Proverbs 23:20–34

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

or with those who gorge themselves on meat.^u

²¹For the drunkard and the glutton will become poor,

and grogginess will clothe them in rags.^v

²²Listen to your father who gave you life,

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

²³Buy—and do not sell—truth,

wisdom, instruction, and understanding.^x

²⁴The father of a righteous son will rejoice greatly,

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

²⁵Let your father and mother have joy,^z

and let her who gave birth to you rejoice.

²⁶My son, give me your heart,

and let your eyes observe my ways.

²⁷For a prostitute is a deep pit,^aa

and a wayward woman is a narrow well;

²⁸indeed, she sets an ambush like a robber^ab

and increases the number of unfaithful people.

²⁹Who has woe? Who has sorrow?

Who has conflicts? Who has complaints?

Who has wounds for no reason?^ac

Who has red eyes?

³⁰Those who linger over wine;

those who go looking for mixed wine.^ad

³¹Don’t gaze at wine because it is red,^a

because it gleams in the cup

and goes down smoothly.^b

³²In the end it bites like a snake

and stings like a viper.

³³Your eyes will see strange things,

and you will say absurd things.^Bc

³⁴You’ll be like someone sleeping out at sea

or lying down on the top of a ship’s mast.