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19 Hear, my son, and be wise,
    and direct your mind in the way.
20 Be not among winebibbers,
    or among gluttonous eaters of meat;
21 for the drunkard and the glutton will come to poverty,
    and drowsiness will clothe a man with rags.

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Saying 16

19 Listen, my son,(A) and be wise,
    and set your heart on the right path:
20 Do not join those who drink too much wine(B)
    or gorge themselves on meat,
21 for drunkards and gluttons become poor,(C)
    and drowsiness clothes them in rags.

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29 Who has woe? Who has sorrow?
    Who has strife? Who has complaining?
Who has wounds without cause?
    Who has redness of eyes?
30 Those who tarry long over wine,
    those who go to try mixed wine.
31 Do not look at wine when it is red,
    when it sparkles in the cup
    and goes down smoothly.
32 At the last it bites like a serpent,
    and stings like an adder.
33 Your eyes will see strange things,
    and your mind utter perverse things.
34 You will be like one who lies down in the midst of the sea,
    like one who lies on the top of a mast.[a]
35 “They struck me,” you will say,[b] “but I was not hurt;
    they beat me, but I did not feel it.
When shall I awake?
    I will seek another drink.”
24 Be not envious of evil men,
nor desire to be with them;
for their minds devise violence,
    and their lips talk of mischief.

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 23:34 Heb obscure
  2. Proverbs 23:35 Gk Syr Vg Tg: Heb lacks you will say

Saying 19

29 Who has woe? Who has sorrow?
    Who has strife? Who has complaints?
    Who has needless bruises? Who has bloodshot eyes?
30 Those who linger over wine,(A)
    who go to sample bowls of mixed wine.
31 Do not gaze at wine when it is red,
    when it sparkles in the cup,
    when it goes down smoothly!
32 In the end it bites like a snake
    and poisons like a viper.
33 Your eyes will see strange sights,
    and your mind will imagine confusing things.
34 You will be like one sleeping on the high seas,
    lying on top of the rigging.
35 “They hit me,” you will say, “but I’m not hurt!
    They beat me, but I don’t feel it!
When will I wake up
    so I can find another drink?”(B)

Saying 20

24 Do not envy(C) the wicked,
    do not desire their company;
for their hearts plot violence,(D)
    and their lips talk about making trouble.(E)