Revised Standard Version RSV
GOD'S WORD Translation GW
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, pay close attention to what is in front of you,
2 and put a knife to your throat if you are a man 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 crave his delicacies, because this is food that deceives you.
4 Do not toil to acquire wealth; be wise enough to desist
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Do not wear yourself out getting rich. Be smart enough to stop.
5 When your eyes light upon it, it is gone; for suddenly it takes to itself wings, flying like an eagle toward heaven.
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Will you catch only a fleeting glimpse of wealth before it is gone? It makes wings for itself like an eagle flying into the sky.
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 food of one who is stingy, and do not crave his delicacies.
7 for he is like one who is inwardly reckoning. "Eat and drink!" he says to you; but his heart is not with you.
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As he calculates the cost to himself, this is what he does: He tells you, "Eat and drink," but he doesn't really mean it.
8 You will vomit up the morsels which you have eaten, and waste your pleasant words.
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You will vomit the little bit you have eaten and spoil your pleasant conversation.
9 Do not speak in the hearing of a fool, for he will despise the wisdom of your words.
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Do not talk directly to a fool, because he will despise the wisdom of your words.
10 Do not remove an ancient landmark or enter the fields of the fatherless;
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Do not move an ancient boundary marker or enter fields that belong to orphans,
11 for their Redeemer is strong; he will plead their cause against you.
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because the one who is responsible for them is strong. He will plead their case against you.
12 Apply your mind to instruction and your ear to words of knowledge.
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Live a more disciplined life, and listen carefully to words of knowledge.
13 Do not withhold discipline from a child; if you beat him with a rod, he will not die.
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Do not hesitate to discipline a child. If you spank him, he will not die.
14 If you beat him with the rod you will save his life from Sheol
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Spank him yourself, and you will save his soul from hell.
15 My son, if your heart is wise, my heart too will be glad.
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My son, if you have a wise heart, my heart will rejoice as well.
16 My soul will rejoice when your lips speak what is right.
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My heart rejoices when you 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 envy sinners in your heart. Instead, continue to fear the LORD.
18 Surely there is a future, and your hope will not be cut off.
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There is indeed a future, and your hope will never be cut off.
19 Hear, my son, and be wise, and direct your mind in the way
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My son, listen, be wise, and keep your mind going in the right direction.
20 Be not among winebibbers, or among gluttonous eaters of meat;
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Do not associate with those who drink too much wine, with those who eat too much meat,
21 for the drunkard and the glutton will come to poverty, and drowsiness will clothe a man with rags
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because both a drunk and a glutton will become poor. Drowsiness will dress a person in rags.
22 Hearken to your father who begot you, and do not despise your mother when she is old.
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Listen to your father since you are his son, and do not despise your mother because 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), [that is,] buy wisdom, discipline, and understanding.
24 The father of the righteous will greatly rejoice; he who begets a wise son will be glad in him.
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A righteous person's father will certainly rejoice. Someone who has a wise son will enjoy him.
25 Let your father and mother be glad, let her who bore you rejoice.
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May your father and your mother be glad. May she who gave birth to you rejoice.
26 My son, give me your heart, and let your eyes observe my ways.
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My son, give me your heart. Let your eyes find happiness in my ways.
27 For a harlot is a deep pit; an adventuress is a narrow well.
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A prostitute is a deep pit. A loose woman is a narrow well.
28 She lies in wait like a robber and increases the faithless among men.
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She is like a robber, lying in ambush. She spreads unfaithfulness throughout society.
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 trouble? Who has misery? Who has quarrels? Who has a complaint? Who has wounds for no reason? Who has bloodshot eyes?
30 Those who tarry long over wine, those who go to try mixed wine.
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Those who drink glass after glass of wine and mix it with everything.
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 because it is red, because it sparkles in the cup, because it goes down smoothly.
32 At the last it bites like a serpent, and stings like an adder.
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Later it bites like a snake and strikes like a poisonous snake.
33 Your eyes will see strange things, and your mind utter perverse things.
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Your eyes will see strange sights, and your mouth will say embarrassing 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 someone lying down in the middle of the sea or like someone lying down on top of a ship's mast, saying,
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 will seek another drink."
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"They strike me, but I feel no pain. They beat me, but I'm not aware of it. Whenever I wake up, I'm going to look for another drink."
Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright 1952 [2nd edition, 1971] by the 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.
GOD'S WORD® is a copyrighted work of God's Word to the Nations. Copyright © 1995 by God's Word to the Nations. All rights reserved. Used by permission.