1 When you sit to eat with a ruler,
consider diligently what is before you,
2 and put a knife to your throat
if you are a man given to appetite.
3 Do not desire his delicacies,
since it is the food of deceit.
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
and flies like an eagle to 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, yes 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 day long.
18 Indeed, surely there is a future hope,
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 delight 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 misery?
Who has sorrow?
Who has bitter conflict?
Who has complaints?
Who has needless bruises?
Who has bloodshot eyes?
30 Those who linger in their wine,
those who go out to find 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 snake,
and poisons like a viper.
33 Your eyes will see strange things,
and your mind will imagine confusing things.
34 Yes, you will be like one who lies down in the middle of the sea,
or as he who lies on top of the rigging:
35 “They hit me, and I was not hurt!
They beat me, and I do not feel it!
When will I wake up? I can do it again.
I can find another.”