Proverbs 23 NIV ISV Parallel

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◄ Proverbs 23 ►

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1When you sit to dine with a ruler, note well what is before you,

1Whenever you sit down to dine with a ruler, carefully think about what is before you.

2and put a knife to your throat if you are given to gluttony.

2Put a knife to your own throat, if you have a big appetite.

3Do not crave his delicacies, for that food is deceptive.

3Don't crave his delicacies, because the meal is deceptive.

4Do not wear yourself out to get rich; do not trust your own cleverness.

4Don't exhaust yourself acquiring wealth; be smart enough to stop.

5Cast but a glance at riches, and they are gone, for they will surely sprout wings and fly off to the sky like an eagle.

5When you fix your gaze on it, it's gone, for it sprouts wings for itself and flies to the sky like an eagle.

6Do not eat the food of a begrudging host, do not crave his delicacies;

6Don't consume food provided by a miserly person, and don't desire his delicacies,

7for he is the kind of person who is always thinking about the cost. "Eat and drink," he says to you, but his heart is not with you.

7for as he thinks within himself, so he is. "Eat and drink!" he'll say to you, but his heart won't be with you.

8You will vomit up the little you have eaten and will have wasted your compliments.

8You'll vomit up what little you've eaten, and your compliments will have been wasted.

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

9Don't speak when a fool is listening, because he'll despise your wise words.

10Do not move an ancient boundary stone or encroach on the fields of the fatherless,

10Don't move ancient boundaries or invade fields belonging to orphans;

11for their Defender is strong; he will take up their case against you.

11for strong is their Redeemer who will take up their case against you.

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

12Learn diligently, and listen to words of knowledge.

13Do not withhold discipline from a child; if you punish them with the rod, they will not die.

13Don't withhold discipline from a child; if you punish him with a rod, he won't die.

14Punish them with the rod and save them from death.

14Punish him with a rod, and you will rescue his soul from Sheol.

15My son, if your heart is wise, then my heart will be glad indeed;

15My son, if your heart is wise, my own heart will greatly rejoice.

16my inmost being will rejoice when your lips speak what is right.

16My innermost being will be glad when your lips speak what is right.

17Do not let your heart envy sinners, but always be zealous for the fear of the LORD.

17Never let yourself envy sinners; instead, remain in fear of the LORD every day,

18There is surely a future hope for you, and your hope will not be cut off.

18for there is surely a future life, and what you hope for will not be cut off.

19Listen, my son, and be wise, and set your heart on the right path:

19Listen, my son, and be wise, commit yourself to live God's way.

20Do not join those who drink too much wine or gorge themselves on meat,

20Don't associate with heavy drinkers or dine with gluttons,

21for drunkards and gluttons become poor, and drowsiness clothes them in rags.

21because drunks and gluttons tend to become poor, and drowsiness will clothe them in rags.

22Listen to your father, who gave you life, and do not despise your mother when she is old.

22Listen to the one who fathered you, and don't despise your mother in her old age.

23Buy the truth and do not sell it-- wisdom, instruction and insight as well.

23Purchase truth, but don't sell it; store up wisdom, instruction, and understanding.

24The father of a righteous child has great joy; a man who fathers a wise son rejoices in him.

24The father of a righteous person will greatly rejoice; whoever fathers a wise son will be glad because of him.

25May your father and mother rejoice; may she who gave you birth be joyful!

25Let your father and mother rejoice; make the one who gave birth to you happy.

26My son, give me your heart and let your eyes delight in my ways,

26Give me your heart, my son, and keep your eyes fixed on my ways,

27for an adulterous woman is a deep pit, and a wayward wife is a narrow well.

27because a prostitute is a deep pit, and the adulterous woman a narrow well.

28Like a bandit she lies in wait and multiplies the unfaithful among men.

28Surely she lies in wait like a bandit, increasing those who are faithless among mankind.

29Who has woe? Who has sorrow? Who has strife? Who has complaints? Who has needless bruises? Who has bloodshot eyes?

29Who has woe? Who has grief? Who has contention? Who has complaints? Who has wounds without cause? Who has bloodshot eyes?

30Those who linger over wine, who go to sample bowls of mixed wine.

30Those who linger over their wine, who consume mixed drinks.

31Do not gaze at wine when it is red, when it sparkles in the cup, when it goes down smoothly!

31Don't stare into red wine, when it sparkles in the cup and goes down smoothly.

32In the end it bites like a snake and poisons like a viper.

32Eventually it will bite like a snake and sting like a serpent.

33Your eyes will see strange sights, and your mind will imagine confusing things.

33Your eyes will see strange things, and with slurred words you'll speak what you really believe.

34You will be like one sleeping on the high seas, lying on top of the rigging.

34You will be like someone who lies down in the sea, or like someone who sleeps on top of a mast.

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?"

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."

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