) a man with rags. H7168
[22] Hearken H8085 (QalImpv) unto thy father H1 that begat H3205 (QalPerf) thee,
And despise H936 (QalImpf) not thy mother H517 when she is old. H2204 (QalPerf)
[23] Buy H7069 (QalImpv) the truth, H571 and sell H4376 (QalImpf) it not;
Also wisdom, H2451 and instruction, H4148 and understanding. H998
[24] The father H1 of the righteous H6662 shall greatly H1524 rejoice: H1523 (QalImpf)
And he that begetteth H3205 (QalActPtc) a wise H2450 child shall have joy H8055 (QalImpf) of him.
[25] Thy father H1 and thy mother H517 shall be glad, H8055 (QalImpf)
And she that bare H3205 (QalActPtc) thee shall rejoice. H1523 (QalImpf)
[26] My son, H1121 give H5414 (QalImpv) me thine heart, H3820
And let thine eyes H5869 observe H7521 (QalImpf) my ways. H1870
[27] For a whore H2181 (QalActPtc) is a deep H6013 ditch; H7745
And a strange woman H5237 is a narrow H6862 pit. H875
[28] She also lieth in wait H693 (QalImpf) as for a prey,§ H2863
And increaseth H3254 (HiphImpf) the transgressors H898 (QalActPtc) among men. H120
[29] Who hath woe? H188 Who hath sorrow? H17
Who hath contentions? H4079 (Qere) Who hath babbling? H7879
Who hath wounds H6482 without cause? H2600
Who hath redness H2448 of eyes? H5869
[30] They that tarry long H309 (PielPtc) at the wine; H3196
They that go H935 (QalActPtc) to seek H2713 (QalInf) mixed wine. H4469
[31] Look H7200 (QalImpf) not thou upon the wine H3196 when it is red, H119 (HithImpf)
When it giveth H5414 (QalImpf) his colour H5869 in the cup, H3563 (Qere)
When it moveth H1980 (HithImpf) itself aright. H4339
[32] At the last H319 it biteth H5391 (QalImpf) like a serpent, H5175
And stingeth H6567 (HiphImpf) like an adder. H6848§
[33] Thine eyes H5869 shall behold H7200 (QalImpf) strange women, H2114 (QalPtc)
And thine heart H3820 shall utter H1696 (PielImpf) perverse things. H8419
[34] Yea, thou shalt be as he that lieth down H7901 (QalActPtc) in the midst H3820 of the sea, H3220§
Or as he that lieth H7901 (QalActPtc) upon the top H7218 of a mast. H2260
[35] They have stricken H5221 (HiphPerf) me, shalt thou say, and I was not sick; H2470 (QalPerf)
They have beaten H1986 (QalPerf) me, and I felt H3045 (QalPerf) it not:§
When shall I awake? H6974 (HiphImpf)
I will seek H1245 (PielImpf) it yet H3254 (HiphImpf) again.
Consider H995 (QalImpf) diligently H995 (QalInf) what is before H6440 thee:
[2] And put H7760 (QalPerf) a knife H7915 to thy throat, H3930
If thou be a man given H1167 to appetite. H5315
[3] Be not desirous H183 (HithImpf) of his dainties: H4303
For they are deceitful H3577 meat. H3899
[4] Labour H3021 (QalImpf) not to be rich: H6238 (HiphInf)
Cease H2308 (QalImpv) from thine own wisdom. H998
[5] Wilt thou set H5774 (HiphImpf/Qere) thine eyes H5869 upon that which is not?§
For riches certainly H6213 (QalInf) make H6213 (QalImpf) themselves wings; H3671
They fly away H5774 (QalImpf/Qere) as an eagle H5404 toward heaven. H8064
[6] Eat H3898 (QalImpf) thou not the bread H3899 of him that hath an evil H7451 eye, H5869
Neither desire H183 (HithImpf) thou his dainty meats: H4303
[7] For as he thinketh H8176 (QalPerf) in his heart, H5315 so is he:
Eat H398 (QalImpv) and drink, H8354 (QalImpv) saith H559 (QalImpf) he to thee;
But his heart H3820 is not with thee.
[8] The morsel H6595 which thou hast eaten H398 (QalPerf) shalt thou vomit up, H6958 (HiphImpf)
And lose H7843 (PielPerf) thy sweet H5273 words. H1697
[9] Speak H1696 (PielImpf) not in the ears H241 of a fool: H3684
For he will despise H936 (QalImpf) the wisdom H7922 of thy words. H4405
[10] Remove H5253 (HiphImpf) not the old H5769 landmark; H1366§
And enter H935 (QalImpf) not into the fields H7704 of the fatherless: H3490
[11] For their redeemer H1350 (QalActPtc) is mighty; H2389
He shall plead H7378 (QalImpf) their cause H7379 with thee.
[12] Apply H935 (HiphImpv) thine heart H3820 unto instruction, H4148
And thine ears H241 to the words H561 of knowledge. H1847
[13] Withhold H4513 (QalImpf) not correction H4148 from the child: H5288
For if thou beatest H5221 (HiphImpf) him with the rod, H7626 he shall not die. H4191 (QalImpf)
[14] Thou shalt beat H5221 (HiphImpf) him with the rod, H7626
And shalt deliver H5337 (HiphImpf) his soul H5315 from hell. H7585
[15] My son, H1121 if thine heart H3820 be wise, H2449 (QalPerf)
My heart H3820 shall rejoice, H8055 (QalImpf) even mine. H589§
[16] Yea, my reins H3629 shall rejoice, H5937 (QalImpf)
When thy lips H8193 speak H1696 (PielInf) right things. H4339
[17] Let not thine heart H3820 envy H7065 (PielImpf) sinners: H2400
But be thou in the fear H3374 of the Lord H3068 all the day H3117 long.
[18] For surely there is H3426 an end; H319§
And thine expectation H8615 shall not be cut off. H3772 (NiphImpf)
[19] Hear H8085 (QalImpv) thou, my son, H1121 and be wise, H2449 (QalImpv)
And guide H833 (PielImpv) thine heart H3820 in the way. H1870
[20] Be not among winebibbers; H3196
Among riotous eaters H2151 (QalActPtc) of flesh: H1320§
[21] For the drunkard H5433 (QalActPtc) and the glutton H2151 (QalActPtc) shall come to poverty: H3423 (NiphImpf)
And drowsiness H5124 shall clothe H3847 (HiphImpf) a man with rags. H7168
[22] Hearken H8085 (QalImpv) unto thy father H1 that begat H3205 (QalPerf) thee,
And despise H936 (QalImpf) not thy mother H517 when she is old. H2204 (QalPerf)
[23] Buy H7069 (QalImpv) the truth, H571 and sell H4376 (QalImpf) it not;
Also wisdom, H2451 and instruction, H4148 and understanding. H998
[24] The father H1 of the righteous H6662 shall greatly H1524 rejoice: H1523 (QalImpf)
And he that begetteth H3205 (QalActPtc) a wise H2450 child shall have joy H8055 (QalImpf) of him.
[25] Thy father H1 and thy mother H517 shall be glad, H8055 (QalImpf)
And she that bare H3205 (QalActPtc) thee shall rejoice. H1523 (QalImpf)
[26] My son, H1121 give H5414 (QalImpv) me thine heart, H3820
And let thine eyes H5869 observe H7521 (QalImpf) my ways. H1870
[27] For a whore H2181 (QalActPtc) is a deep H6013 ditch; H7745
And a strange woman H5237 is a narrow H6862 pit. H875
[28] She also lieth in wait H693 (QalImpf) as for a prey,§ H2863
And increaseth H3254 (HiphImpf) the transgressors H898 (QalActPtc) among men. H120
[29] Who hath woe? H188 Who hath sorrow? H17
Who hath contentions? H4079 (Qere) Who hath babbling? H7879
Who hath wounds H6482 without cause? H2600
Who hath redness H2448 of eyes? H5869
[30] They that tarry long H309 (PielPtc) at the wine; H3196
They that go H935 (QalActPtc) to seek H2713 (QalInf) mixed wine. H4469
[31] Look H7200 (QalImpf) not thou upon the wine H3196 when it is red, H119 (HithImpf)
When it giveth H5414 (QalImpf) his colour H5869 in the cup, H3563 (Qere)
When it moveth H1980 (HithImpf) itself aright. H4339
[32] At the last H319 it biteth H5391 (QalImpf) like a serpent, H5175
And stingeth H6567 (HiphImpf) like an adder. H6848§
[33] Thine eyes H5869 shall behold H7200 (QalImpf) strange women, H2114 (QalPtc)
And thine heart H3820 shall utter H1696 (PielImpf) perverse things. H8419
[34] Yea, thou shalt be as he that lieth down H7901 (QalActPtc) in the midst H3820 of the sea, H3220§
Or as he that lieth H7901 (QalActPtc) upon the top H7218 of a mast. H2260
[35] They have stricken H5221 (HiphPerf) me, shalt thou say, and I was not sick; H2470 (QalPerf)
They have beaten H1986 (QalPerf) me, and I felt H3045 (QalPerf) it not:§
When shall I awake? H6974 (HiphImpf)
I will seek H1245 (PielImpf) it yet H3254 (HiphImpf) again.
Footnotes
- § 23:5 Heb. wilt thou cause thine eyes to fly upon?
- § 23:10 Or, bound
- § 23:15 Or, even I will rejoice
- § 23:18 Or, reward
- § 23:20 Heb. of their flesh
- § 23:28 Or, as a robber
- § 23:32 Or, a cockatrice
- § 23:34 Heb. in the heart of the sea
- § 23:35 Heb. I knew it not
Byzantine Greek New Testament
No content available.