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Proverbs

Offers wisdom and advice on how to live a good and meaningful life.

Chapter 23

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1 When thou sittest to eat with a ruler, consider diligently what is before thee:

*When you sit down to eat with someone in charge, carefully think about what's in front of you.

2 And put a knife to thy throat, if thou be a man given to appetite.

*If you're someone who really likes food, pretend to have a knife at your throat.

3 Be not desirous of his dainties: for they are deceitful meat.

*Don't crave his fancy foods, as they are misleading and not genuine.

4 Labour not to be rich: cease from thine own wisdom.

*Work hard without seeking wealth: stop relying on your own understanding.

5 Wilt thou set thine eyes upon that which is not? for riches certainly make themselves wings; they fly away as an eagle toward heaven.

*Will you look at something that doesn't exist? Because wealth can quickly turn into wings, flying away like an eagle to the sky.

6 Eat thou not the bread of him that hath an evil eye, neither desire thou his dainty meats:

*Don't eat the food of someone with a bad attitude, and don't crave their delicious treats.

7 For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he: Eat and drink, saith he to thee; but his heart is not with thee.

*As a person thinks in their heart, that's who they are. He tells you to eat and drink, but his heart isn't really with you.

8 The morsel which thou hast eaten shalt thou vomit up, and lose thy sweet words.

*The bite you ate will make you sick, and you'll lose your nice words.

9 Speak not in the ears of a fool: for he will despise the wisdom of thy words.

*Don't talk to a foolish person about wise things, because they won't value your advice.

10 Remove not the old landmark; and enter not into the fields of the fatherless:

*Don't change the old boundaries; and don't go into the lands of those without parents.

11 For their redeemer is mighty; he shall plead their cause with thee.

*Their powerful savior will defend them before you.

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

*Pay attention to learning with your whole heart, and listen carefully to wise words.

13 Withhold not correction from the child: for if thou beatest him with the rod, he shall not die.

*Don't withhold discipline from a child; if you use a stick to correct them, they won't die.

14 Thou shalt beat him with the rod, and shalt deliver his soul from hell.

*You shall discipline him with a stick, and save his life from eternal suffering.

15 My son, if thine heart be wise, my heart shall rejoice, even mine.

*My child, if you think wisely, I will be happy, too - it's my own happiness as well.

16 Yea, my reins shall rejoice, when thy lips speak right things.

*Yes, I will be happy when your lips say good things.

17 Let not thine heart envy sinners: but be thou in the fear of the LORD all the day long.

*Don't let your heart be jealous of sinners. Instead, always fear the Lord throughout the day.

18 For surely there is an end; and thine expectation shall not be cut off.

*Of course, everything ends, but your hope won't disappear.

19 Hear thou, my son, and be wise, and guide thine heart in the way.

*Listen, my child, and be smart; then lead your heart on the right path.

20 Be not among winebibbers; among riotous eaters of flesh:

*Do not associate with people who drink too much alcohol or overeat meat.

21 For the drunkard and the glutton shall come to poverty: and drowsiness shall clothe a man with rags.

*For those who drink too much and overeat will become poor. Tiredness will make a person wear tattered clothes.

22 Hearken unto thy father that begat thee, and despise not thy mother when she is old.

*Listen to your birth father and don't disrespect your aging mother.

23 Buy the truth, and sell it not; also wisdom, and instruction, and understanding.

*Purchase truth and don't let it go; likewise, offer wisdom, teaching, and comprehension.

24 The father of the righteous shall greatly rejoice: and he that begetteth a wise child shall have joy of him.

*Happy parents raise good kids; proud parents of smart children enjoy their company.

25 Thy father and thy mother shall be glad, and she that bare thee shall rejoice.

*Your dad and mom will be happy, and the person who gave birth to you will celebrate.

26 My son, give me thine heart, and let thine eyes observe my ways.

*"Son, let me have your heart, and follow how I do things, by watching me."

27 For a whore is a deep ditch; and a strange woman is a narrow pit.

*A prostitute leads to a dangerous situation, and a foreign woman is like a narrow trap.

28 She also lieth in wait as for a prey, and increaseth the transgressors among men.

*She secretly waits like a predator for someone to deceive, and she increases the number of people who break rules.

29 Who hath woe? who hath sorrow? who hath contentions? who hath babbling? who hath wounds without cause? who hath redness of eyes?

*Who has pain? Who has sadness? Who has disagreements? Who has unnecessary talking? Who has injuries without reason? Who has red eyes?

30 They that tarry long at the wine; they that go to seek mixed wine.

*Those who linger too long with wine; those who search for mixed drinks.

31 Look not thou upon the wine when it is red, when it giveth his colour in the cup, when it moveth itself aright.

*Don't look at the alcohol when it's bright red, when it looks good in the glass, and when it seems perfect.

32 At the last it biteth like a serpent, and stingeth like an adder.

*In the end, it hurts like a snake bite, and stings like a viper.

33 Thine eyes shall behold strange women, and thine heart shall utter perverse things.

*Your eyes will see unfamiliar women, and your heart will speak twisted thoughts.

34 Yea, thou shalt be as he that lieth down in the midst of the sea, or as he that lieth upon the top of a mast.

*Yes, you will be like someone lying in the middle of the sea or like someone lying on top of a ship's pole.

35 They have stricken me, shalt thou say, and I was not sick; they have beaten me, and I felt it not: when shall I awake? I will seek it yet again.

*They hurt me, but I wasn't ill; they hit me, but I didn't feel it. When will I wake up? I'll try again to find it.

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