New Century Version NCV
New International Version NIV
1 If you sit down to eat with a ruler, notice the food that is in front of you.
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When you sit to dine with a ruler, note well what is before you,
2 Control yourself if you have a big appetite.
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and put a knife to your throat if you are given to gluttony.
3 Don't be greedy for his fine foods, because that food might be a trick.
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Do not crave his delicacies, for that food is deceptive.
4 Don't wear yourself out trying to get rich; be wise enough to control yourself
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Do not wear yourself out to get rich; do not trust your own cleverness.
5 Wealth can vanish in the wink of an eye. It can seem to grow wings and fly away like an eagle.
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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 Don't eat the food of selfish people; don't be greedy for their fine foods.
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Do not eat the food of a begrudging host, do not crave his delicacies;
7 Selfish people are always worrying about how much the food costs. They tell you, "Eat and drink," but they don't really mean it.
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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 throw up the little you have eaten, and you will have wasted your kind words.
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You will vomit up the little you have eaten and will have wasted your compliments.
9 Don't speak to fools; they will only ignore your wise words.
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Do not speak to fools, for they will scorn your prudent words.
10 Don't move an old stone that marks a border, and don't take fields that belong to orphans.
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Do not move an ancient boundary stone or encroach on the fields of the fatherless,
11 God, their defender, is strong; he will take their side against you.
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for their Defender is strong; he will take up their case against you.
12 Remember what you are taught, and listen carefully to words of knowledge.
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Apply your heart to instruction and your ears to words of knowledge.
13 Don't fail to punish children. If you spank them, they won't 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 spank them, you will save them from death
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Punish them with the rod and save them from death.
15 My child, if you are wise, then I will be happy.
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My son, if your heart is wise, then my heart will be glad indeed;
16 I will be so pleased if you speak what is right.
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my inmost being will rejoice when your lips speak what is right.
17 Don't envy sinners, but always respect the Lord.
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Do not let your heart envy sinners, but always be zealous for the fear of the LORD.
18 Then you will have hope for the future, and your wishes will come true.
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There is surely a future hope for you, and your hope will not be cut off.
19 Listen, my child, and be wise. Keep your mind on what is right
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Listen, my son, and be wise, and set your heart on the right path:
20 Don't drink too much wine or eat too much food.
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Do not join those who drink too much wine or gorge themselves on meat,
21 Those who drink and eat too much become poor. They sleep too much and end up wearing 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 forget 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 Learn the truth and never reject it. Get wisdom, self-control, and understanding.
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Buy the truth and do not sell it— wisdom, instruction and insight as well.
24 The father of a good child is very happy; parents who have wise children are glad because of them.
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The father of a righteous child has great joy; a man who fathers a wise son rejoices in him.
25 Make your father and mother happy; give your mother a reason to be glad.
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May your father and mother rejoice; may she who gave you birth be joyful!
26 My son, pay attention to me, and watch closely what I do.
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My son, give me your heart and let your eyes delight in my ways,
27 A prostitute is as dangerous as a deep pit, and an unfaithful wife is like a narrow well.
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for an adulterous woman is a deep pit, and a wayward wife is a narrow well.
28 They ambush you like robbers and cause many men to be unfaithful to their wives.
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Like a bandit she lies in wait and multiplies the unfaithful among men.
29 Who has trouble? Who has pain? Who has unnecessary bruises? Who has bloodshot 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 It is people who drink too much wine, who try out all different kinds of strong drinks.
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Those who linger over wine, who go to sample bowls of mixed wine.
31 Don't stare at the wine when it is red, when it sparkles in the cup, when it 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 Later it bites like a snake with poison in its fangs.
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In the end it bites like a snake and poisons like a viper.
33 Your eyes will see strange sights, and your mind will be confused.
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Your eyes will see strange sights, and your mind will imagine confusing things.
34 You will feel dizzy as if you're in a storm on the ocean, as if you're on top of a ship's sails.
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You will be like one sleeping on the high seas, lying on top of the rigging.
35 You will think, "They hit me, but I'm not hurt. They beat me up, but I don't remember it. I wish I could wake up. Then I would get 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?”
Scripture taken from the New Century Version. Copyright © 1987, 1988, 1991 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. 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.