Good News Translation GNT
World English Bible WEB
1 When you sit down to eat with someone important, keep in mind who he is.
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When you sit to eat with a ruler, Consider diligently what is before you;
2 If you have a big appetite, restrain yourself.
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Put a knife to your throat, If you are a man given to appetite.
3 Don't be greedy for the fine food he serves; he may be trying to trick you.
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Don't be desirous of his dainties, Seeing they are deceitful food.
4 Be wise enough not to wear yourself out trying to get rich
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Don't weary yourself to be rich. In your wisdom, show restraint
5 Your money can be gone in a flash, as if it had grown wings and flown away like an eagle.
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Why do you set your eyes on that which is not? For it certainly sprouts wings like an eagle and flies in the sky.
6 Don't eat at the table of a stingy person or be greedy for the fine food he serves.
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Don't eat the food of him who has a stingy eye, And don't crave his delicacies:
7 "Come on and have some more," he says, but he doesn't mean it. What he thinks is what he really is.
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For as he thinks about the cost, so he is. "Eat and drink!" he says to you, But his heart is not with you.
8 You will vomit up what you have eaten, and all your flattery will be wasted.
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The morsel which you have eaten you shall vomit up, And lose your good words.
9 Don't try to talk sense to a fool; he can't appreciate it.
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Don't speak in the ears of a fool, For he will despise the wisdom of your words.
10 Never move an old property line or take over land owned by orphans.
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Don't move the ancient boundary stone. Don't encroach on the fields of the fatherless:
11 The Lord is their powerful defender, and he will argue their case against you.
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For their Defender is strong. He will plead their case against you.
12 Pay attention to your teacher and learn all you can.
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Apply your heart to instruction, And your ears to the words of knowledge.
13 Don't hesitate to discipline children. A good spanking won't kill them.
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Don't withhold correction from a child. If you punish him with the rod, he will not die.
14 As a matter of fact, it may save their lives
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Punish him with the rod, And save his soul from Sheol
15 My child, if you become wise, I will be very happy.
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My son, if your heart is wise, Then my heart will be glad, even mine:
16 I will be proud when I hear you speaking words of wisdom.
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Yes, my heart will rejoice, When your lips speak what is right.
17 Don't be envious of sinful people; let reverence for the Lord be the concern of your life.
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Don't let your heart envy sinners; But rather fear Yahweh all the day long.
18 If it is, you have a bright future.
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Indeed surely there is a future hope, And your hope will not be cut off.
19 Listen, my child, be wise and give serious thought to the way you live
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Listen, my son, and be wise, And keep your heart on the right path
20 Don't associate with people who drink too much wine or stuff themselves with food.
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Don't be among ones drinking too much wine, Or those who gorge themselves on meat:
21 Drunkards and gluttons will be reduced to poverty. If all you do is eat and sleep, you will soon be wearing rags
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For the drunkard and the glutton shall become poor; And drowsiness clothes them in rags
22 Listen to your father; without him you would not exist. When your mother is old, show her your appreciation.
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Listen to your father who gave you life, And don't despise your mother when she is old.
23 Truth, wisdom, learning, and good sense - these are worth paying for, but too valuable for you to sell.
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Buy the truth, and don't sell it: Get wisdom, discipline, and understanding.
24 A righteous person's parents have good reason to be happy. You can take pride in a wise child.
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The father of the righteous has great joy. Whoever fathers a wise child delights in him.
25 Let your father and mother be proud of you; give your mother that happiness.
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Let your father and your mother be glad! Let her who bore you rejoice!
26 Pay close attention, son, and let my life be your example.
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My son, give me your heart; And let your eyes keep in my ways.
27 Prostitutes and immoral women are a deadly trap.
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For a prostitute is a deep pit; And a wayward wife is a narrow well.
28 They wait for you like robbers and cause many men to be unfaithful.
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Yes, she lies in wait like a robber, And increases the unfaithful among men.
29 Show me people who drink too much, who have to try out fancy drinks, and I will show you people who are miserable and sorry for themselves, always causing trouble and always complaining. Their eyes are bloodshot, and they have bruises that could have been avoided.
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Who has woe? Who has sorrow? Who has strife? Who has complaints? Who has needless bruises? Who has bloodshot eyes?
31 Don't let wine tempt you, even though it is rich red, and it sparkles in the cup, and it goes down smoothly.
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Don't look at the wine when it is red, When it sparkles in the cup, When it goes down smoothly:
32 The next morning you will feel as if you had been bitten by a poisonous snake.
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At the last it bites like a snake, And poisons like a viper.
33 Weird sights will appear before your eyes, and you will not be able to think or speak clearly.
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Your eyes will see strange things, And your mind will imagine confusing things.
34 You will feel as if you were out on the ocean, seasick, swinging high up in the rigging of a tossing ship.
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Yes, you will be as he who lies down in the midst of the sea, Or as he who lies on top of the rigging:
35 "I must have been hit," you will say; "I must have been beaten up, but I don't remember it. Why can't I wake up? I need another drink."
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"They hit me, and I was not hurt; They beat me, and I don't feel it! When will I wake up? I can do it again. I can find another."