#proverbs 23

True Riches

1 When you sit to eat with a ruler, consider diligently what is before you;

2 put a knife to your throat, if you are a man given to appetite.

3 Do not be desirous of his dainties, seeing they are deceitful food.

4 Do not weary yourself to be rich. In your wisdom, show restraint.

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.

6 Do not eat the food of him who has a stingy eye, and 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.

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

9 Do not speak in the ears of a fool, for he will despise the wisdom of your words.

10 Do not move the ancient boundary stone. Do not encroach on the fields of the fatherless:

11 for their Defender is strong. He will plead their case against you.

12 Apply your heart to instruction, and your ears to the words of knowledge.

13 Do not withhold correction from a child. If you punish him with the rod, he will not die.

14 Punish him with the rod, and save his soul from Sheol.

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

16 yes, my heart will rejoice, when your lips speak what is right.

17 Do not let your heart envy sinners; but rather fear the LORD all the day long.

18 For surely there is a future, and your hope will not be cut off.

19 Listen, my son, and be wise, and keep your heart on the right path.

20 Do not be among ones drinking too much wine, or those who gorge themselves on meat:

21 for the drunkard and the glutton shall become poor; and drowsiness clothes them in rags.

22 Listen to your father who gave you life, and do not despise your mother when she is old.

23 Buy the truth, and do not sell it. Get wisdom, discipline, and understanding.

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

25 Let your father and your mother be glad. Let her who bore you rejoice.

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

27 For a prostitute 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.

29 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.

31 Do not look at the wine when it is red, when it sparkles in the cup, when it goes down smoothly.

32 In the end, it bites like a serpent, and poisons like a viper.

33 Your eyes will see strange things, and your mind will imagine confusing things.

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:

e n v y

sinners,

but

c o n t i n u e

in the

f e a r

of the L o r d

all the day.

S u r e l y

there is a

f u t u r e,

and your

h o p e

will

n o t

“Do not weary yourself [with the overwhelming desire] to gain wealth; cease from your own understanding of it. When you set your eyes on wealth, it is [suddenly] gone. For wealth certainly makes itself wings like an eagle that flies to the heavens.” 

“When you sit down to dine with a ruler, consider carefully what is [set] before you; for you will put a knife to your throat if you are a man of great appetite. 

Do not desire his delicacies, for it is deceptive food [offered to you with questionable motives].”