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23:1  When you sit down to dine with a ruler, think carefully about who is before you.
23:2  If you have a big appetite, put a knife to your throat!
23:3  Don’t be greedy for his delicacies, for they are deceptive food.
23:4  Don’t exhaust yourself in pursuit of wealth; be smart enough to desist.
23:5  If you make your eyes rush at it, it’s no longer there! For wealth will surely grow wings, like an eagle flying off to the sky.
23:6  Don’t eat the food of a stingy man; don’t be greedy for his delicacies.
23:7  For he is like someone who keeps accounts — “Eat! Drink!” he says to you, but he doesn’t really mean it.
23:8  The little you eat you will vomit up, and your compliments will have been wasted.
23:9  Don’t speak in the ears of a fool, for he will only despise the common sense in your words.
23:10  Don’t move the ancient boundary stone or encroach on the land of the fatherless;
23:11  for their Redeemer is strong; he will take up their fight against you.
23:12  Apply your mind to discipline and your ears to words of knowledge.
23:13  Don’t withhold discipline from a child — if you beat him with a stick, he won’t die!
23:14  If you beat him with a stick, you will save him from Sh’ol.
23:15  My son, if your heart is wise, then my own heart too is glad;
23:16  my inmost being rejoices when your lips say what is right.
23:17  Don’t envy sinners, but follow the example of those who always fear God;
23:18  for then you will have a future; what you hope for will not be cut off.
23:19  You, my son: listen, be wise, and set your mind on the right way.
23:20  Don’t be one of those who guzzle wine or of those who eat meat to excess,
23:21  for both drunkard and glutton will become poor — drowsiness will clothe them with rags.
23:22  Listen to your father, who gave you life; and don’t despise your mother when she gets old.
23:23  Buy the truth, don’t sell it, also wisdom, discipline and discernment.
23:24  A righteous person’s father will be filled with joy; yes, he whose son is wise will rejoice in him.
23:25  So let your father and mother be glad; let her who gave you birth rejoice.
23:26  My son, give me your heart; let your eyes observe my ways.
23:27  A prostitute is a deep ditch, and a forbidden woman like a narrow well.
23:28  She lies in wait to snatch her prey and adds to the number of faithless men.
23:29  Who has misery? Who has regret? Who fights and complains all the time? Who gets bruised for no good reason? Who has bloodshot eyes?
23:30  Those who spend their time over wine, those always trying out mixed drinks.
23:31  Don’t gaze at the red wine as it gives its color to the cup. It may glide down smoothly now;
23:32  but in the end, it bites like a serpent — yes, it strikes like a poisonous snake.
23:33  Your eyes will see peculiar things, your mind will utter nonsense.
23:34  You will feel as if lying on the waves of the sea or sprawled on top of the mast —
23:35  “They hit me, but I didn’t feel it! They beat me up, and I didn’t even know it! When will I wake up? . . . I’ll go get another drink.”