Proverbs 23 - Evangelical Heritage Version (EHV)

23 When you sit down to eat with a ruler,
pay close attention to what is put in front of you,
2 and put a knife to your throat if you have a big appetite.
3 Do not crave his delicious food.
That food is deceptive.

4 Do not wear yourself out getting rich.
Have the good judgment to know when to stop.
5 Will your eyes get a glimpse of wealth before it is gone?
No, it will sprout wings for itself.
Like an eagle it will fly away into the sky.

6 Do not eat the food of a miser.
Do not crave his delicious food,
7 because he is calculating how much things cost him.
So when he says to you, “Eat and drink,”
he does not mean it.
8 You will vomit up the little bit you ate
and spoil your pleasant conversation.

9 Do not speak within earshot of a fool,
because he will despise your sensible words.

10 Do not move an ancient boundary marker,
and do not enter the fields of the fatherless,
11 because their Redeemer is strong.
He will defend their cause against you.

12 Apply your heart to discipline
and your ear to words that give knowledge.

13 Do not withhold discipline from a child,
for if you strike him with a rod, he will not die.
14 Strike him yourself with a rod,
and you will rescue his soul from death.

15 My son, if your mind[a] is wise,
my mind will rejoice as well.
16 My heart[b] will celebrate
when your lips speak upright things.

17 Do not allow your heart to envy sinners.
Instead, always fear the Lord.
18 Indeed, there is a future,
and your hope will never be cut off.

19 Listen, my son, and be wise,
and keep your heart on the straight way.
20 Do not be among those who drink too much wine,
or those who eat too much meat,
21 because a drunk and a glutton will become poor,
and drunken stupor dresses a person in rags.

22 Listen to your father, who gave you life,
and do not despise your mother when she is old.
23 Buy truth and do not sell it.
Buy wisdom, discipline, and knowledge.
24 The father of a righteous child will celebrate greatly.
One who fathers a wise son will find joy in him.
25 Your father and your mother will find joy,
and she who gave birth to you will celebrate.

26 My son, give me your heart,
and let your eyes be pleased with my ways,
27 because a prostitute is a deep pit,
and an immoral woman is a narrow well.
28 She is also like a robber waiting to ambush someone,
and she multiplies unfaithful men among the people.

29 Who has trouble? Who has misery?
Who has quarrels? Who has complaints?
Who has wounds for no reason? Who has glazed eyes?
30 Those who linger over wine,
those who go to search for mixed wine.
31 Do not look at wine when it is red,
when it sparkles in the cup,
when it goes down smoothly.
32 Later it bites like a snake,
and it strikes like a venomous viper.
33 Your eyes will see strange things,
and your mind will say senseless things.
34 You will be like someone who tries to sleep in the middle of the sea,
like someone who tries to sleep at the top of a ship’s mast.
35 “They struck me, but I felt no pain.
They beat me, but I was not aware of it.
When will I wake up, so that I can try it again?”

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 23:15 Literally heart
  2. Proverbs 23:16 Literally kidneys

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Proverbs 23 - Young's Literal Translation (YLT)

23 When thou sittest to eat with a ruler, Thou considerest diligently that which [is] before thee, 2 And thou hast put a knife to thy throat, If thou [art] a man of appetite. 3 Have no desire to his dainties, seeing it [is] lying food. 4 Labour not to make wealth, From thine own understanding cease,...
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Proverbs 23 - Wycliffe Bible (WYC)

23 When thou sittest to eat with the prince, perceive thou diligently what things be set before thy face, 2 and set thou a coulter in thy throat. If nevertheless thou hast power on thy soul, (and set thou a knife at thy own throat, if thou hast not power over thy self.) 3 desire thou not of his meat...
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Proverbs 23 - World English Bible (WEB)

23 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...
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Proverbs 23 - The Voice (VOICE)

23 When sitting down to eat with a ruler, take a moment to think about who you are with and what you are doing.2 If you are the type who eats too much too fast, do whatever is necessary to curb your enthusiasm for food.3 Also, do not eye the ruler’s delicacies, for the food may not be what it seems....
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Proverbs 23 - Tree of Life Version (TLV)

Advice About Appetites23 When you sit down to dine with a ruler,consider carefully what is set before you,2 and put a knife to your throatif you possess a large appetite.3 Do not crave his delicacies,for that food is deceptive. 4 Do not wear yourself out to get rich.Be wise enough to restrain yourse...
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Proverbs 23 - Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (RSVCE)

23 When you sit down to eat with a ruler, observe carefully what[a] is before you;2 and put a knife to your throat if you are a man given to appetite.3 Do not desire his delicacies, for they are deceptive food.4 Do not toil to acquire wealth; be wise enough to desist.5 When your eyes light upon it, ...
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Proverbs 23 - Revised Standard Version (RSV)

23 When you sit down to eat with a ruler, observe carefully what[a] is before you;2 and put a knife to your throat if you are a man given to appetite.3 Do not desire his delicacies, for they are deceptive food.4 Do not toil to acquire wealth; be wise enough to desist.5 When your eyes light upon it, ...
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Proverbs 23 - New Revised Standard Version, Anglicised (NRSVA)

23 When you sit down to eat with a ruler, observe carefully what[a] is before you,2 and put a knife to your throat if you have a big appetite.3 Do not desire the ruler’s[b] delicacies, for they are deceptive food.4 Do not wear yourself out to get rich; be wise enough to desist.5 When your eyes light...
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Proverbs 23 - New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

23 When you sit down to eat with an official, observe carefully what[a] is before you,2 and put a knife to your throat if you have a big appetite.3 Do not desire an official’s[b] delicacies, for they are deceptive food.(A)4 Do not wear yourself out to get rich; be wise enough to desist.(B)5 When you...
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Proverbs 23 - New Living Translation (NLT)

23 While dining with a ruler, pay attention to what is put before you.2 If you are a big eater, put a knife to your throat;3 don’t desire all the delicacies, for he might be trying to trick you. 4 Don’t wear yourself out trying to get rich. Be wise enough to know when to quit.5 In the blink of an ey...
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Proverbs 23 - New Life Version (NLV)

23 When you sit down to eat with a ruler, think about what is in front of you. 2 Put a knife to your neck if you are a man who is given to much eating. 3 Do not desire his special foods, for they are put there for no good reason. 4 Do not work hard to be rich. Stop trying to get things for yoursel...
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Proverbs 23 - New King James Version (NKJV)

Listen to Your Father23 When you sit down to eat with a ruler,Consider carefully what is before you;2 And put a knife to your throatIf you are a man given to appetite.3 Do not desire his delicacies,For they are deceptive food. 4 (A)Do not overwork to be rich;(B)Because of your own understanding, cea...
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Proverbs 23 - New International Version - UK (NIVUK)

Saying 723 When you sit to dine with a ruler, note well what[a] is before you,2 and put a knife to your throat if you are given to gluttony.3 Do not crave his delicacies, for that food is deceptive. Saying 84 Do not wear yourself out to get rich; do not trust your own cleverness.5 Cast but a glance ...
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Proverbs 23 - New International Version (NIV)

Saying 723 When you sit to dine with a ruler, note well what[a] is before you,2 and put a knife to your throat if you are given to gluttony.3 Do not crave his delicacies,(A) for that food is deceptive. Saying 84 Do not wear yourself out to get rich; do not trust your own cleverness.5 Cast but a glan...
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Proverbs 23 - New International Reader's Version (NIRV)

Saying 723 When you sit down to eat with a ruler, look carefully at what’s in front of you.2 Put a knife to your throat if you like to eat too much.3 Don’t long for his fancy food. It can fool you. Saying 84 Don’t wear yourself out to get rich. Don’t trust how wise you think you are.5 When you take ...
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Proverbs 23 - New English Translation (NET)

23 When you sit down to eat with a ruler,consider carefully[a] what[b] is before you,2 and put a knife to your throat[c]if you possess a large appetite.[d]3 Do not crave that ruler’s[e] delicacies,for[f] that food is deceptive.[g]4 Do not wear yourself out to become rich;be wise enough to restrain y...
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