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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "//www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="//www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1"><title>Proverbs 23 CEV</title><link rel="stylesheet" href="/chapnew2.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="../spec.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /></head><body><div id="fx"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx2"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="30" scrolling="no" src="../cmenus/proverbs/23.htm" align="left" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div><div id="blnk"></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable"><tr><td><div id="fx5"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx6"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="245" scrolling="no" 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title="Proverbs 24">►</a></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><div class="vheading">Contemporary English Version</div><div class="chap"><h4 class="s2">–6–</h4><p class="q1"><span class="v20_23_1"><span class="reftext" id="Prov.23.1" class="v20_23_1">1</span>When you are invited</span></p><p class="q1"><span class="v20_23_1">to eat with a king,</span></p><p class="q2"><span class="v20_23_1">use your best manners.</span></p><p class="q1"><span class="v20_23_2"><span class="reftext" id="Prov.23.2" class="v20_23_2">2</span>Don't go and stuff yourself!</span></p><p class="q1"><span class="v20_23_2">That would be just the same</span></p><p class="q2"><span class="v20_23_2">as cutting your throat.</span></p><p class="q1"><span class="v20_23_3"><span class="reftext" id="Prov.23.3" class="v20_23_3">3</span>Don't be greedy for all</span></p><p class="q1"><span class="v20_23_3">of that fancy food!</span></p><p class="q2"><span class="v20_23_3">It may not be so tasty.</span></p><h4 class="s2">–7–</h4><p class="q1"><span class="v20_23_4"><span class="reftext" id="Prov.23.4" class="v20_23_4">4</span>Give up trying so hard</span></p><p class="q2"><span class="v20_23_4">to get rich.</span></p><p class="q1"><span class="v20_23_5"><span class="reftext" id="Prov.23.5" class="v20_23_5">5</span>Your money flies away</span></p><p class="q2"><span class="v20_23_5">before you know it,</span></p><p class="q1"><span class="v20_23_5">just like an eagle</span></p><p class="q2"><span class="v20_23_5">suddenly taking off.</span></p><h4 class="s2">–8–</h4><p class="q1"><span class="v20_23_6"><span class="reftext" id="Prov.23.6" class="v20_23_6">6</span>Don't accept an invitation</span></p><p class="q1"><span class="v20_23_6">to eat a selfish person's food,</span></p><p class="q2"><span class="v20_23_6">no matter how good it is.</span></p><p class="q1"><span class="v20_23_7"><span class="reftext" id="Prov.23.7" class="v20_23_7">7</span>People like that take note</span></p><p class="q2"><span class="v20_23_7">of how much you eat.<a href="#fn" id="link_Prov.23.7!f.1" class="notelink f-link"><span>+</span></a> </span></p><p class="q1"><span class="v20_23_7">They say, “Take all you want!”</span></p><p class="q2"><span class="v20_23_7">But they don't mean it.</span></p><p class="q1"><span class="v20_23_8"><span class="reftext" id="Prov.23.8" class="v20_23_8">8</span>Each bite will come back up,</span></p><p class="q1"><span class="v20_23_8">and all your kind words</span></p><p class="q2"><span class="v20_23_8">will be wasted.</span></p><h4 class="s2">–9–</h4><p class="q1"><span class="v20_23_9"><span class="reftext" id="Prov.23.9" class="v20_23_9">9</span>Don't talk to fools—</span></p><p class="q2"><span class="v20_23_9">they will make fun of you.</span></p><h4 class="s2">–10–</h4><p class="q1"><span class="v20_23_10"><span class="reftext" id="Prov.23.10" class="v20_23_10">10</span>Don't move a boundary marker<a href="#fn" id="link_Prov.23.10!f.1" class="notelink f-link"><span>+</span></a> </span></p><p class="q1"><span class="v20_23_10">or take the land</span></p><p class="q2"><span class="v20_23_10">that belongs to orphans.</span></p><p class="q1"><span class="v20_23_11"><span class="reftext" id="Prov.23.11" class="v20_23_11">11</span>God All-Powerful is there</span></p><p class="q2"><span class="v20_23_11">to defend them against you.</span></p><h4 class="s2">–11–</h4><p class="q1"><span class="v20_23_12"><span class="reftext" id="Prov.23.12" class="v20_23_12">12</span>Listen to instruction</span></p><p class="q2"><span class="v20_23_12">and do your best to learn.</span></p><h4 class="s2">–12–</h4><p class="q1"><span class="v20_23_13"><span class="reftext" id="Prov.23.13" class="v20_23_13">13</span>Don't fail to correct</span></p><p class="q2"><span class="v20_23_13">your children.</span></p><p class="q1"><span class="v20_23_13">You won't kill them</span></p><p class="q2"><span class="v20_23_13">by being firm,</span></p><p class="q1"><span class="v20_23_14"><span class="reftext" id="Prov.23.14" class="v20_23_14">14</span>and it may even</span></p><p class="q2"><span class="v20_23_14">save their lives.</span></p><h4 class="s2">–13–</h4><p class="q1"><span class="v20_23_15"><span class="reftext" id="Prov.23.15" class="v20_23_15">15</span>My children,</span></p><p class="q1"><span class="v20_23_15">if you show good sense,</span></p><p class="q2"><span class="v20_23_15">I will be happy,</span></p><p class="q1"><span class="v20_23_16"><span class="reftext" id="Prov.23.16" class="v20_23_16">16</span>and if you are truthful,</span></p><p class="q2"><span class="v20_23_16">I will really be glad.</span></p><h4 class="s2">–14–</h4><p class="q1"><span class="v20_23_17"><span class="reftext" id="Prov.23.17" class="v20_23_17">17</span>Don't be jealous of sinners,</span></p><p class="q2"><span class="v20_23_17">but always honor the <span class="nd">Lord</span>.</span></p><p class="q1"><span class="v20_23_18"><span class="reftext" id="Prov.23.18" class="v20_23_18">18</span>Then you will truly have hope</span></p><p class="q2"><span class="v20_23_18">for the future.</span></p><h4 class="s2">–15–</h4><p class="q1"><span class="v20_23_19"><span class="reftext" id="Prov.23.19" class="v20_23_19">19</span>Listen to me, my children!</span></p><p class="q1"><span class="v20_23_19">Be wise and have enough sense</span></p><p class="q2"><span class="v20_23_19">to follow the right path.</span></p><p class="q1"><span class="v20_23_20"><span class="reftext" id="Prov.23.20" class="v20_23_20">20</span>Don't be a heavy drinker</span></p><p class="q2"><span class="v20_23_20">or stuff yourself with food.</span></p><p class="q1"><span class="v20_23_21"><span class="reftext" id="Prov.23.21" class="v20_23_21">21</span>It will make you feel drowsy,</span></p><p class="q1"><span class="v20_23_21">and you will end up poor</span></p><p class="q2"><span class="v20_23_21">with only rags to wear.</span></p><h4 class="s2">–16–</h4><p class="q1"><span class="v20_23_22"><span class="reftext" id="Prov.23.22" class="v20_23_22">22</span>Pay attention to your father,</span></p><p class="q1"><span class="v20_23_22">and don't neglect your mother</span></p><p class="q2"><span class="v20_23_22">when she grows old.</span></p><p class="q1"><span class="v20_23_23"><span class="reftext" id="Prov.23.23" class="v20_23_23">23</span>Invest in truth and wisdom,</span></p><p class="q1"><span class="v20_23_23">discipline and good sense,</span></p><p class="q2"><span class="v20_23_23">and don't part with them.</span></p><p class="q1"><span class="v20_23_24"><span class="reftext" id="Prov.23.24" class="v20_23_24">24</span>Make your father truly happy</span></p><p class="q1"><span class="v20_23_24">by living right and showing</span></p><p class="q2"><span class="v20_23_24">sound judgment.</span></p><p class="q1"><span class="v20_23_25"><span class="reftext" id="Prov.23.25" class="v20_23_25">25</span>Make your parents proud,</span></p><p class="q2"><span class="v20_23_25">especially your mother.</span></p><h4 class="s2">–17–</h4><p class="q1"><span class="v20_23_26"><span class="reftext" id="Prov.23.26" class="v20_23_26">26</span>My son, pay close attention,</span></p><p class="q1"><span class="v20_23_26">and gladly follow</span></p><p class="q2"><span class="v20_23_26">my example.</span></p><p class="q1"><span class="v20_23_27"><span class="reftext" id="Prov.23.27" class="v20_23_27">27</span>Bad women and unfaithful wives</span></p><p class="q2"><span class="v20_23_27">are like a deep pit—</span></p><p class="q1"><span class="v20_23_28"><span class="reftext" id="Prov.23.28" class="v20_23_28">28</span>they are waiting to attack you</span></p><p class="q1"><span class="v20_23_28">like a gang of robbers</span></p><p class="q2"><span class="v20_23_28">with victim after victim.</span></p><h4 class="s2">–18–</h4><p class="q1"><span class="v20_23_29"><span class="reftext" id="Prov.23.29" class="v20_23_29">29</span>Who is always in trouble?</span></p><p class="q2"><span class="v20_23_29">Who argues and fights?</span></p><p class="q1"><span class="v20_23_29">Who has cuts and bruises?</span></p><p class="q2"><span class="v20_23_29">Whose eyes are red?</span></p><p class="q1"><span class="v20_23_30"><span class="reftext" id="Prov.23.30" class="v20_23_30">30</span>Everyone who stays up late,</span></p><p class="q2"><span class="v20_23_30">having just one more drink.</span></p><p class="q1"><span class="v20_23_31"><span class="reftext" id="Prov.23.31" class="v20_23_31">31</span>Don't even look</span></p><p class="q1"><span class="v20_23_31">at that colorful stuff</span></p><p class="q2"><span class="v20_23_31">bubbling up in the glass!</span></p><p class="q1"><span class="v20_23_31">It goes down so easily,</span></p><p class="q1"><span class="v20_23_32"><span class="reftext" id="Prov.23.32" class="v20_23_32">32</span>but later it bites</span></p><p class="q2"><span class="v20_23_32">like a poisonous snake.</span></p><p class="q1"><span class="v20_23_33"><span class="reftext" id="Prov.23.33" class="v20_23_33">33</span>You will see weird things,</span></p><p class="q1"><span class="v20_23_33">and your mind</span></p><p class="q2"><span class="v20_23_33">will play tricks on you.</span></p><p class="q1"><span class="v20_23_34"><span class="reftext" id="Prov.23.34" class="v20_23_34">34</span>You will feel tossed about</span></p><p class="q1"><span class="v20_23_34">like someone trying to sleep</span></p><p class="q2"><span class="v20_23_34">on a ship in a storm.</span></p><p class="q1"><span class="v20_23_35"><span class="reftext" id="Prov.23.35" class="v20_23_35">35</span>You will be bruised all over,</span></p><p class="q1"><span class="v20_23_35">without even remembering</span></p><p class="q2"><span class="v20_23_35">how it all happened.</span></p><p class="q1"><span class="v20_23_35">And you will lie awake asking,</span></p><p class="q1"><span class="v20_23_35">“When will morning come,</span></p><p class="q2"><span class="v20_23_35">so I can drink some more?”</span></p></div> </div> <a name="fn"></a><br /><br /><br /><b>Footnotes:<br /><br /><note caller="+" style="f"><char style="fr" closed="false">23.7 </char><char style="fq" closed="false">People … eat: </char><char style="ft" closed="false">One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text.</char></note><br /><note caller="+" style="f"><char style="fr" closed="false">23.10 </char><char style="fq" closed="false">marker: </char><char style="ft" closed="false">See the note at 22.28.</char></note></div></div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div align="center"><p><span style="font-size:11pt;">Contemporary English Version, Second Edition (CEV®)</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt;">© 2006 American Bible Society. 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