1 ¶ When you sit down to eat with a ruler, pay close attention to what is before you:

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

3 Do not crave his delicacies: for they are a deceptive food.

4 ¶ Do not wear yourself out to be rich: cease from your own wisdom.

5 Will you catch a glimpse of it before it is gone? for wealth makes wings for itself; it flies away like an eagle toward heaven.

6 ¶ Do not eat the food of one who has a grudging eye, or desire his choice food:

7 For as he thinks in his heart, so is he: he says to you, Eat and drink; but his heart is not with you.

8 You will vomit up the morsel that you have eaten, and spoil your pleasant talk.

9 ¶ Do not talk to a fool: for he will despise the wisdom of your words.

10 ¶ Do not remove the old property marker; and do not encroach on the fields of orphans:

11 For their redeemer is mighty; he will plead their cause with you.

12 ¶ Apply your mind to correction, and your ears to the words of knowledge.

13 Do not withhold discipline from a child: for if you punish him with a switch, he will not die.

14 You shall whip him with a stick, and will deliver his soul from hell.

15 My son, if your heart is wise, my heart will truly rejoice.

16 Yea, my heart will be delighted, when you say what is right.

17 ¶ Do not allow your heart to envy sinners: but continue in the fear of the LORD all the day long.

18 For surely there is a future; and your hope will not be cut off.

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

20 Do not join with those who drink too much wine; or stuff themselves with meat:

21 For the drunkard and the glutton will come to poverty: and drowsiness will clothe a man with rags.

22 Listen to your father who begot you, and do not despise your mother when she is old.

23 Buy the truth, and do not sell it; acquire wisdom, instruction, and understanding.

24 A righteous man’s father will surely rejoice: and one who fathers a wise son will take delight in him.

25 Let your father and mother be happy, and let her who gave birth to you rejoice.

26 My son, give me your heart, and let your eyes take delight in my ways.

27 For a whore is a deep ditch; and an adulterous woman is a narrow pit.

28 She lies in wait as for prey, and increases the transgressors among men.

29 ¶ Who has sorrow? who has misery? who has quarrels? who is groaning? who has wounds for no reason? who has bloodshot eyes?

30 Those who linger long over their wine; those who go to seek mixed wine.

31 Do not look at the wine when it is red, when it sparkles in the cup, when it goes down smoothly.

32 In the end it bites like a serpent, and stings like an adder.

33 Your eyes will see strange women, and your heart will utter perverse things.

34 Yea, you will be like one who lies down in the midst of the sea, or as he who lies down on the top of a mast.

35 You will say, They hit me, and I did not feel it; they beat me and it did not hurt: when I wake up, I will look for another drink.