Proverbs 23 - New International Version (NIV)

Saying 7

23 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 8

4 Do not wear yourself out to get rich;
do not trust your own cleverness.
5 Cast but a glance at riches, and they are gone,(B)
for they will surely sprout wings
and fly off to the sky like an eagle.(C)

Saying 9

6 Do not eat the food of a begrudging host,
do not crave his delicacies;(D)
7 for he is the kind of person
who is always thinking about the cost.[b]
“Eat and drink,” he says to you,
but his heart is not with you.
8 You will vomit up the little you have eaten
and will have wasted your compliments.

Saying 10

9 Do not speak to fools,
for they will scorn your prudent words.(E)

Saying 11

10 Do not move an ancient boundary stone(F)
or encroach on the fields of the fatherless,
11 for their Defender(G) is strong;(H)
he will take up their case against you.(I)

Saying 12

12 Apply your heart to instruction(J)
and your ears to words of knowledge.

Saying 13

13 Do not withhold discipline from a child;
if you punish them with the rod, they will not die.
14 Punish them with the rod
and save them from death.(K)

Saying 14

15 My son, if your heart is wise,
then my heart will be glad indeed;
16 my inmost being will rejoice
when your lips speak what is right.(L)

Saying 15

17 Do not let your heart envy(M) sinners,
but always be zealous for the fear of the Lord.
18 There is surely a future hope for you,
and your hope will not be cut off.(N)

Saying 16

19 Listen, my son,(O) and be wise,
and set your heart on the right path:
20 Do not join those who drink too much wine(P)
or gorge themselves on meat,
21 for drunkards and gluttons become poor,(Q)
and drowsiness clothes them in rags.

Saying 17

22 Listen to your father, who gave you life,
and do not despise your mother when she is old.(R)
23 Buy the truth and do not sell it—
wisdom, instruction and insight as well.(S)
24 The father of a righteous child has great joy;
a man who fathers a wise son rejoices in him.(T)
25 May your father and mother rejoice;
may she who gave you birth be joyful!(U)

Saying 18

26 My son,(V) give me your heart
and let your eyes delight in my ways,(W)
27 for an adulterous woman is a deep pit,(X)
and a wayward wife is a narrow well.
28 Like a bandit she lies in wait(Y)
and multiplies the unfaithful among men.

Saying 19

29 Who has woe? Who has sorrow?
Who has strife? Who has complaints?
Who has needless bruises? Who has bloodshot eyes?
30 Those who linger over wine,(Z)
who go to sample bowls of mixed wine.
31 Do not gaze at 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 sights,
and your mind will imagine confusing things.
34 You will be like one sleeping on the high seas,
lying on top of the rigging.
35 “They hit me,” you will say, “but I’m not hurt!
They beat me, but I don’t feel it!
When will I wake up
so I can find another drink?”(AA)

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 23:1 Or who
  2. Proverbs 23:7 Or for as he thinks within himself, / so he is; or for as he puts on a feast, / so he is

Cross references

  1. Proverbs 23:3 : ver 6-8; Ps 141:4
  2. Proverbs 23:5 : S Mt 6:19
  3. Proverbs 23:5 : Pr 27:24
  4. Proverbs 23:6 : ver 1-3; Ps 141:4
  5. Proverbs 23:9 : S Pr 9:7
  6. Proverbs 23:10 : S Dt 19:14
  7. Proverbs 23:11 : S Job 19:25
  8. Proverbs 23:11 : Ps 24:8
  9. Proverbs 23:11 : Ex 22:22-24; Pr 15:25; 22:22-23
  10. Proverbs 23:12 : S Pr 2:2
  11. Proverbs 23:14 : S Pr 13:24; S 19:18
  12. Proverbs 23:16 : ver 24; Pr 27:11; 29:3
  13. Proverbs 23:17 : S Ps 37:1; S 73:3
  14. Proverbs 23:18 : S Ps 9:18; 37:1-4; Pr 24:14, 19-20
  15. Proverbs 23:19 : Dt 4:9; Pr 28:7
  16. Proverbs 23:20 : Isa 5:11, 22; 56:12; Hab 2:15
  17. Proverbs 23:21 : S Pr 21:17
  18. Proverbs 23:22 : S Lev 19:32
  19. Proverbs 23:23 : Pr 4:7; 17:16
  20. Proverbs 23:24 : S ver 15-16
  21. Proverbs 23:25 : S Pr 10:1
  22. Proverbs 23:26 : Pr 5:1-6
  23. Proverbs 23:26 : S Ps 18:21
  24. Proverbs 23:27 : S Pr 22:14
  25. Proverbs 23:28 : Pr 7:11-12
  26. Proverbs 23:30 : ver 20-21; Isa 5:11
  27. Proverbs 23:35 : Pr 20:1

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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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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)

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Proverbs 23 - The Voice (VOICE)

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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 Living Translation (NLT)

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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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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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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)

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