Berean Study Bible (BSB) Reader

Proverbs 23

A calm reading view. Notes and saves remain available.

Current outline context

Appeals and Warnings 1:8–33
Wisdom Calls Aloud 1:20–33
The Blessings of Wisdom 3:13–35
A Father’s Instruction 4:1–27
Avoiding Immorality 5:1–23
Warnings against Adultery 6:20–35
Warning about the Adulteress 7:1–27
The Excellence of Wisdom 8:1–36
The Wise Son 10:1–32
Dishonest Scales 11:1–31
Loving Discipline and Knowledge 12:1–28
A Father’s Discipline 13:1–25
The Wise Woman 14:1–35
A Gentle Answer Turns Away Wrath 15:1–33
The Reply of the Tongue Is from the LORD 16:1–33
Better a Dry Morsel in Quietness 17:1–28
The Selfishness of the Unfriendly 18:1–24
The Man of Integrity 19:1–29
Wine is a Mocker 20:1–30
The King’s Heart 21:1–31
Thirty Sayings of the Wise 22:17–24:22

Find a verse

Search Scripture

Open a passage

Passage selector

1 When you sit down to dine with a ruler, consider carefully what is set before you,

2 and put a knife to your throat if you possess a great appetite.

3 Do not crave his delicacies, for that food is deceptive.

4 Do not wear yourself out to get rich; be wise enough to restrain yourself.

5 When you glance at wealth, it disappears, for it makes wings for itself and flies like an eagle to the sky.

6 Do not eat the bread of a stingy man, and do not crave his delicacies;

7 for he is keeping track, inwardly counting the cost. “Eat and drink,” he says to you, but his heart is not with you.

8 You will vomit up what little you have eaten and waste your pleasant words.

9 Do not speak to a fool, for he will despise the wisdom of your words.

10 Do not move an ancient boundary stone or encroach on the fields of the fatherless,

11 for their Redeemer is strong; He will take up their case against you.

12 Apply your heart to instruction and your ears to words of knowledge.

13 Do not withhold discipline from a child; although you strike him with a rod, he will not die.

14 Strike him with a rod, and you will deliver his soul from Sheol.

15 My son, if your heart is wise, my own heart will indeed rejoice.

16 My inmost being will rejoice when your lips speak what is right.

17 Do not let your heart envy sinners, but always continue in the fear of the LORD.

18 For surely there is a future, and your hope will not be cut off.

19 Listen, my son, and be wise, and guide your heart on the right course.

20 Do not join those who drink too much wine or gorge themselves on meat.

21 For the drunkard and the glutton will come to poverty, and drowsiness will clothe them in rags.

22 Listen to your father who gave you life, and do not despise your mother when she is old.

23 Invest in truth and never sell it—in wisdom and instruction and understanding.

24 The father of a righteous man will greatly rejoice, and he who fathers a wise son will delight in him.

25 May your father and mother be glad, and may she who gave you birth rejoice!

26 My son, give me your heart, and let your eyes delight in my ways.

27 For a prostitute is a deep pit, and an adulteress is a narrow well.

28 Like a robber she lies in wait and multiplies the faithless among men.

29 Who has woe? Who has sorrow? Who has contentions? Who has complaints? Who has needless wounds? Who has bloodshot eyes?

30 Those who linger over wine, who go to taste mixed drinks.

31 Do not gaze at wine while it is red, when it sparkles in the cup and goes down smoothly.

32 In the end it bites like a snake and stings like a viper.

33 Your eyes will see strange things, and your mind will utter perversities.

34 You 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?”

Questions about this chapter

No public questions are linked to Proverbs 23 yet.

Ask about Proverbs 23

Proverbs 23

Search Scripture

Passage selector

Study connections for Proverbs 23

ABSTEMIOUSNESS

ADDER

ASP

Questions about this chapter