23:1 When you sit to eat with a ruler, Consider diligently what is before you;

23:2 Put a knife to your throat, If you are a man given to appetite.

23:3 Don`t be desirous of his dainties, Seeing they are deceitful food.

23:4 Don`t weary yourself to be rich. In your wisdom, show restraint.

23:5 Why do you set your eyes on that which is not? For it certainly sprouts wings like an eagle and flies in the sky.

23:6 Don`t eat the food of him who has a stingy eye, And don`t crave his delicacies:

23:7 For as he thinks about the cost, so he is. "Eat and drink!" he says to you, But his heart is not with you.

23:8 The morsel which you have eaten you shall vomit up, And lose your good words.

23:9 Don`t speak in the ears of a fool, For he will despise the wisdom of your words.

23:10 Don`t move the ancient boundary stone. Don`t encroach on the fields of the fatherless:

23:11 For their Defender is strong. He will plead their case against you.

23:12 Apply your heart to instruction, And your ears to the words of knowledge.

23:13 Don`t withhold correction from a child. If you punish him with the rod, he will not die.

23:14 Punish him with the rod, And save his soul from Sheol.

23:15 My son, if your heart is wise, Then my heart will be glad, even mine:

23:16 Yes, my heart will rejoice, When your lips speak what is right.

23:17 Don`t let your heart envy sinners; But rather fear Yahweh all the day long.

23:18 Indeed surely there is a future hope, And your hope will not be cut off.

23:19 Listen, my son, and be wise, And keep your heart on the right path!

23:20 Don`t be among ones drinking too much wine, Or those who gorge themselves on meat:

23:21 For the drunkard and the glutton shall become poor; And drowsiness clothes them in rags.

23:22 Listen to your father who gave you life, And don`t despise your mother when she is old.

23:23 Buy the truth, and don`t sell it: Get wisdom, discipline, and understanding.

23:24 The father of the righteous has great joy. Whoever fathers a wise child delights in him.

23:25 Let your father and your mother be glad! Let her who bore you rejoice!

23:26 My son, give me your heart; And let your eyes keep in my ways.

23:27 For a prostitute is a deep pit; And a wayward wife is a narrow well.

23:28 Yes, she lies in wait like a robber, And increases the unfaithful among men.

23:29 Who has woe? Who has sorrow? Who has strife? Who has complaints? Who has needless bruises? Who has bloodshot eyes?

23:30 Those who stay long at the wine; Those who go to seek out mixed wine.

23:31 Don`t look at the wine when it is red, When it sparkles in the cup, When it goes down smoothly:

23:32 At the last it bites like a snake, And poisons like a viper.

23:33 Your eyes will see strange things, And your mind will imagine confusing things.

23:34 Yes, you will be as he who lies down in the midst of the sea, Or as he who lies on top of the rigging: