Sundry observations of moral virtues, and their contrary vices.

23:1 When you sit to eat with a ruler,
consider diligently what is before you;

23:2 put a knife to your throat,
if you are a man given to appetite.

23:3 Don’t be desirous of his dainties,
seeing they are deceitful food.

23:4 Don’t weary yourself to be rich.
In your wisdom, show restraint.

23:5 Why do you set your eyes on that which is not?
For it certainly sprouts wings like an eagle and flies in the sky.

23:6 Don’t eat the food of him who has a stingy eye,
and don’t crave his delicacies:

23:7 for as he thinks about the cost, so he is.
“Eat and drink!” he says to you,
but his heart is not with you.

23:8 The morsel which you have eaten you shall vomit up,
and lose your good words.

23:9 Don’t speak in the ears of a fool,
for he will despise the wisdom of your words.

23:10 Don’t move the ancient boundary stone.
Don’t encroach on the fields of the fatherless:

23:11 for their Defender is strong.
He will plead their case against you.

23:12 Apply your heart to instruction,
and your ears to the words of knowledge.

23:13 Don’t withhold correction from a child.
If you punish him with the rod, he will not die.

23:14 Punish him with the rod,
and save his soul from Sheol.

23:15 My son, if your heart is wise,
then my heart will be glad, even mine:

23:16 yes, my heart will rejoice,
when your lips speak what is right.

23:17 Don’t let your heart envy sinners;
but rather fear Yahweh all the day long.

23:18 Indeed surely there is a future hope,
and your hope will not be cut off.

23:19 Listen, my son, and be wise,
and keep your heart on the right path!

23:20 Don’t be among ones drinking too much wine,
or those who gorge themselves on meat:

23:21 for the drunkard and the glutton shall become poor;
and drowsiness clothes them in rags.

23:22 Listen to your father who gave you life,
and don’t despise your mother when she is old.

23:23 Buy the truth, and don’t sell it.
Get wisdom, discipline, and understanding.

23:24 The father of the righteous has great joy.
Whoever fathers a wise child delights in him.

23:25 Let your father and your mother be glad!
Let her who bore you rejoice!

23:26 My son, give me your heart;
and let your eyes keep in my ways.

23:27 For a prostitute is a deep pit;
and a wayward wife is a narrow well.

23:28 Yes, she lies in wait like a robber,
and increases the unfaithful among men.

23:29 Who has woe?
  Who has sorrow?
    Who has strife?
      Who has complaints?
        Who has needless bruises?
          Who has bloodshot eyes?

23:30 Those who stay long at the wine;
those who go to seek out mixed wine.

23:31 Don’t look at the wine when it is red,
when it sparkles in the cup,
when it goes down smoothly.

23:32 In the end, it bites like a snake,
and poisons like a viper.

23:33 Your eyes will see strange things,
and your mind will imagine confusing things.

23:34 Yes, you will be as he who lies down in the midst of the sea,
or as he who lies on top of the rigging:

23:35 “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.”