Study Desk

When you sit down to dine with a ruler, consider carefully what^[a] is before you,

and put a knife to your throat if you have a big^[b] appetite;

don't desire his choice food,^(a) for that food is deceptive.

Don't wear yourself out to get rich;^(b) stop giving your attention to it.

As soon as your eyes fly to it, it disappears,^(c) for it makes wings for itself and flies like an eagle to the sky.

Don't eat a stingy person's bread,^[c](d) and don't desire his choice food,^(e)

for it's like someone calculating inwardly.^[d](f) "Eat and drink," he says to you, but his heart is not with you.^(g)

You will vomit the little you've eaten and waste your pleasant words.

Don't speak to^[e] a fool, for he will despise the insight of your words.^(h)

Don't move an ancient boundary marker,⁽ⁱ⁾ and don't encroach on the fields of the fatherless,

for their Redeemer is strong,^(j) and He will take up their case against you.^(k)

Apply yourself to discipline and listen to words of knowledge.

Don't withhold discipline from a youth; if you beat him with a rod, he will not die.^(l)

Strike him with a rod, and you will rescue his life from Sheol.^(m)

My son, if your heart is wise, my heart will indeed rejoice.⁽ⁿ⁾

My innermost being will cheer when your lips say what is right.^(o)

Don't let your heart envy sinners;^(p) instead, always fear the Lord .^(q)

For then you will have a future, and your hope will never fade.^(r)

Listen, my son, and be wise; keep your mind on the right course.

Don't associate with those who drink too much wine^(s) or with those who gorge themselves on meat.^(t)

For the drunkard and the glutton will become poor, and grogginess will clothe them in rags.^(u)

Listen to your father who gave you life, and don't despise your mother when^[f] she is old.^(v)

Buy—and do not sell—truth, wisdom, instruction, and understanding.^(w)

The father of a righteous son will rejoice greatly, and one who fathers a wise son will delight in him.^(x)

Let your father and mother have joy,^(y) and let her who gave birth to you rejoice.

My son, give me your heart, and let your eyes observe my ways.

For a prostitute is a deep pit,^(z) and a stranger is a narrow well;

indeed, she sets an ambush like a robber^(aa) and increases those among men who are unfaithful.

Who has woe? Who has sorrow? Who has conflicts? Who has complaints? Who has wounds for no reason?^(ab) Who has red eyes?

Those who linger over wine, those who go looking for mixed wine.^(ac)

Don't gaze at wine because it is red,^(ad) when it gleams in the cup and goes down smoothly.^(ae)

In the end it bites like a snake and stings like a viper.

Your eyes will see strange things, and you will say absurd things.^[g](af)

You'll be like someone sleeping out at sea or lying down on the top of a ship's mast.

"They struck me, but^[h] I feel no pain! They beat me, but I didn't know it!^(ag) When will I wake up? I'll look for another drink."^(ah)

Don't envy evil men^(a) or desire to be with them,^(b)

for their hearts plan violence, and their words stir up trouble.^(c)

A house is built by wisdom,^(d) and it is established by understanding;

by knowledge the rooms are filled with every precious and beautiful treasure.

A wise warrior is better than a strong one,^[a] and a man of knowledge than one of strength;^[b](e)

for you should wage war with sound guidance— victory comes with many counselors.^(f)

Wisdom is inaccessible to^[c] a fool;^(g) he does not open his mouth at the gate.^(h)

The one who plots evil⁽ⁱ⁾ will be called a schemer.

A foolish scheme is sin, and a mocker is detestable to people.

If you do nothing in a difficult time, your strength is limited.

Rescue those being taken off to death, and save those stumbling toward slaughter.^(j)

If you say, "But we didn't know about this," won't He who weighs hearts^(k) consider it? Won't He who protects your life^(l) know? Won't He repay a person according to his work?^(m)

Eat honey,⁽ⁿ⁾ my son, for it is good, and the honeycomb is sweet to your palate;^(o)

realize that wisdom is the same for you.^(p) If you find it, you will have a future, and your hope will never fade.^(q)

Wicked man, don't set an ambush, at the camp of the righteous man;^(r) don't destroy his dwelling.

Though a righteous man falls seven times, he will get up,^(s) but the wicked will stumble into ruin.^(t)

Don't gloat when your enemy falls, and don't let your heart rejoice when he stumbles,^(u)

or the Lord will see, be displeased, and turn His wrath away from him.

Don't be agitated by evildoers, and don't envy the wicked.^(v)

For the evil have no future;^(w) the lamp of the wicked will be put out.^(x)

My son, fear the Lord , as well as the king,^(y) and don't associate with rebels,^[d]

for destruction from them will come suddenly; who knows what distress these two can bring?

These sayings also belong to the wise:^(z) It is not good to show partiality in judgment.^(aa)

Whoever says to the guilty, "You are innocent"^(ab)— people will curse him,^(ac) and tribes will denounce him;

but it will go well with those who convict the guilty, and a generous blessing will come to them.

He who gives an honest answer gives a kiss on the lips.

Complete your outdoor work, and prepare your field;^(ad) afterward, build your house.

Don't testify against your neighbor without cause.^(ae) Don't deceive with your lips.

Don't say, "I'll do to him what he did to me; I'll repay the man for what he has done."^(af)

I went by the field of a slacker and by the vineyard of a man lacking sense.

Thistles had come up everywhere, weeds covered the ground,^(ag) and the stone wall was ruined.

I saw, and took it to heart; I looked, and received instruction:

a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the arms to rest,

and your poverty will come like a robber, your need, like a bandit.^(ah)