New Living Translation NLT
Hebrew Names Version HNV
1 While dining with a ruler, pay attention to what is put before you.
1
When you sit to eat with a ruler, Consider diligently what is before you;
2 If you are a big eater, put a knife to your throat;
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Put a knife to your throat, If you are a man given to appetite.
3 don’t desire all the delicacies, for he might be trying to trick you.
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Don't be desirous of his dainties, Seeing they are deceitful 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 weary yourself to be rich. In your wisdom, show restraint
5 In the blink of an eye wealth disappears, for it will sprout wings and fly 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 with people who are stingy; don’t desire their delicacies.
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Don't eat the food of him who has a stingy eye, And don't crave 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 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 throw up what little you’ve eaten, and your compliments 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 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 despise the wisdom of 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. Don't encroach on the fields of the fatherless:
11 For their Redeemer is strong; he himself will bring their charges against you.
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For their Defender is strong. He will plead their case against you.
12 Commit yourself to instruction; listen carefully to words of knowledge.
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Apply your heart to instruction, And your ears to the 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 correction from a child. If you punish him with the rod, he will not die.
14 Physical discipline may well save them from death.
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Punish him with the rod, And save his soul from She'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 heart will be glad, even mine:
16 Everything in me will celebrate when you speak what is right.
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Yes, my heart will rejoice, When your lips speak what is right.
17 Don’t envy sinners, but always continue to fear the LORD .
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Don't let your heart envy sinners; But rather fear the LORD all the day long.
18 You will be rewarded for this; your hope will not be disappointed.
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Indeed surely there is a future hope, And your hope will not be cut off.
19 My child, listen and be wise: Keep your heart on the right course.
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Listen, my son, and be wise, And keep your heart on the right path
20 Do not carouse with drunkards or feast with gluttons,
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Don't be among ones drinking too much wine, Or those who gorge themselves on meat:
21 for they are on their way to poverty, and too much sleep clothes them in 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, 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 is old.
23 Get the truth and never sell it; also get wisdom, discipline, and good judgment.
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Buy the truth, and don't sell it: Get wisdom, discipline, and understanding.
24 The father of godly children has cause for joy. What a pleasure to have children who are wise.
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The father of the righteous has great joy. Whoever fathers a wise child delights in him.
25 So give your father and mother joy! May she who gave you birth be happy.
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Let your father and your mother be glad! Let her who bore you 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; And let your eyes keep in 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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For a prostitute is a deep pit; And a wayward wife is a narrow well.
28 She hides and waits like a robber, eager to make more men unfaithful.
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Yes, she lies in wait like a robber, And increases the unfaithful among 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 woe? Who has sorrow? Who has strife? Who has complaints? Who has needless bruises? 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 stay long at the wine; Those who go to seek out mixed wine.
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 look at the wine when it is red, When it sparkles in the cup, When it goes down smoothly:
32 For in the end it bites like a poisonous snake; it stings like a viper.
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At the last it bites like a snake, And poisons like a viper.
33 You will see hallucinations, and you will say crazy things.
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Your eyes will see strange things, And your mind will imagine confusing things.
34 You will stagger like a sailor tossed at sea, clinging to a swaying mast.
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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 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?”
35
"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."
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.
The Hebrew Names Version is in the public domain.