1 When you sit to dine with a ruler, note well what "is before you,2 and put a knife to your throat if you are given to gluttony.3 Do not crave his delicacies, for that food is deceptive.4 Do not wear yourself out to get rich; do not trust your own cleverness.5 Cast but a glance at riches, and they are gone, for they will surely sprout wings and fly off to the sky like an eagle.6 Do not eat the food of a begrudging host, do not crave his delicacies;7 for he is the kind of person who is always thinking about the cost. ""Eat and drink," he says to you, but his heart is not with you.8 You will vomit up the little you have eaten and will have wasted your compliments.9 Do not speak to fools, for they will scorn your prudent words.10 Do not move an ancient boundary stone or encroach on the fields of the fatherless,11 for their Defender 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; if you punish them with the rod, they will not die.14 Punish them with the rod and save them from death.15 My son, if your heart is wise, then my heart will be glad indeed;16 my inmost being will rejoice when your lips speak what is right.17 Do not let your heart envy sinners, but always be zealous for the fear of the LORD.18 There is surely a future hope for you, and your hope will not be cut off.19 Listen, my son, and be wise, and set your heart on the right path:20 Do not join those who drink too much wine or gorge themselves on meat,21 for drunkards and gluttons become poor, and drowsiness clothes them in rags.22 Listen to your father, who gave you life, and do not despise your mother when she is old.23 Buy the truth and do not sell it — wisdom, instruction and insight as well.24 The father of a righteous child has great joy; a man who fathers a wise son rejoices in him.25 May your father and mother rejoice; may she who gave you birth be joyful!26 My son, give me your heart and let your eyes delight in my ways,27 for an adulterous woman is a deep pit, and a wayward wife is a narrow well.28 Like a bandit she lies in wait and multiplies the unfaithful among men.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, 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?"

1 [Quando sederis ut comedas cum principe,diligenter attende qu apposita sunt ante faciem tuam.2 Et statue cultrum in gutture tuo :si tamen habes in potestate animam tuam.3 Ne desideres de cibis ejus,in quo est panis mendacii.4 Noli laborare ut diteris,sed prudenti tu ponde modum.5 Ne erigas oculos tuos ad opes quas non potes habere,quia facient sibi pennas quasi aquil, et volabunt in clum.6 Ne comedas cum homine invido,et ne desideres cibos ejus :7 quoniam in similitudinem arioli et conjectorisstimat quod ignorat.Comede et bibe, dicet tibi ;et mens ejus non est tecum.8 Cibos quos comederas evomes,et perdes pulchros sermones tuos.9 In auribus insipientium ne loquaris,qui despicient doctrinam eloquii tui.10 Ne attingas parvulorum terminos,et agrum pupillorum ne introas :11 propinquus enim illorum fortis est,et ipse judicabit contra te causam illorum.]12 [Ingrediatur ad doctrinam cor tuum,et aures tu ad verba scienti.13 Noli subtrahere a puero disciplinam :si enim percusseris eum virga, non morietur.14 Tu virga percuties eum,et animam ejus de inferno liberabis.15 Fili mi, si sapiens fuerit animus tuus,gaudebit tecum cor meum :16 et exsultabunt renes mei,cum locuta fuerint rectum labia tua.17 Non muletur cor tuum peccatores,sed in timore Domini esto tota die :18 quia habebis spem in novissimo,et prstolatio tua non auferetur.19 Audi, fili mi, et esto sapiens,et dirige in via animum tuum.20 Noli esse in conviviis potatorum,nec in comessationibus eorum qui carnes ad vescendum conferunt :21 quia vacantes potibus et dantes symbola consumentur,et vestietur pannis dormitatio.22 Audi patrem tuum, qui genuit te,et ne contemnas cum senuerit mater tua.23 Veritatem eme, et noli vendere sapientiam,et doctrinam, et intelligentiam.24 Exsultat gaudio pater justi ;qui sapientem genuit, ltabitur in eo.25 Gaudeat pater tuus et mater tua,et exsultet qu genuit te.26 Prbe, fili mi, cor tuum mihi,et oculi tui vias meas custodiant.27 Fovea enim profunda est meretrix,et puteus angustus aliena.28 Insidiatur in via quasi latro,et quos incautos viderit, interficiet.]29 [Cui v ? cujus patri v ?cui rix ? cui fove ?cui sine causa vulnera ? cui suffusio oculorum ?30 nonne his qui commorantur in vino,et student calicibus epotandis ?31 Ne intuearis vinum quando flavescit,cum splenduerit in vitro color ejus :ingreditur blande,32 sed in novissimo mordebit ut coluber,et sicut regulus venena diffundet.33 Oculi tui videbunt extraneas,et cor tuum loquetur perversa.34 Et eris sicut dormiens in medio mari,et quasi sopitus gubernator, amisso clavo.35 Et dices : Verberaverunt me, sed non dolui ;traxerunt me, et ego non sensi.Quando evigilabo, et rursus vina reperiam ?]