| 章 |
| 23:1 |
When you sit down to eat with a ruler, observe carefully what is before you,
|
| 23:2 |
and put a knife to your throat if you have a big appetite.
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| 23:3 |
Do not desire the ruler's delicacies, for they are deceptive food.
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| 23:4 |
Do not wear yourself out to get rich; be wise enough to desist.
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| 23:5 |
When your eyes light upon it, it is gone; for suddenly it takes wings to itself, flying like an eagle toward heaven.
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| 23:6 |
Do not eat the bread of the stingy; do not desire their delicacies;
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| 23:7 |
for like a hair in the throat, so are they. "Eat and drink!" they say to you; but they do not mean it.
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| 23:8 |
You will vomit up the little you have eaten, and you will waste your pleasant words.
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| 23:9 |
Do not speak in the hearing of a fool, who will only despise the wisdom of your words.
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| 23:10 |
Do not remove an ancient landmark or encroach on the fields of orphans,
|
| 23:11 |
for their redeemer is strong; he will plead their cause against you.
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| 23:12 |
Apply your mind to instruction and your ear to words of knowledge.
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| 23:13 |
Do not withhold discipline from your children; if you beat them with a rod, they will not die.
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| 23:14 |
If you beat them with the rod, you will save their lives from Sheol.
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| 23:15 |
My child, if your heart is wise, my heart too will be glad.
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| 23:16 |
My soul will rejoice when your lips speak what is right.
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| 23:17 |
Do not let your heart envy sinners, but always continue in the fear of the LORD.
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| 23:18 |
Surely there is a future, and your hope will not be cut off.
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| 23:19 |
Hear, my child, and be wise, and direct your mind in the way.
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| 23:20 |
Do not be among winebibbers, or among gluttonous eaters of meat;
|
| 23:21 |
for the drunkard and the glutton will come to poverty, and drowsiness will clothe them with rags.
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| 23:22 |
Listen to your father who begot you, and do not despise your mother when she is old.
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| 23:23 |
Buy truth, and do not sell it; buy wisdom, instruction, and understanding.
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| 23:24 |
The father of the righteous will greatly rejoice; he who begets a wise son will be glad in him.
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| 23:25 |
Let your father and mother be glad; let her who bore you rejoice.
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| 23:26 |
My child, give me your heart, and let your eyes observe my ways.
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| 23:27 |
For a prostitute is a deep pit; an adulteress is a narrow well.
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| 23:28 |
She lies in wait like a robber and increases the number of the faithless.
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| 23:29 |
Who has woe? Who has sorrow? Who has strife? Who has complaining? Who has wounds without cause? Who has redness of eyes?
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| 23:30 |
Those who linger late over wine, those who keep trying mixed wines.
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| 23:31 |
Do not look at wine when it is red, when it sparkles in the cup and goes down smoothly.
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| 23:32 |
At the last it bites like a serpent, and stings like an adder.
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| 23:33 |
Your eyes will see strange things, and your mind utter perverse things.
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| 23:34 |
You will be like one who lies down in the midst of the sea, like one who lies on the top of a mast.
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| 23:35 |
"They struck me," you will say, "but I was not hurt; they beat me, but I did not feel it. When shall I awake? I will seek another drink."
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