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Proverbs 23 - New American Standard Bible 1995 (NASB1995)

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On Life and Conduct

23 When you sit down to dine with a ruler,
Consider carefully [a]what is before you,
2 And put a knife to your throat
If you are a (A)man of great appetite.
3 Do not (B)desire his delicacies,
For it is deceptive food.

4 (C)Do not weary yourself to gain wealth,
(D)Cease from your [b]consideration of it.
5 [c]When you set your eyes on it, it is gone.
For (E)wealth certainly makes itself wings
Like an eagle that flies toward the heavens.

6 (F)Do not eat the bread of [d]a (G)selfish man,
Or desire his delicacies;
7 For as he [e]thinks within himself, so he is.
He says to you, “Eat and drink!”
But (H)his heart is not with you.
8 You will (I)vomit up [f]the morsel you have eaten,
And waste your [g]compliments.

9 (J)Do not speak in the [h]hearing of a fool,
For he will (K)despise the wisdom of your words.

10 Do not move the ancient boundary
Or (L)go into the fields of the fatherless,
11 For their (M)Redeemer is strong;
(N)He will plead their case against you.
12 Apply your heart to discipline
And your ears to words of knowledge.

13 (O)Do not hold back discipline from the child,
Although you [i]strike him with the rod, he will not die.
14 You shall [j]strike him with the rod
And (P)rescue his soul from Sheol.

15 My son, if your heart is (Q)wise,
My own heart also will be glad;
16 And my [k]inmost being will rejoice
When your lips speak (R)what is right.

17 (S)Do not let your heart envy sinners,
But live in the [l](T)fear of the Lord [m]always.
18 Surely there is a [n](U)future,
And your (V)hope will not be cut off.
19 Listen, my son, and (W)be wise,
And (X)direct your heart in the way.
20 Do not be with (Y)heavy drinkers of wine,
Or with (Z)gluttonous eaters of meat;
21 For the (AA)heavy drinker and the glutton will come to poverty,
And (AB)drowsiness will clothe one with rags.

22 (AC)Listen to your father who begot you,
And (AD)do not despise your mother when she is old.
23 (AE)Buy truth, and do not sell it,
Get wisdom and instruction and understanding.

24 The father of the righteous will greatly rejoice,
And (AF)he who sires a wise son will be glad in him.
25 Let your (AG)father and your mother be glad,
And let her rejoice who gave birth to you.

26 (AH)Give me your heart, my son,
And let your eyes [o](AI)delight in my ways.
27 For a harlot is a (AJ)deep pit
And an [p](AK)adulterous woman is a narrow well.
28 Surely she (AL)lurks as a robber,
And increases the [q]faithless among men.

29 Who has (AM)woe? Who has sorrow?
Who has contentions? Who has complaining?
Who has wounds without cause?
Who has redness of eyes?
30 Those who (AN)linger long over wine,
Those who go to [r]taste (AO)mixed wine.
31 Do not look on the wine when it is red,
When it [s]sparkles in the cup,
When it (AP)goes down smoothly;
32 At the last it (AQ)bites like a serpent
And stings like a (AR)viper.
33 Your eyes will see strange things
And your [t]mind will (AS)utter perverse things.
34 And you will be like one who lies down in the [u]middle of the sea,
Or like one who lies down on the top of a [v]mast.
35 “They (AT)struck me, but I did not become [w]ill;
They beat me, but I did not know it.
When shall I awake?
I will (AU)seek [x]another drink.”

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 23:1 Or who
  2. Proverbs 23:4 Or understanding
  3. Proverbs 23:5 Lit Will your eyes fly upon it and it is not?
  4. Proverbs 23:6 Lit an evil eye
  5. Proverbs 23:7 Lit reckons in his soul
  6. Proverbs 23:8 Lit your
  7. Proverbs 23:8 Lit pleasant words
  8. Proverbs 23:9 Lit ears
  9. Proverbs 23:13 Lit smite
  10. Proverbs 23:14 Lit smite
  11. Proverbs 23:16 Lit kidneys
  12. Proverbs 23:17 Or reverence
  13. Proverbs 23:17 Lit all the day
  14. Proverbs 23:18 Lit latter end
  15. Proverbs 23:26 Another reading is observe
  16. Proverbs 23:27 Lit strange
  17. Proverbs 23:28 Lit treacherous
  18. Proverbs 23:30 Or search out
  19. Proverbs 23:31 Lit gives its eye
  20. Proverbs 23:33 Lit heart
  21. Proverbs 23:34 Lit heart
  22. Proverbs 23:34 Or lookout
  23. Proverbs 23:35 I.e. from the effect of wounds
  24. Proverbs 23:35 Lit it yet again

Cross references

  1. Proverbs 23:2 : Prov 23:20
  2. Proverbs 23:3 : Ps 141:4; Prov 23:6; Dan 1:5, 8, 13, 15, 16
  3. Proverbs 23:4 : Prov 15:27; 28:20; Matt 6:19; 1 Tim 6:9; Heb 13:5
  4. Proverbs 23:4 : Prov 3:5, 7
  5. Proverbs 23:5 : Prov 27:24; 1 Tim 6:17
  6. Proverbs 23:6 : Ps 141:4
  7. Proverbs 23:6 : Deut 15:9; Prov 28:22
  8. Proverbs 23:7 : Prov 26:24, 25
  9. Proverbs 23:8 : Prov 25:16
  10. Proverbs 23:9 : Matt 7:6
  11. Proverbs 23:9 : Prov 1:7
  12. Proverbs 23:10 : Jer 22:3; Zech 7:10
  13. Proverbs 23:11 : Job 19:25; Jer 50:34
  14. Proverbs 23:11 : Prov 22:23
  15. Proverbs 23:13 : Prov 13:24; 19:18
  16. Proverbs 23:14 : 1 Cor 5:5
  17. Proverbs 23:15 : Prov 23:24f; 27:11; 29:3
  18. Proverbs 23:16 : Prov 8:6
  19. Proverbs 23:17 : Ps 37:1; Prov 24:1, 19
  20. Proverbs 23:17 : Prov 28:14
  21. Proverbs 23:18 : Ps 19:11; 58:11; Prov 24:14
  22. Proverbs 23:18 : Ps 9:18
  23. Proverbs 23:19 : Prov 6:6
  24. Proverbs 23:19 : Prov 4:23; 9:6
  25. Proverbs 23:20 : Prov 20:1; 23:29, 30; Is 5:22; Matt 24:49; Luke 21:34; Rom 13:13; Eph 5:18
  26. Proverbs 23:20 : Deut 21:20; Prov 28:7
  27. Proverbs 23:21 : Prov 21:17
  28. Proverbs 23:21 : Prov 6:10, 11
  29. Proverbs 23:22 : Prov 1:8; Eph 6:1
  30. Proverbs 23:22 : Prov 15:20; 30:17
  31. Proverbs 23:23 : Prov 4:7; 18:15; Matt 13:44
  32. Proverbs 23:24 : Prov 10:1; 15:20; 29:3
  33. Proverbs 23:25 : Prov 27:11
  34. Proverbs 23:26 : Prov 3:1; 4:4
  35. Proverbs 23:26 : Ps 1:2; 119:24
  36. Proverbs 23:27 : Prov 22:14
  37. Proverbs 23:27 : Prov 5:20
  38. Proverbs 23:28 : Prov 6:26; 7:12; Eccl 7:26
  39. Proverbs 23:29 : Is 5:11, 22
  40. Proverbs 23:30 : 1 Sam 25:36; Prov 20:1; Is 5:11; 28:7; Eph 5:18
  41. Proverbs 23:30 : Ps 75:8
  42. Proverbs 23:31 : Song 7:9
  43. Proverbs 23:32 : Job 20:16; Prov 20:1; Eph 5:18
  44. Proverbs 23:32 : Ps 91:13; Is 11:8
  45. Proverbs 23:33 : Prov 2:12
  46. Proverbs 23:35 : Prov 27:22; Jer 5:3
  47. Proverbs 23:35 : Prov 26:11; Is 56:12

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23 When thou sittest to eat with a ruler, Thou considerest diligently that which [is] before thee, 2 And thou hast put a knife to thy throat, If thou [art] a man of appetite. 3 Have no desire to his dainties, seeing it [is] lying food. 4 Labour not to make wealth, From thine own understanding cease,...
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23 When thou sittest to eat with the prince, perceive thou diligently what things be set before thy face, 2 and set thou a coulter in thy throat. If nevertheless thou hast power on thy soul, (and set thou a knife at thy own throat, if thou hast not power over thy self.) 3 desire thou not of his meat...
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Proverbs 23 - World English Bible (WEB)

23 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 Don’t be desirous of his dainties, since they are deceitful food.4 Don’t weary yourself to be rich. In your wisdom, show restraint.5 Why do you set your eyes...
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Proverbs 23 - The Voice (VOICE)

23 When sitting down to eat with a ruler, take a moment to think about who you are with and what you are doing.2 If you are the type who eats too much too fast, do whatever is necessary to curb your enthusiasm for food.3 Also, do not eye the ruler’s delicacies, for the food may not be what it seems....
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Proverbs 23 - Tree of Life Version (TLV)

Advice About Appetites23 When you sit down to dine with a ruler,consider carefully what is set before you,2 and put a knife to your throatif you possess a large appetite.3 Do not crave his delicacies,for that food is deceptive. 4 Do not wear yourself out to get rich.Be wise enough to restrain yourse...
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Proverbs 23 - Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (RSVCE)

23 When you sit down to eat with a ruler, observe carefully what[a] 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, for they are deceptive food.4 Do not toil to acquire wealth; be wise enough to desist.5 When your eyes light upon it, ...
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Proverbs 23 - Revised Standard Version (RSV)

23 When you sit down to eat with a ruler, observe carefully what[a] 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, for they are deceptive food.4 Do not toil to acquire wealth; be wise enough to desist.5 When your eyes light upon it, ...
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Proverbs 23 - New Revised Standard Version, Anglicised (NRSVA)

23 When you sit down to eat with a ruler, observe carefully what[a] is before you,2 and put a knife to your throat if you have a big appetite.3 Do not desire the ruler’s[b] delicacies, for they are deceptive food.4 Do not wear yourself out to get rich; be wise enough to desist.5 When your eyes light...
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Proverbs 23 - New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

23 When you sit down to eat with an official, observe carefully what[a] is before you,2 and put a knife to your throat if you have a big appetite.3 Do not desire an official’s[b] delicacies, for they are deceptive food.(A)4 Do not wear yourself out to get rich; be wise enough to desist.(B)5 When you...
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Proverbs 23 - New Living Translation (NLT)

23 While dining with a ruler, pay attention to what is put before you.2 If you are a big eater, put a knife to your throat;3 don’t desire all the delicacies, for he might be trying to trick you. 4 Don’t wear yourself out trying to get rich. Be wise enough to know when to quit.5 In the blink of an ey...
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Proverbs 23 - New Life Version (NLV)

23 When you sit down to eat with a ruler, think about what is in front of you. 2 Put a knife to your neck if you are a man who is given to much eating. 3 Do not desire his special foods, for they are put there for no good reason. 4 Do not work hard to be rich. Stop trying to get things for yoursel...
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Proverbs 23 - New King James Version (NKJV)

Listen to Your Father23 When you sit down to eat with a ruler,Consider carefully what is before you;2 And put a knife to your throatIf you are a man given to appetite.3 Do not desire his delicacies,For they are deceptive food. 4 (A)Do not overwork to be rich;(B)Because of your own understanding, cea...
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Proverbs 23 - New International Version - UK (NIVUK)

Saying 723 When you sit to dine with a ruler, note well what[a] is before you,2 and put a knife to your throat if you are given to gluttony.3 Do not crave his delicacies, for that food is deceptive. Saying 84 Do not wear yourself out to get rich; do not trust your own cleverness.5 Cast but a glance ...
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Proverbs 23 - New International Version (NIV)

Saying 723 When you sit to dine with a ruler, note well what[a] is before you,2 and put a knife to your throat if you are given to gluttony.3 Do not crave his delicacies,(A) for that food is deceptive. Saying 84 Do not wear yourself out to get rich; do not trust your own cleverness.5 Cast but a glan...
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Proverbs 23 - New International Reader's Version (NIRV)

Saying 723 When you sit down to eat with a ruler, look carefully at what’s in front of you.2 Put a knife to your throat if you like to eat too much.3 Don’t long for his fancy food. It can fool you. Saying 84 Don’t wear yourself out to get rich. Don’t trust how wise you think you are.5 When you take ...
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Proverbs 23 - New English Translation (NET)

23 When you sit down to eat with a ruler,consider carefully[a] what[b] is before you,2 and put a knife to your throat[c]if you possess a large appetite.[d]3 Do not crave that ruler’s[e] delicacies,for[f] that food is deceptive.[g]4 Do not wear yourself out to become rich;be wise enough to restrain y...
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