1 When you are invited

to eat with a king,

use your best manners.

2 Don't go and stuff yourself!

That would be just the same

as cutting your throat.

3 Don't be greedy for all

of that fancy food!

It may not be so tasty.

4 Give up trying so hard

to get rich.

5 Your money flies away

before you know it,

just like an eagle

suddenly taking off.

6 Don't accept an invitation

to eat a selfish person's food,

no matter how good it is.

7 People like that take note

of how much you eat.*

They say, "Take all you want!"

But they don't mean it.

8 Each bite will come back up,

and all your kind words

will be wasted.

9 Don't talk to fools—

they will make fun of you.

10 Don't move a boundary marker*

or take the land

that belongs to orphans.

11 God All-Powerful is there

to defend them against you.

12 Listen to instruction

and do your best to learn.

13 Don't fail to correct

your children.

You won't kill them

by being firm,

14 and it may even

save their lives.

15 My children,

if you show good sense,

I will be happy,

16 and if you are truthful,

I will really be glad.

17 Don't be jealous of sinners,

but always honor the Lord.

18 Then you will truly have hope

for the future.

19 Listen to me, my children!

Be wise and have enough sense

to follow the right path.

20 Don't be a heavy drinker

or stuff yourself with food.

21 It will make you feel drowsy,

and you will end up poor

with only rags to wear.

22 Pay attention to your father,

and don't neglect your mother

when she grows old.

23 Invest in truth and wisdom,

discipline and good sense,

and don't part with them.

24 Make your father truly happy

by living right and showing

sound judgment.

25 Make your parents proud,

especially your mother.

26 My son, pay close attention,

and gladly follow

my example.

27 Bad women and unfaithful wives

are like a deep pit—

28 they are waiting to attack you

like a gang of robbers

with victim after victim.

29 Who is always in trouble?

Who argues and fights?

Who has cuts and bruises?

Whose eyes are red?

30 Everyone who stays up late,

having just one more drink.

31 Don't even look

at that colorful stuff

bubbling up in the glass!

It goes down so easily,

32 but later it bites

like a poisonous snake.

33 You will see weird things,

and your mind

will play tricks on you.

34 You will feel tossed about

like someone trying to sleep

on a ship in a storm.

35 You will be bruised all over,

without even remembering

how it all happened.

And you will lie awake asking,

"When will morning come,

so I can drink some more?"