New Living Translation NLT
The Complete Jewish Bible CJB
1 While dining with a ruler, pay attention to what is put before you.
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When you sit down to dine with a ruler, think carefully about who is before you.
2 If you are a big eater, put a knife to your throat;
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If you have a big appetite, put a knife to your throat!
3 don’t desire all the delicacies, for he might be trying to trick you.
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Don't be greedy for his delicacies, for they are deceptive food.
4 Don’t wear yourself out trying to get rich. Be wise enough to know when to quit.
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Don't exhaust yourself in pursuit of wealth; be smart enough to desist
5 In the blink of an eye wealth disappears, for it will sprout wings and fly away like an eagle.
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If you make your eyes rush at it, it's no longer there! For wealth will surely grow wings, like an eagle flying off to the sky.
6 Don’t eat with people who are stingy; don’t desire their delicacies.
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Don't eat the food of a stingy man; don't be greedy for his delicacies.
7 They are always thinking about how much it costs. “Eat and drink,” they say, but they don’t mean it.
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For he is like someone who keeps accounts -"Eat! Drink!" he says to you, but he doesn't really mean it.
8 You will throw up what little you’ve eaten, and your compliments will be wasted.
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The little you eat you will vomit up, and your compliments will have been wasted.
9 Don’t waste your breath on fools, for they will despise the wisest advice.
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Don't speak in the ears of a fool, for he will only despise the common sense in your words.
10 Don’t cheat your neighbor by moving the ancient boundary markers; don’t take the land of defenseless orphans.
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Don't move the ancient boundary stone or encroach on the land of the fatherless;
11 For their Redeemer is strong; he himself will bring their charges against you.
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for their Redeemer is strong; he will take up their fight against you.
12 Commit yourself to instruction; listen carefully to words of knowledge.
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Apply your mind to discipline and your ears to words of knowledge.
13 Don’t fail to discipline your children. The rod of punishment won’t kill them.
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Don't withhold discipline from a child -if you beat him with a stick, he won't die!
14 Physical discipline may well save them from death.
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If you beat him with a stick, you will save him from Sh'ol
15 My child, if your heart is wise, my own heart will rejoice!
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My son, if your heart is wise, then my own heart too is glad;
16 Everything in me will celebrate when you speak what is right.
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my inmost being rejoices when your lips say what is right.
17 Don’t envy sinners, but always continue to fear the LORD .
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Don't envy sinners, but follow the example of those who always fear God;
18 You will be rewarded for this; your hope will not be disappointed.
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for then you will have a future; what you hope for will not be cut off.
19 My child, listen and be wise: Keep your heart on the right course.
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You, my son: listen, be wise, and set your mind on the right way
20 Do not carouse with drunkards or feast with gluttons,
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Don't be one of those who guzzle wine or of those who eat meat to excess,
21 for they are on their way to poverty, and too much sleep clothes them in rags.
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for both drunkard and glutton will become poor -drowsiness will clothe them with rags
22 Listen to your father, who gave you life, and don’t despise your mother when she is old.
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Listen to your father, who gave you life; and don't despise your mother when she gets old.
23 Get the truth and never sell it; also get wisdom, discipline, and good judgment.
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Buy the truth, don't sell it, also wisdom, discipline and discernment.
24 The father of godly children has cause for joy. What a pleasure to have children who are wise.
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A righteous person's father will be filled with joy; yes, he whose son is wise will rejoice in him.
25 So give your father and mother joy! May she who gave you birth be happy.
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So let your father and mother be glad; let her who gave you birth rejoice.
26 O my son, give me your heart. May your eyes take delight in following my ways.
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My son, give me your heart; let your eyes observe my ways.
27 A prostitute is a dangerous trap; a promiscuous woman is as dangerous as falling into a narrow well.
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A prostitute is a deep ditch, and a forbidden woman like a narrow well.
28 She hides and waits like a robber, eager to make more men unfaithful.
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She lies in wait to snatch her prey and adds to the number of faithless men.
29 Who has anguish? Who has sorrow? Who is always fighting? Who is always complaining? Who has unnecessary bruises? Who has bloodshot eyes?
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Who has misery? Who has regret? Who fights and complains all the time? Who gets bruised for no good reason? Who has bloodshot eyes?
30 It is the one who spends long hours in the taverns, trying out new drinks.
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Those who spend their time over wine, those always trying out mixed drinks.
31 Don’t gaze at the wine, seeing how red it is, how it sparkles in the cup, how smoothly it goes down.
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Don't gaze at the red wine as it gives its color to the cup. It may glide down smoothly now;
32 For in the end it bites like a poisonous snake; it stings like a viper.
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but in the end, it bites like a serpent -yes, it strikes like a poisonous snake.
33 You will see hallucinations, and you will say crazy things.
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Your eyes will see peculiar things, your mind will utter nonsense.
34 You will stagger like a sailor tossed at sea, clinging to a swaying mast.
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You will feel as if lying on the waves of the sea or sprawled on top of the mast -
35 And you will say, “They hit me, but I didn’t feel it. I didn’t even know it when they beat me up. When will I wake up so I can look for another drink?”
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"They hit me, but I didn't feel it! They beat me up, and I didn't even know it! When will I wake up? . . . I'll go get another drink."
Holy Bible. New Living Translation copyright© 1996, 2004, 2007, 2013 by
Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Complete Jewish Bible Copyright 1998 by David H. Stern. Published by Jewish New Testament Publications, Inc. All rights reserved. Used by permission.