English Standard Version ESV
New International Version NIV
1 When you sit down to eat with a ruler, observe carefully what is before you,
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When you sit to dine with a ruler, note well what is before you,
2 and put a knife to your throat if you are given to appetite.
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and put a knife to your throat if you are given to gluttony.
3 Do not desire his delicacies, for they are deceptive food.
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Do not crave his delicacies, for that food is deceptive.
4 Do not toil to acquire wealth; be discerning enough to desist.
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Do not wear yourself out to get rich; do not trust your own cleverness.
5 When your eyes light on it, it is gone, for suddenly it sprouts wings, flying like an eagle toward heaven.
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Cast but a glance at riches, and they are gone, for they will surely sprout wings and fly off to the sky like an eagle.
6 Do not eat the bread of a man who is stingy; do not desire his delicacies,
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Do not eat the food of a begrudging host, do not crave his delicacies;
7 for he is like one who is inwardly calculating. "Eat and drink!" he says to you, but his heart is not with you.
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for he is the kind of person who is always thinking about the cost.“Eat and drink,” he says to you, but his heart is not with you.
8 You will vomit up the morsels that you have eaten, and waste your pleasant words.
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You will vomit up the little you have eaten and will have wasted your compliments.
9 Do not speak in the hearing of a fool, for he will despise the good sense of your words.
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Do not speak to fools, for they will scorn your prudent words.
10 Do not move an ancient landmark or enter the fields of the fatherless,
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Do not move an ancient boundary stone or encroach on the fields of the fatherless,
11 for their Redeemer is strong; he will plead their cause against you.
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for their Defender is strong; he will take up their case against you.
12 Apply your heart to instruction and your ear to words of knowledge.
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Apply your heart to instruction and your ears to words of knowledge.
13 Do not withhold discipline from a child; if you strike him with a rod, he will not die.
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Do not withhold discipline from a child; if you punish them with the rod, they will not die.
14 If you strike him with the rod, you will save his soul from Sheol.
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Punish them with the rod and save them from death.
15 My son, if your heart is wise, my heart too will be glad.
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My son, if your heart is wise, then my heart will be glad indeed;
16 My inmost being will exult when your lips speak what is right.
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my inmost being will rejoice when your lips speak what is right.
17 Let not your heart envy sinners, but continue in the fear of the LORD all the day.
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Do not let your heart envy sinners, but always be zealous for the fear of the LORD.
18 Surely there is a future, and your hope will not be cut off.
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There is surely a future hope for you, and your hope will not be cut off.
19 Hear, my son, and be wise, and direct your heart in the way.
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Listen, my son, and be wise, and set your heart on the right path:
20 Be not among drunkards or among gluttonous eaters of meat,
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Do not join those who drink too much wine or gorge themselves on meat,
21 for the drunkard and the glutton will come to poverty, and slumber will clothe them with rags
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for drunkards and gluttons become poor, and drowsiness clothes them in rags.
22 Listen to your father who gave you life, and do not despise your mother when she is old.
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Listen to your father, who gave you life, and do not despise your mother when she is old.
23 Buy truth, and do not sell it; buy wisdom, instruction, and understanding.
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Buy the truth and do not sell it— wisdom, instruction and insight as well.
24 The father of the righteous will greatly rejoice; he who fathers a wise son will be glad in him.
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The father of a righteous child has great joy; a man who fathers a wise son rejoices in him.
25 Let your father and mother be glad; let her who bore you rejoice.
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May your father and mother rejoice; may she who gave you birth be joyful!
26 My son, give me your heart, and let your eyes observe my ways.
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My son, give me your heart and let your eyes delight in my ways,
27 For a prostitute is a deep pit; an adulteress is a narrow well.
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for an adulterous woman is a deep pit, and a wayward wife is a narrow well.
28 She lies in wait like a robber and increases the traitors among mankind.
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Like a bandit she lies in wait and multiplies the unfaithful among men.
29 Who has woe? Who has sorrow? Who has strife? Who has complaining? Who has wounds without cause? Who has redness of eyes?
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Who has woe? Who has sorrow? Who has strife? Who has complaints? Who has needless bruises? Who has bloodshot eyes?
30 Those who tarry long over wine; those who go to try mixed wine.
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Those who linger over wine, who go to sample bowls of mixed wine.
31 Do not look at wine when it is red, when it sparkles in the cup and goes down smoothly.
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Do not gaze at wine when it is red, when it sparkles in the cup, when it goes down smoothly!
32 In the end it bites like a serpent and stings like an adder.
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In the end it bites like a snake and poisons like a viper.
33 Your eyes will see strange things, and your heart utter perverse things.
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Your eyes will see strange sights, and your mind will imagine confusing things.
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.
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You will be like one sleeping on the high seas, lying on top of the rigging.
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 must have another drink."
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“They hit me,” you will say, “but I’m not hurt! They beat me, but I don’t feel it! When will I wake up so I can find another drink?”
The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.
Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NIV) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica. All rights reserved worldwide.