Proverbs 23:15–35

¹⁵My son, if your heart is wise,

my own heart will indeed rejoice.

¹⁶My inmost being^d will rejoice

when your lips speak what is right.

¹⁷Do not let your heart envy sinners,

but always continue in the fear of the LORD.

¹⁸For surely there is a future,

and your hope will not be cut off.

¹⁹Listen, my son, and be wise,

and guide your heart on the right course.

²⁰Do not join those who drink too much wine

or gorge themselves on meat.

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

and drowsiness will clothe them in rags.

²²Listen to your father who gave you life,

and do not despise your mother when she is old.

²³Invest in truth and never sell it—

in wisdom and instruction and understanding.

²⁴The father of a righteous man will greatly rejoice,

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

²⁵May your father and mother be glad,

and may she who gave you birth rejoice!

²⁶My son, give me your heart,

and let your eyes delight in my ways.

²⁷For a prostitute is a deep pit,

and an adulteress^e is a narrow well.

²⁸Like a robber she lies in wait

and multiplies the faithless among men.

²⁹Who has woe? Who has sorrow?

Who has contentions? Who has complaints?

Who has needless wounds? Who has bloodshot eyes?

³⁰Those who linger over wine,

who go to taste mixed drinks.

³¹Do not gaze at wine while it is red,

when it sparkles in the cup

and goes down smoothly.

³²In the end it bites like a snake

and stings like a viper.

³³Your eyes will see strange things,

and your mind will utter perversities.

³⁴You will be like one sleeping on the high seas

or lying on the top of a mast:

³⁵“They struck me, but I feel no pain!

They beat me, but I did not know it!

When can I wake up

to search for another drink?”