1 W hen you sit to eat with a ruler, consider diligently what is before you;

When you sit down to eat with a ruler, think about what is in front of you.

2 p ut a knife to your throat, if you are a man given to appetite.

Put a knife to your neck if you are a man who is given to much eating.

3 D on’t be desirous of his dainties, since they are deceitful food.

Do not desire his special foods, for they are put there for no good reason.

4 D on’t weary yourself to be rich. In your wisdom, show restraint.

Do not work hard to be rich. Stop trying to get things for yourself.

5 W hy do you set your eyes on that which is not? For it certainly sprouts wings like an eagle and flies in the sky.

When you set your eyes upon it, it is gone. For sure, riches make themselves wings like an eagle that flies toward the heavens.

6 D on’t eat the food of him who has a stingy eye, and don’t crave his delicacies:

Do not eat the bread of a man who thinks only about himself. Do not have a desire for his fine food.

7 f or as he thinks about the cost, so he is. “Eat and drink!” he says to you, but his heart is not with you.

For as he thinks in his heart, so is he. He says to you, “Eat and drink!” But his heart is not with you.

8 T he morsel which you have eaten you shall vomit up, and lose your good words.

You will spit up the piece of food you have eaten, and waste your good words.

9 D on’t speak in the ears of a fool, for he will despise the wisdom of your words.

Do not speak in the hearing of a fool, for he will hate the wisdom of your words.

10 D on’t move the ancient boundary stone. Don’t encroach on the fields of the fatherless:

Do not take away the old land-mark, or go into the fields of those without a father.

11 f or their Defender is strong. He will plead their case against you.

For the One Who saves them is strong. He will stand by them and give them help against you.

12 A pply your heart to instruction, and your ears to the words of knowledge.

Open your heart to teaching, and your ears to words of much learning.

13 D on’t withhold correction from a child. If you punish him with the rod, he will not die.

Do not keep from punishing the child if he needs it. If you beat him with the stick, he will not die.

14 P unish him with the rod, and save his soul from Sheol.

Beat him with the stick, and save his soul from hell.

15 M y son, if your heart is wise, then my heart will be glad, even mine:

My son, if your heart is wise, my own heart will be glad also.

16 y es, my heart will rejoice, when your lips speak what is right.

My heart will be full of joy when your lips speak what is right.

17 D on’t let your heart envy sinners; but rather fear Yahweh all the day long.

Do not let your heart be jealous of sinners, but live in the fear of the Lord always.

18 I ndeed surely there is a future hope, and your hope will not be cut off.

For sure there is a future and your hope will not be cut off.

19 L isten, my son, and be wise, and keep your heart on the right path!

Listen, my son, and be wise. Lead your heart in the way.

20 D on’t be among ones drinking too much wine, or those who gorge themselves on meat:

Do not be with those who drink too much wine or eat too much meat.

21 f or the drunkard and the glutton shall become poor; and drowsiness clothes them in rags.

For the man who drinks too much or eats too much will become poor, and much sleep will dress a man in torn clothes.

22 L isten to your father who gave you life, and don’t despise your mother when she is old.

Listen to your father who gave you life, and do not hate your mother when she is old.

23 B uy the truth, and don’t sell it. Get wisdom, discipline, and understanding.

Buy truth, and do not sell it. Get wisdom and teaching and understanding.

24 T he father of the righteous has great joy. Whoever fathers a wise child delights in him.

The father of one who is right with God will have much joy. He who has a wise son will be glad in him.

25 L et your father and your mother be glad! Let her who bore you rejoice!

Let your father and mother be glad, and let her who gave birth to you be full of joy.

26 M y son, give me your heart; and let your eyes keep in my ways.

Give me your heart, my son. Let your eyes find joy in my ways.

27 F or a prostitute is a deep pit; and a wayward wife is a narrow well.

For a woman who sells the use of her body is like a deep hole. A sinful woman is a narrow well.

28 Y es, she lies in wait like a robber, and increases the unfaithful among men.

She lies in wait as a robber, and makes many more men not faithful.

29 W ho has woe? Who has sorrow? Who has strife? Who has complaints? Who has needless bruises? Who has bloodshot eyes?

Who has trouble? Who has sorrow? Who is fighting? Who is complaining? Who is hurt without a reason? Who has eyes that have become red?

30 T hose who stay long at the wine; those who go to seek out mixed wine.

Those who stay a long time over wine. Those who go to taste mixed wine.

31 D on’t look at the wine when it is red, when it sparkles in the cup, when it goes down smoothly.

Do not look at wine when it is red, when it shines in the cup, when it is smooth in going down.

32 I n the end, it bites like a snake, and poisons like a viper.

In the end it bites like a snake. It stings like the bite of a snake with poison.

33 Y our eyes will see strange things, and your mind will imagine confusing things.

Your eyes will see strange things. Your mind will say the wrong things.

34 Y es, you will be as he who lies down in the middle of the sea, or as he who lies on top of the rigging:

And you will be like one who lies down in the center of the sea, or like one who lies above a ship’s sail.

35 “ They hit me, and I was not hurt! They beat me, and I don’t feel it! When will I wake up? I can do it again. I can find another.”

“They hit me, but I was not hurt. They beat me, but I did not know it. When will I wake up? I will look for another drink.”