1
When thou sittest[H3427] to eat[H3898] with a ruler[H4910], consider[H995]diligently[H995] what is before[H6440] thee:
2
And put[H7760] a knife[H7915] to thy throat[H3930], if thou be a man given[H1167] to appetite[H5315].
3
Be not desirous[H183] of his dainties[H4303]: for they are deceitful[H3577]meat[H3899].
4Labour[H3021] not to be rich[H6238]: cease[H2308] from thine own wisdom[H998].
5
Wilt thou set[H5774] thine eyes[H5869] upon that which is not? for riches certainly[H6213]make[H6213] themselves wings[H3671]; they fly away[H5774] as an eagle[H5404] toward heaven[H8064].
6Eat[H3898] thou not the bread[H3899] of him that hath an evil[H7451]eye[H5869], neither desire[H183] thou his dainty meats[H4303]:
7
For as he thinketh[H8176] in his heart[H5315], so is he: Eat[H398] and drink[H8354], saith[H559] he to thee; but his heart[H3820] is not with thee.
8
The morsel[H6595] which thou hast eaten[H398] shalt thou vomit up[H6958], and lose[H7843] thy sweet[H5273]words[H1697].
9Speak[H1696] not in the ears[H241] of a fool[H3684]: for he will despise[H936] the wisdom[H7922] of thy words[H4405].
10Remove[H5253] not the old[H5769]landmark[H1366]; and enter[H935] not into the fields[H7704] of the fatherless[H3490]:
11
For their redeemer[H1350] is mighty[H2389]; he shall plead[H7378] their cause[H7379] with thee.
12Apply[H935] thine heart[H3820] unto instruction[H4148], and thine ears[H241] to the words[H561] of knowledge[H1847].
13Withhold[H4513] not correction[H4148] from the child[H5288]: for if thou beatest[H5221] him with the rod[H7626], he shall not die[H4191].
14
Thou shalt beat[H5221] him with the rod[H7626], and shalt deliver[H5337] his soul[H5315] from hell[H7585].
15
My son[H1121], if thine heart[H3820] be wise[H2449], my heart[H3820] shall rejoice[H8055], even mine[H589].
16
Yea, my reins[H3629] shall rejoice[H5937], when thy lips[H8193]speak[H1696] right things[H4339].
17
Let not thine heart[H3820]envy[H7065]sinners[H2400]: but be thou in the fear[H3374] of the LORD[H3068] all the day[H3117] long.
18
For surely there is[H3426] an end[H319]; and thine expectation[H8615] shall not be cut off[H3772].
19Hear[H8085] thou, my son[H1121], and be wise[H2449], and guide[H833] thine heart[H3820] in the way[H1870].
20
Be not among winebibbers[H3196]; among riotous eaters[H2151] of flesh[H1320]:
21
For the drunkard[H5433] and the glutton[H2151] shall come to poverty[H3423]: and drowsiness[H5124] shall clothe[H3847] a man with rags[H7168].
22Hearken[H8085] unto thy father[H1] that begat[H3205] thee, and despise[H936] not thy mother[H517] when she is old[H2204].
23Buy[H7069] the truth[H571], and sell[H4376] it not; also wisdom[H2451], and instruction[H4148], and understanding[H998].
24
The father[H1] of the righteous[H6662] shall greatly[H1524]rejoice[H1523]: and he that begetteth[H3205] a wise[H2450] child shall have joy[H8055] of him.
25
Thy father[H1] and thy mother[H517] shall be glad[H8055], and she that bare[H3205] thee shall rejoice[H1523].
26
My son[H1121], give[H5414] me thine heart[H3820], and let thine eyes[H5869]observe[H7521] my ways[H1870].
27
For a whore[H2181] is a deep[H6013]ditch[H7745]; and a strange woman[H5237] is a narrow[H6862]pit[H875].
28
She also lieth in wait[H693] as for a prey[H2863], and increaseth[H3254] the transgressors[H898] among men[H120].
29
Who hath woe?[H188] who hath sorrow?[H17] who hath contentions?[H4079] who hath babbling?[H7879] who hath wounds[H6482] without cause?[H2600] who hath redness[H2448] of eyes?[H5869]
30
They that tarry long[H309] at the wine[H3196]; they that go[H935] to seek[H2713] mixed wine[H4469].
31Look[H7200] not thou upon the wine[H3196] when it is red[H119], when it giveth[H5414] his colour[H5869] in the cup[H3563], when it moveth[H1980] itself aright[H4339].
32
At the last[H319] it biteth[H5391] like a serpent[H5175], and stingeth[H6567] like an adder[H6848].
34
Yea, thou shalt be as he that lieth[H7901]down[H7901] in the midst[H3820] of the sea[H3220], or as he that lieth[H7901] upon the top[H7218] of a mast[H2260].
35
They have stricken[H5221] me, shalt thou say, and I was not sick[H2470]; they have beaten[H1986] me, and I felt[H3045] it not: when shall I awake?[H6974] I will seek[H1245] it yet[H3254] again.