Consider Diligently what is Before You
1When thou sittestto eatwith a ruler,considerdiligentlywhat [is] beforethee:
2And puta knifeto thy throat,if thou [be] a man givento appetite.
3Be not desirousof his dainties:for they [are] deceitfulmeat.
4Labournot to be rich:ceasefrom thine own wisdom.
5Wilt thou set{08675;05774:08799} thine eyesupon that which is not? for [riches] certainlymakethemselves wings;they fly away{08675;05774:08687} as an eagletoward heaven.
6Eatthou not the breadof [him that hath] an evileye,neither desirethou his dainty meats:
7For as he thinkethin his heart,so [is] he: Eatand drink,saithhe to thee; but his heart[is] not with thee.
8The morsel[which] thou hast eatenshalt thou vomit up,and losethy sweetwords.
9Speaknot in the earsof a fool:for he will despisethe wisdomof thy words.
10Removenot the oldlandmark;and enternot into the fieldsof the fatherless:
11For their redeemer[is] mighty;he shall pleadtheir causewith thee.
12Applythine heartunto instruction,and thine earsto the wordsof knowledge.
13Withholdnot correctionfrom the child:for [if] thou beatesthim with the rod,he shall not die.
14Thou shalt beathim with the rod,and shalt deliverhis soulfrom hell.
15My son,if thine heartbe wise,my heartshall rejoice,even mine.
16Yea, my reinsshall rejoice,when thy lipsspeakright things.
17Let not thine heartenvysinners:but [be thou] in the fearof the LORDall the daylong.
18For surely there isan end;and thine expectationshall not be cut off.
19Hearthou, my son,and be wise,and guidethine heartin the way.
20Be not among winebibbers;among riotous eatersof flesh:
21For the drunkardand the gluttonshall come to poverty:and drowsinessshall clothe[a man] with rags.
22Hearkenunto thy fatherthat begatthee, and despisenot thy motherwhen she is old.
23Buythe truth,and sell[it] not; [also] wisdom,and instruction,and understanding.
24The fatherof the righteousshall greatlyrejoice:and he that begettetha wise[child] shall have joyof him.
25Thy fatherand thy mothershall be glad,and she that barethee shall rejoice.
26My son,giveme thine heart,and let thine eyesobservemy ways.
27For a whore[is] a deepditch;and a strange woman[is] a narrowpit.
28She also lieth in waitas [for] a prey,and increaseththe transgressorsamong men.
29Who hath woe?who hath sorrow?who hath contentions?who hath babbling?who hath woundswithout cause?who hath rednessof eyes?
30They that tarry longat the wine;they that goto seekmixed wine.
31Looknot thou upon the winewhen it is red,when it givethhis colourin the cup,[when] it movethitself aright.
32At the lastit bitethlike a serpent,and stingethlike an adder.
33Thine eyesshall beholdstrange women,and thine heartshall utterperverse things.
34Yea, thou shalt be as he that lieth downin the midstof the sea,or as he that liethupon the topof a mast.
35They have strickenme, [shalt thou say, and] I was not sick;they have beatenme, [and] I felt[it] not: when shall I awake?I will seekit yetagain.
