English Standard Version ESV
New Revised Standard NRS
1 When you sit down to eat with a ruler, observe carefully what is before you,
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When you sit down to eat with a ruler, observe carefully 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 have a big appetite.
3 Do not desire his delicacies, for they are deceptive food.
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Do not desire the ruler's delicacies, for they are deceptive food.
4 Do not toil to acquire wealth; be discerning enough to desist.
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Do not wear yourself out to get rich; be wise enough to desist
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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When your eyes light upon it, it is gone; for suddenly it takes wings to itself, flying like an eagle toward heaven.
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 bread of the stingy; do not desire their 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 like a hair in the throat, so are they. "Eat and drink!" they say to you; but they do not mean it.
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 you will waste your pleasant words.
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 in the hearing of a fool, who will only despise the wisdom of your words.
10 Do not move an ancient landmark or enter the fields of the fatherless,
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Do not remove an ancient landmark or encroach on the fields of orphans,
11 for their Redeemer is strong; he will plead their cause against you.
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for their redeemer is strong; he will plead their cause against you.
12 Apply your heart to instruction and your ear to words of knowledge.
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Apply your mind to instruction and your ear 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 your children; if you beat them with a rod, they will not die.
14 If you strike him with the rod, you will save his soul from Sheol.
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If you beat them with the rod, you will save their lives from Sheol
15 My son, if your heart is wise, my heart too will be glad.
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My child, if your heart is wise, my heart too will be glad.
16 My inmost being will exult when your lips speak what is right.
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My soul 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 continue in the fear of the Lord.
18 Surely there is a future, and your hope will not be cut off.
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Surely there is a future, 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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Hear, my child, and be wise, and direct your mind in the way
20 Be not among drunkards or among gluttonous eaters of meat,
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Do not be among winebibbers, or among gluttonous eaters of meat;
21 for the drunkard and the glutton will come to poverty, and slumber will clothe them with rags.
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for the drunkard and the glutton will come to poverty, and drowsiness will clothe them with 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 begot you, 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 truth, and do not sell it; buy wisdom, instruction, and understanding.
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 the righteous will greatly rejoice; he who begets a wise son will be glad in him.
25 Let your father and mother be glad; let her who bore you rejoice.
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Let your father and mother be glad; let her who bore you rejoice.
26 My son, give me your heart, and let your eyes observe my ways.
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My child, give me your heart, and let your eyes observe my ways.
27 For a prostitute is a deep pit; an adulteress is a narrow well.
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For a prostitute is a deep pit; an adulteress is a narrow well.
28 She lies in wait like a robber and increases the traitors among mankind.
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She lies in wait like a robber and increases the number of the faithless.
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 complaining? Who has wounds without cause? Who has redness of eyes?
30 Those who tarry long over wine; those who go to try mixed wine.
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Those who linger late over wine, those who keep trying mixed wines.
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 look at wine when it is red, when it sparkles in the cup and goes down smoothly.
32 In the end it bites like a serpent and stings like an adder.
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At the last it bites like a serpent, and stings like an adder.
33 Your eyes will see strange things, and your heart utter perverse things.
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Your eyes will see strange things, and your mind utter perverse 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 who lies down in the midst of the sea, like one who lies on the top of a mast.
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 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."
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®) © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. All rights reserved. ESV Text Edition: 2025
New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, 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.