Proverbs 23 - Expanded Bible (EXB)

23 ·If [or When] you sit down to eat with a ruler,
notice ·the food that [L what] is in front of you.
2 ·Control yourself [L Place a knife at your throat]
·if you have a big [or to control your] appetite.
3 Don’t ·be greedy [long] for his fine foods,
because that food might be ·a trick [false; deceptive].

4 Don’t wear yourself out trying to get rich;
be wise enough to ·control [stop] yourself.
5 ·Wealth can vanish in the wink of an eye [L Your eye can fly to it and it will be gone].
It can seem to grow wings
and fly away like an eagle.

6 Don’t eat the food of ·selfish [stingy; L evil eye] people;
don’t ·be greedy [long] for their ·fine foods [delicacies].
7 ·Selfish people are always worrying
about how much the food costs [L They calculate in their minds; or They are like a hair in the throat].
They tell you, “Eat and drink,”
but ·they don’t really mean it [L their heart is not with you].
8 You will ·throw up [vomit] the ·little [L crust] you have eaten,
and you will have wasted your ·kind [pleasant] words.

9 Don’t speak in the ears of fools [Matt. 7:6];
they will only ·ignore [despise] your ·wise [insightful] words.

10 Don’t move an ·old stone that marks a border [ancient boundary marker; 22:28],
and don’t ·take [invade] fields that belong to orphans.
11 God, their ·defender [redeemer], is strong;
he will ·take their side [bring charges; make accusations] against you.

12 ·Remember what you are taught [L Bring your heart to discipline/instruction],
·and listen carefully [L your ear] to words of knowledge.

13 Don’t ·fail to punish [L withhold instruction/discipline from] children.
If you ·spank them [L strike them with a rod], they won’t die.
14 If you ·spank them [L strike them with a rod],
you will save ·them from death [L their lives from Sheol/the grave].

15 My child, if ·you are [L your heart is] wise,
then ·I [L my heart] will be happy.
16 ·I will be so pleased [L My inmost being will rejoice]
if you speak ·what is right [with integrity].

17 Don’t let your heart envy sinners [Ps. 73],
but always ·respect [fear; 1:7] the Lord.
18 Then you will have a future,
and your ·wishes [hopes] will ·come true [L not be cut off].

19 Listen, my child, and be wise.
Keep your ·mind on what is right [L heart straight on the path].
20 Don’t ·drink too much [get drunk on] wine
or ·eat too much food [L stuff yourself with meat].
21 Those who ·drink [get drunk] and ·eat too much [stuff themselves] ·become poor [lose possessions].
They ·sleep too much [or are in a stupor] and end up wearing rags.

22 Listen to your father, who ·gave you life [begot you],
and do not ·forget [despise] your mother when she is old.
23 ·Learn [L Buy; Acquire] the truth and never ·reject [L sell] it.
·Get [Buy; Acquire] wisdom, ·self-control [instruction; discipline], and understanding.
24 The father of a ·good [righteous] child is very happy;
parents who have wise children are glad because of them.
25 Make your father and mother happy;
give ·your mother [L the one who bore you] a reason to be glad.

26 My son, ·pay attention [L give your heart] to me,
and ·watch closely what I do [let your eyes watch/or delight in my path].
27 A prostitute is as dangerous as a deep pit,
and an ·unfaithful wife [L foreign woman] is like a narrow well.
28 They ambush you like robbers
and cause many men to be unfaithful to their wives.

29 Who ·has trouble [L cries “Woe!”]? Who ·has pain [L cries “Alas!”]?
Who ·fights [has conflicts]? Who complains?
Who has unnecessary bruises?
Who has ·bloodshot [glazed] eyes?
30 It is people who ·drink too much [L linger over] wine,
who ·try out all different kinds of strong drinks [L go in search of the mixing vessel].
31 Don’t stare at the wine when it is red,
when it sparkles in the cup,
when it goes down smoothly.
32 Later it bites like a snake
with poison ·in its fangs [L like a viper].
33 Your eyes will see strange sights,
and your ·mind will be confused [L heart will speak perverse things].
34 You will ·feel dizzy as if you’re in a storm on [L be like one who lies down in the heart of] the ocean,
as if you’re on top of a ship’s ·sails [mast].
35 You will think, “They hit me, but ·I’m not hurt [L I feel no pain].
They beat me up, but I don’t ·remember [know] it.
I wish I could wake up.
Then I would ·get another drink [L look for it].”

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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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