23:1 When you sit down to eat with a ruler, observe carefully what is before you;
23:1 When you sit down to eat with a ruler, observe carefully what is before you,

23:2 and put a knife to your throat if you are a man given to appetite.
23:2 and put a knife to your throat if you have a big appetite.

23:3 Do not desire his delicacies, for they are deceptive food.
23:3 Do not desire the ruler's delicacies, for they are deceptive food.

23:4 Do not toil to acquire wealth; be wise enough to desist.
23:4 Do not wear yourself out to get rich; be wise enough to desist.

23:5 When your eyes light upon it, it is gone; for suddenly it takes to itself wings, flying like an eagle toward heaven.
23:5 When your eyes light upon it, it is gone; for suddenly it takes wings to itself, flying like an eagle toward heaven.

23:6 Do not eat the bread of a man who is stingy; do not desire his delicacies;
23:6 Do not eat the bread of the stingy; do not desire their delicacies;

23:7 for he is like one who is inwardly reckoning. "Eat and drink!" he says to you; but his heart is not with you.
23:7 for like a hair in the throat, so are they. "Eat and drink!" they say to you; but they do not mean it.

23:8 You will vomit up the morsels which you have eaten, and waste your pleasant words.
23:8 You will vomit up the little you have eaten, and you will waste your pleasant words.

23:9 Do not speak in the hearing of a fool, for he will despise the wisdom of your words.
23:9 Do not speak in the hearing of a fool, who will only despise the wisdom of your words.

23:10 Do not remove an ancient landmark or enter the fields of the fatherless;
23:10 Do not remove an ancient landmark or encroach on the fields of orphans,

23:11 for their Redeemer is strong; he will plead their cause against you.
23:11 for their redeemer is strong; he will plead their cause against you.

23:12 Apply your mind to instruction and your ear to words of knowledge.
23:12 Apply your mind to instruction and your ear to words of knowledge.

23:13 Do not withhold discipline from a child; if you beat him with a rod, he will not die.
23:13 Do not withhold discipline from your children; if you beat them with a rod, they will not die.

23:14 If you beat him with the rod you will save his life from Sheol.
23:14 If you beat them with the rod, you will save their lives from Sheol.

23:15 My son, if your heart is wise, my heart too will be glad.
23:15 My child, if your heart is wise, my heart too will be glad.

23:16 My soul will rejoice when your lips speak what is right.
23:16 My soul will rejoice when your lips speak what is right.

23:17 Let not your heart envy sinners, but continue in the fear of the LORD all the day.
23:17 Do not let your heart envy sinners, but always continue in the fear of the LORD.

23:18 Surely there is a future, and your hope will not be cut off.
23:18 Surely there is a future, and your hope will not be cut off.

23:19 Hear, my son, and be wise, and direct your mind in the way.
23:19 Hear, my child, and be wise, and direct your mind in the way.

23:20 Be not among winebibbers, or among gluttonous eaters of meat;
23:20 Do not be among winebibbers, or among gluttonous eaters of meat;

23:21 for the drunkard and the glutton will come to poverty, and drowsiness will clothe a man with rags.
23:21 for the drunkard and the glutton will come to poverty, and drowsiness will clothe them with rags.

23:22 Hearken to your father who begot you, and do not despise your mother when she is old.
23:22 Listen to your father who begot you, and do not despise your mother when she is old.

23:23 Buy truth, and do not sell it; buy wisdom, instruction, and understanding.
23:23 Buy truth, and do not sell it; buy wisdom, instruction, and understanding.

23:24 The father of the righteous will greatly rejoice; he who begets a wise son will be glad in him.
23:24 The father of the righteous will greatly rejoice; he who begets a wise son will be glad in him.

23:25 Let your father and mother be glad, let her who bore you rejoice.
23:25 Let your father and mother be glad; let her who bore you rejoice.

23:26 My son, give me your heart, and let your eyes observe my ways.
23:26 My child, give me your heart, and let your eyes observe my ways.

23:27 For a harlot is a deep pit; an adventuress is a narrow well.
23:27 For a prostitute is a deep pit; an adulteress is a narrow well.

23:28 She lies in wait like a robber and increases the faithless among men.
23:28 She lies in wait like a robber and increases the number of the faithless.

23:29 Who has woe? Who has sorrow? Who has strife? Who has complaining? Who has wounds without cause? Who has redness of eyes?
23:29 Who has woe? Who has sorrow? Who has strife? Who has complaining? Who has wounds without cause? Who has redness of eyes?

23:30 Those who tarry long over wine, those who go to try mixed wine.
23:30 Those who linger late over wine, those who keep trying mixed wines.

23:31 Do not look at wine when it is red, when it sparkles in the cup and goes down smoothly.
23:31 Do not look at wine when it is red, when it sparkles in the cup and goes down smoothly.

23:32 At the last it bites like a serpent, and stings like an adder.
23:32 At the last it bites like a serpent, and stings like an adder.

23:33 Your eyes will see strange things, and your mind utter perverse things.
23:33 Your eyes will see strange things, and your mind utter perverse things.

23:34 You will be like one who lies down in the midst of the sea, like one who lies on the top of a mast.
23:34 You will be like one who lies down in the midst of the sea, like one who lies on the top of a mast.

23:35 "They struck me," you will say, "but I was not hurt; they beat me, but I did not feel it. When shall I awake? I will seek another drink."
23:35 "They struck me," you will say, "but I was not hurt; they beat me, but I did not feel it. When shall I awake? I will seek another drink."