[1] When you sit down to eat with a ruler, observe carefully 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, for they are deceptive food. [4] Do not
toil to acquire wealth; be wise enough to desist. [5] When your eyes light
upon it, it is gone; for suddenly it takes to itself wings, flying like an
eagle toward heaven. [6] Do not eat the bread of a man who is stingy; do
not desire his delicacies; [7] for he is like one who is inwardly
reckoning. "Eat and drink!" he says to you; but his heart is not with you.
[8] You will vomit up the morsels which you have eaten, and waste your
pleasant words. [9] Do not speak in the hearing of a fool, for he will
despise the wisdom of your words. [10] Do not remove an ancient landmark or
enter the fields of the fatherless; [11] for their Redeemer is strong; he
will plead their cause against you. [12] Apply your mind to instruction and
your ear to words of knowledge. [13] Do not withhold discipline from a
child; if you beat him with a rod, he will not die. [14] If you beat him
with the rod you will save his life from Sheol. [15] My son, if your heart
is wise, my heart too will be glad. [16] My soul will rejoice when your
lips speak what is right. [17] Let not your heart envy sinners, but
continue in the fear of the LORD all the day. [18] Surely there is a
future, and your hope will not be cut off. [19] Hear, my son, and be wise,
and direct your mind in the way. [20] Be not among winebibbers, or among
gluttonous eaters of meat; [21] for the drunkard and the glutton will come
to poverty, and drowsiness will clothe a man with rags. [22] Hearken to
your father who begot you, and do not despise your mother when she is old.
[23] Buy truth, and do not sell it; buy wisdom, instruction, and
understanding. [24] The father of the righteous will greatly rejoice; he
who begets a wise son will be glad in him. [25] Let your father and mother
be glad, let her who bore you rejoice. [26] My son, give me your heart, and
let your eyes observe my ways. [27] For a harlot is a deep pit; an
adventuress is a narrow well. [28] She lies in wait like a robber and
increases the faithless among men. [29] Who has woe? Who has sorrow? Who
has strife? Who has complaining? Who has wounds without cause? Who has
redness of eyes? [30] Those who tarry long over wine, those who go to try
mixed wine. [31] Do not look at wine when it is red, when it sparkles in
the cup and goes down smoothly. [32] At the last it bites like a serpent,
and stings like an adder. [33] Your eyes will see strange things, and your
mind utter perverse things. [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. [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."
