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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://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 NLT</title><link rel="stylesheet" href="/chapnew2.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="../spec.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/print.css" type="text/css" media="Print" /></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" 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href="../proverbs/22.htm" title="Proverbs 22">◄</a> Proverbs 23 <a href="../proverbs/24.htm" 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"><table width="100%"><tr><td width="99%" valign="top">New Living Translation</td><td width="1%" valign="top"><a href="/p/nlt/esv/proverbs/23.shtml" style="color:#001320" title="Parallel Chapters"> Par ▾ </a></td></tr></table></div><div class="chap"><p class="line1"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/23-1.htm"><b>1</b></a></span>While dining with a ruler,</p><p class="line2">pay attention to what is put before you.</p><p class="line1"> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/23-2.htm"><b>2</b></a></span>If you are a big eater,</p><p class="line2">put a knife to your throat;</p><p class="line1"> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/23-3.htm"><b>3</b></a></span>don’t desire all the delicacies,</p><p class="line2">for he might be trying to trick you.</p><p class="b"/><p class="line1"> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/23-4.htm"><b>4</b></a></span>Don’t wear yourself out trying to get rich.</p><p class="line2">Be wise enough to know when to quit.</p><p class="line1"> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/23-5.htm"><b>5</b></a></span>In the blink of an eye wealth disappears,</p><p class="line2">for it will sprout wings</p><p class="line2">and fly away like an eagle.</p><p class="b"/><p class="line1"> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/23-6.htm"><b>6</b></a></span>Don’t eat with people who are stingy;</p><p class="line2">don’t desire their delicacies.</p><p class="line1"> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/23-7.htm"><b>7</b></a></span>They are always thinking about how much it costs.<a href="#footnotes"><span class="fn">a</span></a></p><p class="line2">“Eat and drink,” they say, but they don’t mean it.</p><p class="line1"> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/23-8.htm"><b>8</b></a></span>You will throw up what little you’ve eaten,</p><p class="line2">and your compliments will be wasted.</p><p class="b"/><p class="line1"> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/23-9.htm"><b>9</b></a></span>Don’t waste your breath on fools,</p><p class="line2">for they will despise the wisest advice.</p><p class="b"/><p class="line1"> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/23-10.htm"><b>10</b></a></span>Don’t cheat your neighbor by moving the ancient boundary markers;</p><p class="line2">don’t take the land of defenseless orphans.</p><p class="line1"> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/23-11.htm"><b>11</b></a></span>For their Redeemer<a href="#footnotes"><span class="fn">b</span></a> is strong;</p><p class="line2">he himself will bring their charges against you.</p><p class="b"/><p class="line1"> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/23-12.htm"><b>12</b></a></span>Commit yourself to instruction;</p><p class="line2">listen carefully to words of knowledge.</p><p class="b"/><p class="line1"> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/23-13.htm"><b>13</b></a></span>Don’t fail to discipline your children.</p><p class="line2">The rod of punishment won’t kill them.</p><p class="line1"> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/23-14.htm"><b>14</b></a></span>Physical discipline</p><p class="line2">may well save them from death.<a href="#footnotes"><span class="fn">c</span></a></p><p class="b"/><p class="line1"> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/23-15.htm"><b>15</b></a></span>My child,<a href="#footnotes"><span class="fn">d</span></a> if your heart is wise,</p><p class="line2">my own heart will rejoice!</p><p class="line1"> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/23-16.htm"><b>16</b></a></span>Everything in me will celebrate</p><p class="line2">when you speak what is right.</p><p class="b"/><p class="line1"> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/23-17.htm"><b>17</b></a></span>Don’t envy sinners,</p><p class="line2">but always continue to fear the LORD.</p><p class="line1"> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/23-18.htm"><b>18</b></a></span>You will be rewarded for this;</p><p class="line2">your hope will not be disappointed.</p><p class="b"/><p class="line1"> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/23-19.htm"><b>19</b></a></span>My child, listen and be wise:</p><p class="line2">Keep your heart on the right course.</p><p class="line1"> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/23-20.htm"><b>20</b></a></span>Do not carouse with drunkards</p><p class="line2">or feast with gluttons,</p><p class="line1"> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/23-21.htm"><b>21</b></a></span>for they are on their way to poverty,</p><p class="line2">and too much sleep clothes them in rags.</p><p class="b"/><p class="line1"> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/23-22.htm"><b>22</b></a></span>Listen to your father, who gave you life,</p><p class="line2">and don’t despise your mother when she is old.</p><p class="line1"> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/23-23.htm"><b>23</b></a></span>Get the truth and never sell it;</p><p class="line2">also get wisdom, discipline, and good judgment.</p><p class="line1"> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/23-24.htm"><b>24</b></a></span>The father of godly children has cause for joy.</p><p class="line2">What a pleasure to have children who are wise.<a href="#footnotes"><span class="fn">e</span></a></p><p class="line1"> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/23-25.htm"><b>25</b></a></span>So give your father and mother joy!</p><p class="line2">May she who gave you birth be happy.</p><p class="b"/><p class="line1"> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/23-26.htm"><b>26</b></a></span>O my son, give me your heart.</p><p class="line2">May your eyes take delight in following my ways.</p><p class="line1"> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/23-27.htm"><b>27</b></a></span>A prostitute is a dangerous trap;</p><p class="line2">a promiscuous woman is as dangerous as falling into a narrow well.</p><p class="line1"> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/23-28.htm"><b>28</b></a></span>She hides and waits like a robber,</p><p class="line2">eager to make more men unfaithful.</p><p class="b"/><p class="line1"> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/23-29.htm"><b>29</b></a></span>Who has anguish? Who has sorrow?</p><p class="line2">Who is always fighting? Who is always complaining?</p><p class="line2">Who has unnecessary bruises? Who has bloodshot eyes?</p><p class="line1"> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/23-30.htm"><b>30</b></a></span>It is the one who spends long hours in the taverns,</p><p class="line2">trying out new drinks.</p><p class="line1"> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/23-31.htm"><b>31</b></a></span>Don’t gaze at the wine, seeing how red it is,</p><p class="line2">how it sparkles in the cup, how smoothly it goes down.</p><p class="line1"> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/23-32.htm"><b>32</b></a></span>For in the end it bites like a poisonous snake;</p><p class="line2">it stings like a viper.</p><p class="line1"> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/23-33.htm"><b>33</b></a></span>You will see hallucinations,</p><p class="line2">and you will say crazy things.</p><p class="line1"> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/23-34.htm"><b>34</b></a></span>You will stagger like a sailor tossed at sea,</p><p class="line2">clinging to a swaying mast.</p><p class="line1"> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/23-35.htm"><b>35</b></a></span>And you will say, “They hit me, but I didn’t feel it.</p><p class="line2">I didn’t even know it when they beat me up.</p><p class="line1">When will I wake up</p><p class="line2">so I can look for another drink?”</p><A name="footnotes"></a><hr size="1" color="DDEEFF"><span class="mainfootnotes"><span class="mainfootnoteshdg">Footnotes:</span><br><span class="fn">a</span><note caller="+" style="f"><span class="fr">23:7 </span><span class="ft">The meaning of the Hebrew is uncertain.</span><br><span class="fn">b</span><note caller="+" style="f"><span class="fr">23:11 </span><span class="ft">Or </span><span class="it">redeemer.</span><br><span class="fn">c</span><note caller="+" style="f"><span class="fr">23:14 </span><span class="ft">Hebrew </span><span class="it">from Sheol.</span><br><span class="fn">d</span><note caller="+" style="f"><span class="fr">23:15 </span><span class="ft">Hebrew </span><span class="it">My son;</span><span class="ft"> also in 23:19.</span><br><span class="fn">e</span><note caller="+" style="f"><span class="fr">23:24 </span><span class="ft">Hebrew </span><span class="it">to have a wise son.</span><br></span></div></div><div id="botbox"><div class="padbot"><div align="center"><em>Holy Bible</em>, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. 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