Proverbs 23:19–26

19 Hear, my son, and be wise,

and direct your heart in the way.

20 Be not among drunkards

or among gluttonous eaters of meat,

21 for the drunkard and the glutton will come to poverty,

and slumber will clothe them with rags.

22 Listen to your father who gave you life,

and do not despise your mother when she is old.

23 Buy truth, and do not sell it;

buy wisdom, instruction, and understanding.

24 The father of the righteous will greatly rejoice;

he who fathers a wise son will be glad in him.

25 Let your father and mother be glad;

let her who bore you rejoice.

26 My son, give me your heart,

and let your eyes observe my ways.

19 Hear thou, my son, and be wise,

And guide thine heart in the way.

20 Be not among winebibbers;

Among riotous eaters of flesh:

21 For the drunkard and the glutton shall come to poverty:

And drowsiness shall clothe a man with rags.

22 Hearken unto thy father that begat thee,

And despise not thy mother when she is old.

23 Buy the truth, and sell it not;

Also wisdom, and instruction, and understanding.

24 The father of the righteous shall greatly rejoice:

And he that begetteth a wise child shall have joy of him.

25 Thy father and thy mother shall be glad,

And she that bare thee shall rejoice.

26 My son, give me thine heart,

And let thine eyes observe my ways.

19 My child, listen and be wise:

Keep your heart on the right course.

20 Do not carouse with drunkards

or feast with gluttons,

21 for they are on their way to poverty,

and too much sleep clothes them in rags.

22 Listen to your father, who gave you life,

and don’t despise your mother when she is old.

23 Get the truth and never sell it;

also get wisdom, discipline, and good judgment.

24 The father of godly children has cause for joy.

What a pleasure to have children who are wise.

25 So give your father and mother joy!

May she who gave you birth be happy.

26 O my son, give me your heart.

May your eyes take delight in following my ways.

19 Hear, my son, and be wise;

And guide your heart in the way.

20 Do not mix with winebibbers,

Or with gluttonous eaters of 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,

Also wisdom and instruction and understanding.

24 The father of the righteous will greatly rejoice,

And he who begets a wise child will delight in him.

25 Let your father and your mother be glad,

And let her who bore you rejoice.

26 My son, give me your heart,

And let your eyes observe my ways.

19 Listen, my child, and be wise.

Keep your mind on what is right.

20 Don’t drink too much wine

or eat too much food.

21 Those who drink and eat too much become poor.

They sleep too much and end up wearing rags.

22 Listen to your father, who gave you life,

and do not forget your mother when she is old.

23 Learn the truth and never reject it.

Get wisdom, self-control, and understanding.

24 The father of a good child is very happy;

parents who have wise children are glad because of them.

25 Make your father and mother happy;

give your mother a reason to be glad.

26 My son, pay attention to me,

and watch closely what I do.

19 Hear thou, my son, and be wise,

And guide thy heart in the way.

20 Be not among winebibbers,

Among gluttonous eaters of flesh:

21 For the drunkard and the glutton shall come to poverty;

And drowsiness will clothe a man with rags.

22 Hearken unto thy father that begat thee,

And despise not thy mother when she is old.

23 Buy the truth, and sell it not;

Yea, wisdom, and instruction, and understanding.

24 The father of the righteous will greatly rejoice;

And he that begetteth a wise child will have joy of him.

25 Let thy father and thy mother be glad,

And let her that bare thee rejoice.

26 My son, give me thy heart;

And let thine eyes delight in my ways.

19 Thou, my son, hear and be wise, and direct thy heart in the way. 20 Be not among winebibbers, among riotous eaters of flesh. 21 For the drunkard and the glutton shall come to poverty; and drowsiness clotheth with rags. 22 Hearken unto thy father that begat thee, and despise not thy mother when she is old. 23 Buy the truth, and sell it not; wisdom, and instruction, and intelligence. 24 The father of a righteous man shall greatly rejoice, and he that begetteth a wise son shall have joy of him: 25 let thy father and thy mother have joy, and let her that bore thee rejoice. 26 My son, give me thy heart, and let thine eyes observe my ways.

19 My son, 

listen, be wise, 

and keep your mind going in the right direction. 

20 Do not associate with those who drink too much wine, 

with those who eat too much meat, 

21 because both a drunk and a glutton will become poor. 

Drowsiness will dress a person in rags. 

22 Listen to your father since you are his son, 

and do not despise your mother because she is old. 

23 Buy truth (and do not sell it), 

⸤that is,⸥ buy wisdom, discipline, and understanding. 

24 A righteous person’s father will certainly rejoice. 

Someone who has a wise son will enjoy him. 

25 May your father and your mother be glad. 

May she who gave birth to you rejoice. 

26 My son, 

give me your heart. 

Let your eyes find happiness in my ways. 

19 Listen, my son, and be wise;

keep your mind on the right course.

20 Don’t associate with those who drink too much wine

or with those who gorge themselves on meat.

21 For the drunkard and the glutton will become poor,

and grogginess will clothe them in rags.

22 Listen to your father who gave you life,

and don’t despise your mother when she is old.

23 Buy—and do not sell—truth,

wisdom, instruction, and understanding.

24 The father of a righteous son will rejoice greatly,

and one who fathers a wise son will delight in him.

25 Let your father and mother have joy,

and let her who gave birth to you rejoice.

26 My son, give me your heart,

and let your eyes observe my ways.

19 Hear, my child, and be wise,

and direct your mind in the way.

20 Do not be among winebibbers

or among gluttonous eaters of meat,

21 for the drunkard and the glutton will come to poverty,

and drowsiness will clothe them with rags.

22 Listen to your father who begot you,

and do not despise your mother when she is old.

23 Buy truth, and do not sell it;

buy wisdom, instruction, and understanding.

24 The father of the righteous will greatly rejoice;

he who fathers a wise son will be glad in him.

25 Let your father and mother be glad;

let her who bore you rejoice.

26 My child, give me your heart,

and let your eyes observe my ways.

19 You, my child, hear and be wise,

and direct your heart on the road.

20 Do not be among drinkers of wine,

among gluttonous eaters of their meat.

21 For the drunkard and gluttonous, they will become poor,

and with rags, drowsiness will clothe them.

22 Listen to your father—he who gave you life,

and do not despise your mother when she is old.

23 Buy truth and do not sell it,

wisdom and instruction and understanding.

24 The father of the righteous will surely rejoice;

he who bears a wise person will be happy with him.

25 May your father and your mother be glad,

and may she who bore you rejoice.

26 My child, may you give your heart to me,

and may your eyes delight in my ways.

19 My child, listen and be wise.

Keep your heart on the right path.

20 Don’t join those who drink too much wine.

Don’t join those who stuff themselves with meat.

21 Those who drink or eat too much will become poor.

If they sleep too much, they’ll have to wear rags.

22 Listen to your father, who gave you life.

Don’t hate your mother when she is old.

23 Buy the truth. Don’t sell it.

Get wisdom, training and understanding.

24 The father of a godly child is very happy.

Anyone who has a wise child is glad.

25 May your father and mother be glad.

May the woman who gave birth to you be happy.

26 My son, give me your heart.

Keep your eyes on the way I live.

19 Listen, my son, and be wise,

And direct your heart in the way.

20 Do not be with heavy drinkers of wine,

Or with gluttonous eaters of meat;

21 For the heavy drinker and the glutton will come to poverty,

And drowsiness will clothe one with rags.

22 Listen to your father who begot you,

And do not despise your mother when she is old.

23 Buy truth, and do not sell it,

Get wisdom and instruction and understanding.

24 The father of the righteous will greatly rejoice,

And he who sires a wise son will be glad in him.

25 Let your father and your mother be glad,

And let her rejoice who gave birth to you.

26 Give me your heart, my son,

And let your eyes delight in my ways.