Revised Standard Version RSV
New International Version NIV
19 Hear, my son, and be wise, and direct your mind in the way
19
Listen, my son, and be wise, and set your heart on the right path:
20 Be not among winebibbers, or among gluttonous eaters of meat;
20
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 drowsiness will clothe a man with rags
21
for drunkards and gluttons become poor, and drowsiness clothes them in rags.
22 Hearken to your father who begot you, and do not despise your mother when she is old.
22
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.
23
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 begets a wise son will be glad in him.
24
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.
25
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.
26
My son, give me your heart and let your eyes delight in my ways,
27 For a harlot is a deep pit; an adventuress is a narrow well.
27
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 faithless among men.
28
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?
29
Who has woe? Who has sorrow? Who has strife? Who has complaints? Who has needless bruises? Who has bloodshot eyes?
Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright 1952 [2nd edition, 1971] by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
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.