Proverbs 23 Parallel Bible Translations

Proverbs 23 ▼
swipe to see more →
NLT
New Living Translation
ESV
English Standard Version
NIV
New International Version
+Add
1 While dining with a ruler, pay attention to what is put 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 If you are a big eater, put a knife to your throat; 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 desire all the delicacies, for he might be trying to trick you. Do not desire his delicacies, for they are deceptive food. Do not crave his delicacies, for that food is deceptive.
4 Don’t wear yourself out trying to get rich. Be wise enough to know when to quit. 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 In the blink of an eye wealth disappears, for it will sprout wings and fly away 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 eat with people who are stingy; don’t desire their 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 They are always thinking about how much it costs. “Eat and drink,” they say, but they don’t mean it. 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 will throw up what little you’ve eaten, and your compliments will be 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 waste your breath on fools, for they will despise the wisest advice. 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 cheat your neighbor by moving the ancient boundary markers; don’t take the land of defenseless 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 their Redeemer is strong; he himself will bring their charges 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 Commit yourself to instruction; listen carefully 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 fail to discipline your children. The rod of punishment won’t kill them. 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 Physical discipline may well save them from death. 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 child, if your heart is wise, my own heart will 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 Everything in me will celebrate when you 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 Don’t envy sinners, but always continue to fear the LORD. 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 You will be rewarded for this; your hope will not be disappointed. 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 My child, listen and be wise: Keep your heart on the right course. 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 Do not carouse with drunkards or feast 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 for they are on their way to poverty, and too much sleep clothes 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 your father, who gave you life, and don’t 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. Listen to your father, who gave you life, and do not despise your mother when she is old.
23 Get the truth and never sell it; also get wisdom, discipline, and good judgment. 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 godly children has cause for joy. What a pleasure to have children who are wise. 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 So give your father and mother joy! May she who gave you birth be 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 O my son, give me your heart. May your eyes take delight in following 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 A prostitute is a dangerous trap; a promiscuous woman is as dangerous as falling into 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 She hides and waits like a robber, eager to make more men unfaithful. 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 anguish? Who has sorrow? Who is always fighting? Who is always complaining? Who has unnecessary bruises? 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 It is the one who spends long hours in the taverns, trying out new 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 gaze at the wine, seeing how red it is, how it sparkles in the cup, how smoothly it goes down. 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 For in the end it bites like a poisonous snake; it stings like a viper. 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 You will see hallucinations, and you will say crazy things. 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 stagger like a sailor tossed at sea, clinging to a swaying 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 And you will say, “They hit me, but I didn’t feel it. I didn’t even know it when they beat me up. When will I wake up so I can look for 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?”
Previous chapter
Top of Page
Top of Page