Proverbs 23
1. When thou sittest * to eat * with a ruler * , consider * diligently * what is before thee:
2. And put * a knife to thy throat,if thou be a man given to appetite.
3. Be not desirous * of his dainties: for they are deceitful meat.
4. Labour * not to be rich * : cease * from thine own wisdom.
5. Wilt thou set * thine eyes upon that which is not? for riches certainly * make * themselves wings; they fly away * as an eagle toward heaven.
6. Eat * thou not the bread of him that hath an evil eye, neither desire * thou his dainty meats:
7. For as he thinketh * in his heart, so is he: Eat * and drink * , saith * he to thee; but his heart is not with thee.
8. The morsel which thou hast eaten * shalt thou vomit up * , and lose * thy sweet words.
9. Speak * not in the ears of a fool: for he will despise * the wisdom of thy words.
10. Remove * not the old landmark;and enter * not into the fields of the fatherless:
11. For their redeemer * is mighty; he shall plead * their cause with thee.
12. Apply * thine heart unto instruction, and thine ears to the words of knowledge.
13. Withhold * not correction from the child: for if thou beatest * him with the rod, he shall not die * .
14. Thou shalt beat * him with the rod, and shalt deliver * his soul from hell.
15. My son, if thine heart be wise * , my heart shall rejoice * , even mine.
16. Yea, my reins shall rejoice * , when thy lips speak * right things.
17. Let not thine heart envy * sinners: but be thou in the fear of the LORD all the day long.
18. For surely there is an end; and thine expectation shall not be cut off * .
19. Hear * thou, my son, and be wise * , and guide * thine heart in the way.
20. Be not among winebibbers * ; among riotous eaters * of flesh:
21. For the drunkard * and the glutton * shall come to poverty * : and drowsiness shall clothe * a man with rags.
22. Hearken * unto thy father that begat * thee, and despise * not thy mother when she is old * .
23. Buy * the truth, and sell * it not; also wisdom, and instruction, and understanding.
24. The father of the righteous shall greatly rejoice * : and he that begetteth * a wise child shall have joy * of him.
25. Thy father and thy mother shall be glad * , and she that bare * thee shall rejoice * .
26. My son, give * me thine heart,and let thine eyes observe * my ways.
27. For a whore * is a deep ditch; and a strange woman is a narrow pit.
28. She also lieth in wait * as for a prey, and increaseth * the transgressors * among men.
29. Who hath woe? who hath sorrow? who hath contentions? * who hath babbling?who hath wounds without cause? who hath redness of eyes?
30. They that tarry long * at the wine; they that go * to seek * mixed wine.
31. Look * not thou upon the wine when it is red * , when it giveth * his colour in the cup * , when it moveth * itself aright.
32. At the last it biteth * like a serpent, and stingeth * like an adder.
33. Thine eyes shall behold * strange women * , and thine heart shall utter * perverse things.
34. Yea, thou shalt be as he that lieth down * in the midst of the sea, or as he that lieth * upon the top of a mast.
35. They have stricken * me, shalt thou say, and I was not sick * ; they have beaten * me, and I felt * it not: when shall I awake * ? I will seek * it yet * again.
