Proverbs 23:12-Proverbs 24:22 - Learning From Your Father
12 Learn diligently, and listen to words of knowledge.
13 Don't withhold discipline from a child; if you punish him with a rod, he won't die. 14 Punish him with a rod, and you will rescue his soul from Sheol.
15 My son, if your heart is wise, my own heart will greatly rejoice. 16 My innermost being will be glad when your lips speak what is right.
17 Never let yourself envy sinners; instead, remain in fear of the LORD every day, 18 for there is surely a future life, and what you hope for will not be cut off.
19 Listen, my son, and be wise, commit yourself to live God's way. 20 Don't associate with heavy drinkers or dine with gluttons, 21 because drunks and gluttons tend to become poor, and drowsiness will clothe them in rags.
22 Listen to the one who fathered you, and don't despise your mother in her old age. 23 Purchase truth, but don't sell it; store up wisdom, instruction, and understanding. 24 The father of a righteous person will greatly rejoice; whoever fathers a wise son will be glad because of him. 25 Let your father and mother rejoice; make the one who gave birth to you happy.
26 Give me your heart, my son, and keep your eyes fixed on my ways, 27 because a prostitute is a deep pit, and the adulterous woman a narrow well. 28 Surely she lies in wait like a bandit, increasing those who are faithless among mankind.
29 Who has woe? Who has grief? Who has contention? Who has complaints? Who has wounds without cause? Who has bloodshot eyes? 30 Those who linger over their wine, who consume mixed drinks. 31 Don't stare into red wine, when it sparkles in the cup and goes down smoothly. 32 Eventually it will bite like a snake and sting like a serpent. 33 Your eyes will see strange things, and with slurred words you'll speak what you really believe. 34 You will be like someone who lies down in the sea, or like someone who sleeps on top of a mast. 35 "They struck me," you will say, "but I never felt it. They beat me, but I never knew it When will I wake up? I want another drink."
1 Don't be envious of wicked men or wish you were with them, 2 because they plan violence, and they are always talking about trouble.
3 By wisdom a house is built; it is made secure through understanding. 4 By knowledge its rooms are furnished with all sorts of expensive and beautiful goods.
5 A wise man is strong, and a knowledgeable man grows in strength. 6 For through wise counsel you will wage your war, and victory lies in an abundance of advisors.
7 Wisdom lies beyond reach of the fool; he has nothing to say in court.
8 The person who plans on doing evil will be called a schemer. 9 To devise folly is sin, and people detest a scoffer.
10 If you grow weary when times are troubled, your strength is limited. 11 Rescue those who are being led away to death, and save those who stumble toward slaughter. 12 If you say, "Look here, we didn't know about this," doesn't God, who examines motives, discern it? Doesn't the one who guards your soul know about it? Won't he repay each person according to what he has done?
13 My son, eat honey, because it's good for you; indeed, drippings from the honeycomb are sweet to your taste; 14 Keep in mind that wisdom is like that for your soul; if you find it, there will be a future for you, and what you hope for won't be cut short.
15 Don't lie in wait like an outlaw to attack where the righteous live; 16 for though a righteous man falls seven times, he will rise again, but the wicked stumble into calamity.
17 Don't rejoice when your enemy falls; don't let yourself be glad when he stumbles. 18 Otherwise the LORD will observe and disapprove, and he will turn his anger away from him.
19 Don't be anxious about those who practice evil, and don't be envious of the wicked. 20 For the wicked man has no future; the lamp of the wicked will be extinguished.
21 My son, fear both the LORD and the king, and don't keep company with rebels. 22 They will be destroyed suddenly, and who knows what kind of punishment will come from these two?