1When thou sittest to eat with a ruler, consider diligently what is before thee:
2When thou sittest to eat with a ruler, consider diligently what is before thee:
3And put a knife to thy throat, if thou be a man given to appetite.
4And put a knife to thy throat, if thou be a man given to appetite.
5Be not desirous of his dainties: for they are deceitful meat.
6Be not desirous of his dainties: for they are deceitful meat.
7Labour not to be rich: cease from thine own wisdom.
8Labour not to be rich: cease from thine own wisdom.
9Wilt thou set thine eyes upon that which is not? for riches certainly make themselves wings; they fly away as an eagle toward heaven.23.5 set…: Heb. cause thine eyes to fly upon
10Wilt thou set thine eyes upon that which is not? for riches certainly make themselves wings; they fly away as an eagle toward heaven.23.5 set…: Heb. cause thine eyes to fly upon
11Eat thou not the bread of him that hath an evil eye, neither desire thou his dainty meats:
12Eat thou not the bread of him that hath an evil eye, neither desire thou his dainty meats:
13For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he: Eat and drink, saith he to thee; but his heart is not with thee.
14For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he: Eat and drink, saith he to thee; but his heart is not with thee.
15The morsel which thou hast eaten shalt thou vomit up, and lose thy sweet words.
16The morsel which thou hast eaten shalt thou vomit up, and lose thy sweet words.
17Speak not in the ears of a fool: for he will despise the wisdom of thy words.
18Speak not in the ears of a fool: for he will despise the wisdom of thy words.
19Remove not the old landmark; and enter not into the fields of the fatherless:23.10 landmark: or, bound
20Remove not the old landmark; and enter not into the fields of the fatherless:23.10 landmark: or, bound
21For their redeemer is mighty; he shall plead their cause with thee.
22For their redeemer is mighty; he shall plead their cause with thee.
23Apply thine heart unto instruction, and thine ears to the words of knowledge.
24Apply thine heart unto instruction, and thine ears to the words of knowledge.
25Withhold not correction from the child: for if thou beatest him with the rod, he shall not die.
26Withhold not correction from the child: for if thou beatest him with the rod, he shall not die.
27Thou shalt beat him with the rod, and shalt deliver his soul from hell.
28Thou shalt beat him with the rod, and shalt deliver his soul from hell.
29My son, if thine heart be wise, my heart shall rejoice, even mine.23.15 even…: or, even I will rejoice
30My son, if thine heart be wise, my heart shall rejoice, even mine.23.15 even…: or, even I will rejoice
31Yea, my reins shall rejoice, when thy lips speak right things.
32Yea, my reins shall rejoice, when thy lips speak right things.
33Let not thine heart envy sinners: but be thou in the fear of the LORD all the day long.
34Let not thine heart envy sinners: but be thou in the fear of the LORD all the day long.
35For surely there is an end; and thine expectation shall not be cut off.23.18 end: or, reward
36For surely there is an end; and thine expectation shall not be cut off.23.18 end: or, reward
37Hear thou, my son, and be wise, and guide thine heart in the way.
38Hear thou, my son, and be wise, and guide thine heart in the way.
39Be not among winebibbers; among riotous eaters of flesh:23.20 of flesh: Heb. of their flesh
40Be not among winebibbers; among riotous eaters of flesh:23.20 of flesh: Heb. of their flesh
41For the drunkard and the glutton shall come to poverty: and drowsiness shall clothe a man with rags.
42For the drunkard and the glutton shall come to poverty: and drowsiness shall clothe a man with rags.
43Hearken unto thy father that begat thee, and despise not thy mother when she is old.
44Hearken unto thy father that begat thee, and despise not thy mother when she is old.
45Buy the truth, and sell it not; also wisdom, and instruction, and understanding.
46Buy the truth, and sell it not; also wisdom, and instruction, and understanding.
47The father of the righteous shall greatly rejoice: and he that begetteth a wise child shall have joy of him.
48The father of the righteous shall greatly rejoice: and he that begetteth a wise child shall have joy of him.
49Thy father and thy mother shall be glad, and she that bare thee shall rejoice.
50Thy father and thy mother shall be glad, and she that bare thee shall rejoice.
51My son, give me thine heart, and let thine eyes observe my ways.
52My son, give me thine heart, and let thine eyes observe my ways.
53For a whore is a deep ditch; and a strange woman is a narrow pit.
54For a whore is a deep ditch; and a strange woman is a narrow pit.
55She also lieth in wait as for a prey, and increaseth the transgressors among men.23.28 as for…: or, as a robber
56She also lieth in wait as for a prey, and increaseth the transgressors among men.23.28 as for…: or, as a robber
57Who hath woe? who hath sorrow? who hath contentions? who hath babbling? who hath wounds without cause? who hath redness of eyes?
58Who hath woe? who hath sorrow? who hath contentions? who hath babbling? who hath wounds without cause? who hath redness of eyes?
59They that tarry long at the wine; they that go to seek mixed wine.
60They that tarry long at the wine; they that go to seek mixed wine.
61Look not thou upon the wine when it is red, when it giveth his colour in the cup, when it moveth itself aright.
62Look not thou upon the wine when it is red, when it giveth his colour in the cup, when it moveth itself aright.
63At the last it biteth like a serpent, and stingeth like an adder.23.32 an…: or, a cockatrice
64At the last it biteth like a serpent, and stingeth like an adder.23.32 an…: or, a cockatrice
65Thine eyes shall behold strange women, and thine heart shall utter perverse things.
66Thine eyes shall behold strange women, and thine heart shall utter perverse things.
67Yea, thou shalt be as he that lieth down in the midst of the sea, or as he that lieth upon the top of a mast.23.34 the midst…: Heb. the heart of the sea
68Yea, thou shalt be as he that lieth down in the midst of the sea, or as he that lieth upon the top of a mast.23.34 the midst…: Heb. the heart of the sea
69They have stricken me, shalt thou say, and I was not sick; they have beaten me, and I felt it not: when shall I awake? I will seek it yet again.23.35 I felt…: Heb. I knew it not
70They have stricken me, shalt thou say, and I was not sick; they have beaten me, and I felt it not: when shall I awake? I will seek it yet again.23.35 I felt…: Heb. I knew it not