Proverbs 23 Parallel Bible Translations

Proverbs 23 ▼
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1 Whenever you sit down to dine with a ruler, carefully think about what is before you. When you sit down to eat with a ruler, observe carefully what is before you, When you sit to dine with a ruler, note well what is before you,
2 Put a knife to your own throat, if you have a big appetite. and put a knife to your throat if you are given to appetite. and put a knife to your throat if you are given to gluttony.
3 Don't crave his delicacies, because the meal is deceptive. Do not desire his delicacies, for they are deceptive food. Do not crave his delicacies, for that food is deceptive.
4 Don't exhaust yourself acquiring wealth; be smart enough to stop. Do not toil to acquire wealth; be discerning enough to desist. Do not wear yourself out to get rich; do not trust your own cleverness.
5 When you fix your gaze on it, it's gone, for it sprouts wings for itself and flies to the sky like an eagle. When your eyes light on it, it is gone, for suddenly it sprouts wings, flying like an eagle toward heaven. Cast but a glance at riches, and they are gone, for they will surely sprout wings and fly off to the sky like an eagle.
6 Don't consume food provided by a miserly person, and don't desire his delicacies, Do not eat the bread of a man who is stingy; do not desire his delicacies, Do not eat the food of a begrudging host, do not crave his delicacies;
7 for as he thinks within himself, so he is. |Eat and drink!| he'll say to you, but his heart won't be with you. for he is like one who is inwardly calculating. “Eat and drink!” he says to you, but his heart is not with you. for 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.
8 You'll vomit up what little you've eaten, and your compliments will have been wasted. You will vomit up the morsels that you have eaten, and waste your pleasant words. You will vomit up the little you have eaten and will have wasted your compliments.
9 Don't speak when a fool is listening, because he'll despise your wise words. Do not speak in the hearing of a fool, for he will despise the good sense of your words. Do not speak to fools, for they will scorn your prudent words.
10 Don't move ancient boundaries or invade fields belonging to orphans; Do not move an ancient landmark or enter the fields of the fatherless, Do not move an ancient boundary stone or encroach on the fields of the fatherless,
11 for strong is their Redeemer who will take up their case against you. for their Redeemer is strong; he will plead their cause against you. for their Defender is strong; he will take up their case against you.
12 Learn diligently, and listen to words of knowledge. Apply your heart to instruction and your ear to words of knowledge. Apply your heart to instruction and your ears to words of knowledge.
13 Don't withhold discipline from a child; if you punish him with a rod, he won't die. Do not withhold discipline from a child; if you strike him with a rod, he will not die. Do not withhold discipline from a child; if you punish them with the rod, they will not die.
14 Punish him with a rod, and you will rescue his soul from Sheol. If you strike him with the rod, you will save his soul from Sheol. Punish them with the rod and save them from death.
15 My son, if your heart is wise, my own heart will greatly rejoice. My son, if your heart is wise, my heart too will be glad. My son, if your heart is wise, then my heart will be glad indeed;
16 My innermost being will be glad when your lips speak what is right. My inmost being will exult when your lips speak what is right. my inmost being will rejoice when your lips speak what is right.
17 Never let yourself envy sinners; instead, remain in fear of the LORD every day, Let not your heart envy sinners, but continue in the fear of the LORD all the day. Do not let your heart envy sinners, but always be zealous for the fear of the LORD.
18 for there is surely a future life, and what you hope for will not be cut off. Surely there is a future, and your hope will not be cut off. There is surely a future hope for you, and your hope will not be cut off.
19 Listen, my son, and be wise, commit yourself to live God's way. Hear, my son, and be wise, and direct your heart in the way. Listen, my son, and be wise, and set your heart on the right path:
20 Don't associate with heavy drinkers or dine with gluttons, Be not among drunkards or among gluttonous eaters of meat, Do not join those who drink too much wine or gorge themselves on meat,
21 because drunks and gluttons tend to become poor, and drowsiness will clothe them in rags. for the drunkard and the glutton will come to poverty, and slumber will clothe them with rags. for drunkards and gluttons become poor, and drowsiness clothes them in rags.
22 Listen to the one who fathered you, and don't despise your mother in her old age. Listen to your father who gave you life, and do not despise your mother when she is old. Listen to your father, who gave you life, and do not despise your mother when she is old.
23 Purchase truth, but don't sell it; store up wisdom, instruction, and understanding. Buy truth, and do not sell it; buy wisdom, instruction, and understanding. Buy the truth and do not sell it— wisdom, instruction and insight as well.
24 The father of a righteous person will greatly rejoice; whoever fathers a wise son will be glad because of him. The father of the righteous will greatly rejoice; he who fathers a wise son will be glad in him. The father of a righteous child has great joy; a man who fathers a wise son rejoices in him.
25 Let your father and mother rejoice; make the one who gave birth to you happy. Let your father and mother be glad; let her who bore you rejoice. May your father and mother rejoice; may she who gave you birth be joyful!
26 Give me your heart, my son, and keep your eyes fixed on my ways, My son, give me your heart, and let your eyes observe my ways. My son, give me your heart and let your eyes delight in my ways,
27 because a prostitute is a deep pit, and the adulterous woman a narrow well. For a prostitute is a deep pit; an adulteress is a narrow well. for an adulterous woman is a deep pit, and a wayward wife is a narrow well.
28 Surely she lies in wait like a bandit, increasing those who are faithless among mankind. She lies in wait like a robber and increases the traitors among mankind. Like a bandit she lies in wait and multiplies the unfaithful among men.
29 Who has woe? Who has grief? Who has contention? Who has complaints? Who has wounds without cause? Who has bloodshot eyes? Who has woe? Who has sorrow? Who has strife? Who has complaining? Who has wounds without cause? Who has redness of eyes? 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 their wine, who consume mixed drinks. Those who tarry long over wine; those who go to try mixed wine. Those who linger over wine, who go to sample bowls of mixed wine.
31 Don't stare into red wine, when it sparkles in the cup and goes down smoothly. Do not look at wine when it is red, when it sparkles in the cup and goes down smoothly. Do not gaze at wine when it is red, when it sparkles in the cup, when it goes down smoothly!
32 Eventually it will bite like a snake and sting like a serpent. In the end it bites like a serpent and stings like an adder. In the end it bites like a snake and poisons like a viper.
33 Your eyes will see strange things, and with slurred words you'll speak what you really believe. Your eyes will see strange things, and your heart utter perverse things. Your eyes will see strange sights, and your mind will imagine confusing things.
34 You will be like someone who lies down in the sea, or like someone who sleeps on top of a mast. You will be like one who lies down in the midst of the sea, like one who lies on the top of a mast. You will be like one sleeping on the high seas, lying on top of the rigging.
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.| “They struck me,” you will say, “but I was not hurt; they beat me, but I did not feel it. When shall I awake? I must have another drink.” “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?”
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