Proverbs 23:20–34

²⁰Do not carouse with drunkards

or feast with gluttons,

²¹for they are on their way to poverty,

and too much sleep clothes them in rags.

²²Listen to your father, who gave you life,

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

²³Get the truth and never sell it;

also get wisdom, discipline, and good judgment.

²⁴The father of godly children has cause for joy.

What a pleasure to have children who are wise.

²⁵So give your father and mother joy!

May she who gave you birth be happy.

²⁶O my son, give me your heart.

May your eyes take delight in following my ways.

²⁷A prostitute is a dangerous trap;

a promiscuous woman is as dangerous as falling into a narrow well.

²⁸She hides and waits like a robber,

eager to make more men unfaithful.

²⁹Who has anguish? Who has sorrow?

Who is always fighting? Who is always complaining?

Who has unnecessary bruises? Who has bloodshot eyes?

³⁰It is the one who spends long hours in the taverns,

trying out new drinks.

³¹Don’t gaze at the wine, seeing how red it is,

how it sparkles in the cup, how smoothly it goes down.

³²For in the end it bites like a poisonous snake;

it stings like a viper.

³³You will see hallucinations,

and you will say crazy things.

³⁴You will stagger like a sailor tossed at sea,

clinging to a swaying mast.