Proverbs 23 Parallel Bible Translations

Proverbs 23 ▼
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1 When you sit to eat with a ruler, consider diligently 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 throat if you are a man given to 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 be desirous of his dainties, since they are deceitful food. Do not desire his delicacies, for they are deceptive food. Do not crave his delicacies, for that food is deceptive.
4 Don’t weary yourself to be rich. In your wisdom, show restraint. 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 Why do you set your eyes on that which is not? For it certainly sprouts wings like an eagle and flies in the sky. 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 the food of him who has a stingy eye, and don’t crave 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 about the cost, so he is. “Eat and drink!” he says to you, but his heart is not 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 will vomit up the morsel which you have eaten and waste your pleasant words. 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 in the ears of a fool, for he will despise the wisdom of your 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 the ancient boundary stone. Don’t encroach on the fields of the fatherless, 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 Defender is strong. He will plead 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 Apply your heart to instruction, and your ears to the 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 correction from a child. If you punish him with the rod, he will not 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 the rod, and save 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, then my heart will be glad, even mine. 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 Yes, my heart will rejoice 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 Don’t let your heart envy sinners, but rather fear Yahweh all day long. 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 Indeed surely there is a future hope, and your hope 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, and keep your heart on the right path! 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 be among ones drinking too much wine, or those who gorge themselves on meat; 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 the drunkard and the glutton shall become poor; and drowsiness 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 Buy the truth, and don’t sell it. Get wisdom, discipline, 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 the righteous has great joy. Whoever fathers a wise child delights in 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 your mother be glad! Let her who bore you rejoice! 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 My son, give me your heart; and let your eyes keep in 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 For a prostitute is a deep pit; and a wayward wife is 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 Yes, she lies in wait like a robber, and increases the unfaithful among men. 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 sorrow? Who has strife? Who has complaints? Who has needless 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 Those who stay long at the wine; those who go to seek out mixed wine. 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 look at the wine when it is red, when it sparkles in the cup, when it 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 In the end, it bites like a snake, and poisons 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 Your eyes will see strange things, and your mind will imagine confusing 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 Yes, you will be as he who lies down in the middle of the sea, or as he who lies on top of the rigging: 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 hit me, and I was not hurt! They beat me, and I don’t feel it! When will I wake up? I can do it again. I will look for more.” “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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