1If you sit at a table with a great man, beware of what is in front of you; 2if your appetite is too great, put a knife to your throat. 3Do not greedily desire his fine food for it is deceptive nourishment.
4Do not wear yourself out trying to be rich, do not dwell on it. 5Set your eyes on wealth and it no longer exists; it sprouts wings and flies into the sky like an eagle.
6Do not eat with the wicked man or be greedy for his choice food. 7All is appearance, for he plots in his heart. “Eat and drink,” he says but he is not to be trusted. 8You will spit it out as soon as it is tasted and your words of praise will be wasted.
9Do not speak with a fool; he will not be able to appreciate your remarks.
10Do not move the ancient boundaries or take possession of the orphan’s land because his Avenger is powerful; 11he will take sides against you.
12Apply your heart to instruction and your ears to words of wisdom.
13Do not hold back from correcting a youth; the rod will not kill him. 14With several strokes, you save him from death.
15My son, if your heart is wise, then my own heart is glad, 16and my whole being will rejoice when you speak the truth.
17Do not envy sinners but, each day, fear Yahweh; then you will have a future and 18your hope will not be in vain.
19Listen, my son, and you will be wise and you will make your heart go straight on its way.
20Do not be one of those who get drunk with wine or who stuff themselves with meat, 21since the drunkard and the glutton impoverish themselves and the sleepyhead is clothed in rags.
22Listen to your father who begot you; do not despise your mother in her old age.
23Acquire truth and never sell it; gain wisdom, discipline and discernment.
24Happy the father of a virtuous man! How he will rejoice, 25he who fathers a wise man! May your father and mother rejoice and may she who bore you be glad.
26My son, give me your heart, that your eyes may delight in my ways. 27You should know that the prostitute is a deep abyss and the unknown woman a narrow well. 28Like a thief she lies in wait and she increases the sinners among men.
29For whom are the cries and laments? For whom the complaints and sighs? For whom the blows without reason? For whom the eyes which see double?
30For those who abandon themselves to wine and go in search of the well-blended wine. 31Do not consider the wine: how red it is and how sparkling the glass! How smoothly it flows!
32In the end, it bites like a snake and stings like a viper. 33Your eyes will see strange things and you will end up speaking nonsense. 34You will be like a man asleep on the high seas or at the rudder: “They hit me but I am not hurt. 35They beat me but I feel nothing. When will I wake up? I will go in search of more.”
