Proverbs 23

Proverbs 23:1 When you sit down to dine with a ruler, consider carefully what is before you,

Proverbs 23:2 and put a knife to your neck if you have a hungry throat;

Proverbs 23:3 don’t desire his choice food, because that food is deceptive.

Proverbs 23:4 Don’t wear yourself out to get rich; since you know better, stop doing that.

Proverbs 23:5 As soon as your eyes fly to it, it disappears, for it makes wings for itself and flies like an eagle to the sky.

Proverbs 23:6 Don’t eat a stingy person’s bread, and don’t desire his choice food,

Proverbs 23:7 because like a hair in his throat, so is he. “Eat and drink!” he says to you, but his heart is not with you.

Proverbs 23:8 You will vomit the little you’ve eaten and waste your pleasant words.

Proverbs 23:9 Don’t speak to a fool, for he will despise the insight of your words.

Proverbs 23:10 Don’t move an ancient boundary marker, and don’t encroach on the fields of the fatherless,

Proverbs 23:11 for their Redeemer is strong, and he will champion their cause against you.

Proverbs 23:12 Apply yourself to training and listen to words of knowledge.

Proverbs 23:13 Don’t withhold training from a youth; if you punish him with a rod, he will not die.

Proverbs 23:14 Punish him with a rod, and you will rescue his throat from Sheol.

Proverbs 23:15 My son, if your heart is wise, my heart will indeed rejoice.

Proverbs 23:16 My kidneys will rejoice when your lips speak the truth.

Proverbs 23:17 Don’t let your heart envy sinners; instead, always fear Yahveh.

Proverbs 23:18 For then you will have a future, and your hope will not be dashed.

Proverbs 23:19 Listen, my son, and be wise; keep your heart straight on the right road.

Proverbs 23:20 Don’t associate with those who drink too much wine or with those who gorge themselves on meat.

Proverbs 23:21 For the drunkard and the glutton will become poor, and grogginess will clothe them in rags.

Proverbs 23:22 Listen to your father who gave you life, and don’t despise your mother when she is old.

Proverbs 23:23 Buy — and do not sell — truth, wisdom, training, and understanding.

Proverbs 23:24 The father of a righteous son will rejoice greatly, and one who fathers a wise son will delight in him.

Proverbs 23:25 Make your father and mother have joy, and let her who gave birth to you rejoice.

Proverbs 23:26 My son, give me your heart, and let your eyes observe my roads.

Proverbs 23:27 Because a prostitute is a deep pit, and a wayward woman is a narrow well;

Proverbs 23:28 indeed, she sets an ambush like a robber and increases the number of unfaithful people.

Proverbs 23:29 Who has tragedy? Who has sorrow? Who has conflicts? Who has complaints? Who has wounds for no reason? Who has red eyes?

Proverbs 23:30 Those who linger over wine; those who go looking for mixed wine.

Proverbs 23:31 Don’t gaze at wine because it is red, because it gleams in the cup and goes down smoothly.

Proverbs 23:32 In the end, it bites like a snake[1] and stings like a viper.

Proverbs 23:33 Your eyes will see strange things, and you will say turned-around things.

Proverbs 23:34 You’ll be like someone sleeping out at sea or lying down on the top of a ship’s mast.

Proverbs 23:35 “They hit me, but I feel no pain! They beat me, but I didn’t know it! When will I wake up? I’ll look for another drink.”

[1] נָחָשׁ = snake. Proverbs 23:32; 30:19.

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Jefferson Vann is pastor of Piney Grove Advent Christian Church in Delco, North Carolina. View all posts by Jefferson Vann