New International Version NIV
New Revised Standard NRS
1 When you sit to dine with a ruler, note well 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 gluttony.
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and put a knife to your throat if you have a big appetite.
3 Do not crave his delicacies, for that food is deceptive.
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Do not desire the ruler's delicacies, for they are deceptive food.
4 Do not wear yourself out to get rich; do not trust your own cleverness.
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Do not wear yourself out to get rich; be wise enough to desist
5 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.
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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 food of a begrudging host, do not crave his delicacies;
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Do not eat the bread of the stingy; do not desire their delicacies;
7 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.
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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 little you have eaten and will have wasted your compliments.
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You will vomit up the little you have eaten, and you will waste your pleasant words.
9 Do not speak to fools, for they will scorn your prudent 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 boundary stone or encroach on 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 Defender is strong; he will take up their case 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 ears 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 punish them with the rod, they 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 Punish them with the rod and save them from death.
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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, then my heart will be glad indeed;
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My child, if your heart is wise, my heart too will be glad.
16 my inmost being will rejoice when your lips speak what is right.
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My soul will rejoice when your lips speak what is right.
17 Do not let your heart envy sinners, but always be zealous for the fear of the LORD.
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Do not let your heart envy sinners, but always continue in the fear of the Lord.
18 There is surely a future hope for you, 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 Listen, my son, and be wise, and set your heart on the right path:
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Hear, my child, and be wise, and direct your mind in the way
20 Do not join those who drink too much wine or gorge themselves on meat,
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Do not be among winebibbers, or among gluttonous eaters of meat;
21 for drunkards and gluttons become poor, and drowsiness clothes them in 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 the truth and do not sell it— wisdom, instruction and insight as well.
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Buy truth, and do not sell it; buy wisdom, instruction, and understanding.
24 The father of a righteous child has great joy; a man who fathers a wise son rejoices 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 May your father and mother rejoice; may she who gave you birth be joyful!
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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 delight in my ways,
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My child, give me your heart, and let your eyes observe my ways.
27 for an adulterous woman is a deep pit, and a wayward wife is a narrow well.
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For a prostitute is a deep pit; an adulteress is a narrow well.
28 Like a bandit she lies in wait and multiplies the unfaithful among men.
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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 complaints? Who has needless bruises? Who has bloodshot 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 linger over wine, who go to sample bowls of mixed wine.
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Those who linger late over wine, those who keep trying mixed wines.
31 Do not gaze at wine when it is red, when it sparkles in the cup, when it 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 snake and poisons like a viper.
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At the last it bites like a serpent, and stings like an adder.
33 Your eyes will see strange sights, and your mind will imagine confusing things.
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Your eyes will see strange things, and your mind utter perverse things.
34 You will be like one sleeping on the high seas, lying on top of the rigging.
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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 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?”
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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."
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.
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.