Proverbs 23:1-Proverbs 24:22 - Sayings Of The Wise

¹ When you sit to eat with a ruler, consider diligently what is before you; ² put a knife to your throat, if you are a man given to appetite. ³ Don't be desirous of his dainties, since they are deceitful food.

⁴ Don't weary yourself to be rich. In your wisdom, show restraint. ⁵ 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 the food of him who has a stingy eye, and don't crave his delicacies: ⁷ 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 The morsel which you have eaten you shall vomit up, and lose your good words.

⁹ Don't speak in the ears of a fool, for he will despise the wisdom of your words.

¹⁰ Don't move the ancient boundary stone. Don't encroach on the fields of the fatherless: ¹¹ for their Defender is strong. He will plead their case against you.

¹² Apply your heart to instruction, and your ears to the words of knowledge.

¹³ Don't withhold correction from a child. If you punish him with the rod, he will not die. ¹⁴ Punish him with the rod, and save his soul from Sheol.

¹⁵ My son, if your heart is wise, then my heart will be glad, even mine: ¹⁶ yes, my heart will rejoice, when your lips speak what is right.

¹⁷ Don't let your heart envy sinners; but rather fear Yahweh all the day long. ¹⁸ Indeed surely there is a future hope, and your hope will not be cut off.

¹⁹ Listen, my son, and be wise, and keep your heart on the right path! ²⁰ Don't be among ones drinking too much wine, or those who gorge themselves on meat: ²¹ 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. ²³ Buy the truth, and don't sell it. Get wisdom, discipline, and understanding. ²⁴ The father of the righteous has great joy. Whoever fathers a wise child delights in him. ²⁵ Let your father and your mother be glad! Let her who bore you rejoice!

²⁶ My son, give me your heart; and let your eyes keep in my ways. ²⁷ For a prostitute is a deep pit; and a wayward wife is a narrow well. ²⁸ Yes, she lies in wait like a robber, and increases the unfaithful among men.

²⁹ Who has woe? Who has sorrow? Who has strife? Who has complaints? Who has needless bruises? Who has bloodshot eyes? ³⁰ Those who stay long at the wine; those who go to seek out mixed wine. ³¹ Don't look at the wine when it is red, when it sparkles in the cup, when it goes down smoothly. ³² In the end, it bites like a snake, and poisons like a viper. ³³ Your eyes will see strange things, and your mind will imagine confusing things. ³⁴ 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 "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."

¹ Don't be envious of evil men; neither desire to be with them: ² for their hearts plot violence, and their lips talk about mischief.

³ Through wisdom a house is built; by understanding it is established; ⁴ by knowledge the rooms are filled with all rare and beautiful treasure.

⁵ A wise man has great power; and a knowledgeable man increases strength; ⁶ for by wise guidance you wage your war; and victory is in many advisors.

⁷ Wisdom is too high for a fool: he doesn't open his mouth in the gate.

⁸ One who plots to do evil will be called a schemer. ⁹ The schemes of folly are sin. The mocker is detested by men.

¹⁰ If you falter in the time of trouble, your strength is small. ¹¹ Rescue those who are being led away to death! Indeed, hold back those who are staggering to the slaughter! ¹² If you say, "Behold, we didn't know this;" doesn't he who weighs the hearts consider it? He who keeps your soul, doesn't he know it? Shall he not render to every man according to his work?

¹³ My son, eat honey, for it is good; the droppings of the honeycomb, which are sweet to your taste: ¹⁴ so you shall know wisdom to be to your soul; if you have found it, then there will be a reward, your hope will not be cut off.

¹⁵ Don't lay in wait, wicked man, against the habitation of the righteous. Don't destroy his resting place: ¹⁶ for a righteous man falls seven times, and rises up again; but the wicked are overthrown by calamity.

¹⁷ Don't rejoice when your enemy falls. Don't let your heart be glad when he is overthrown; ¹⁸ lest Yahweh see it, and it displease him, and he turn away his wrath from him.

¹⁹ Don't fret yourself because of evildoers; neither be envious of the wicked: ²⁰ for there will be no reward to the evil man; and the lamp of the wicked shall be snuffed out.

²¹ My son, fear Yahweh and the king. Don't join those who are rebellious: ²² for their calamity will rise suddenly; the destruction from them both -- who knows?