Proverbs 23

Good News Translation

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23 When you sit down to eat with someone important, keep in mind who he is.^{[a] 2} If you have a big appetite, restrain yourself. ³ Don't be greedy for the fine food he serves; he may be trying to trick you.

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⁴ Be wise enough not to wear yourself out trying to get rich. ⁵ Your money can be gone in a flash, as if it had grown wings and flown away like an eagle.

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⁶ Don't eat at the table of a stingy person or be greedy for the fine food he serves. ⁷ “Come on and have some more,” he says, but he doesn't mean it. What he thinks is what he really is. ⁸ You will vomit up what you have eaten, and all your flattery will be wasted.

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⁹ Don't try to talk sense to a fool; he can't appreciate it.

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¹⁰ Never move an old property line or take over land owned by orphans. ¹¹ The Lord is their powerful defender, and he will argue their case against you.

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¹² Pay attention to your teacher and learn all you can.

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¹³ Don't hesitate to discipline children. A good spanking won't kill them. ¹⁴ As a matter of fact, it may save their lives.

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¹⁵ My child, if you become wise, I will be very happy. ¹⁶ I will be proud when I hear you speaking words of wisdom.

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¹⁷ Don't be envious of sinful people; let reverence for the Lord be the concern of your life. ¹⁸ If it is, you have a bright future.

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¹⁹ Listen, my child, be wise and give serious thought to the way you live. ²⁰ Don't associate with people who drink too much wine or stuff themselves with food. ²¹ Drunkards and gluttons will be reduced to poverty. If all you do is eat and sleep, you will soon be wearing rags.

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²² Listen to your father; without him you would not exist. When your mother is old, show her your appreciation.

²³ Truth, wisdom, learning, and good sense—these are worth paying for, but too valuable for you to sell.

²⁴ A righteous person's parents have good reason to be happy. You can take pride in a wise child.

²⁵ Let your father and mother be proud of you; give your mother that happiness.

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²⁶ Pay close attention, son, and let my life be your example. ²⁷ Prostitutes and immoral women are a deadly trap. ²⁸ They wait for you like robbers and cause many men to be unfaithful.

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^29-30 Show me people who drink too much, who have to try out fancy drinks, and I will show you people who are miserable and sorry for themselves, always causing trouble and always complaining. Their eyes are bloodshot, and they have bruises that could have been avoided. ³¹ Don't let wine tempt you, even though it is rich red, and it sparkles in the cup, and it goes down smoothly. ³² The next morning you will feel as if you had been bitten by a poisonous snake. ³³ Weird sights will appear before your eyes, and you will not be able to think or speak clearly. ³⁴ You will feel as if you were out on the ocean, seasick, swinging high up in the rigging of a tossing ship. ³⁵ “I must have been hit,” you will say; “I must have been beaten up, but I don't remember it. Why can't I wake up? I need another drink.”