¶Do not weary yourself [with the overwhelming desire] to gain wealth;
Cease from your own understanding of it. [Prov 28:20; 1 Tim 6:9, 10]
When you set your eyes on wealth, it is [suddenly] gone.
For wealth certainly makes itself wings
Like an eagle that flies to the heavens.
¶Do not eat the bread of a selfish man,
Or desire his delicacies;
For as he thinks in his heart, so is he [in behavior—one who manipulates].
He says to you, “Eat and drink,”
Yet his heart is not with you [but it is begrudging the cost].
The morsel which you have eaten you will vomit up,
And you will waste your compliments.
¶Do not speak in the ears of a fool,
For he will despise the [godly] wisdom of your words. [Is 32:6]
¶Do not move the ancient landmark [at the boundary of the property]
And do not go into the fields of the fatherless [to take what is theirs], [Deut 19:14; 27:17; Prov 22:28]
For their Redeemer is strong and mighty;
He will plead their case against you.
Apply your heart to discipline
And your ears to words of knowledge.
¶Do not withhold discipline from the child;
If you swat him with a reed-like rod [applied with godly wisdom], he will not die.
You shall swat him with the reed-like rod
And rescue his life from Sheol (the nether world, the place of the dead).
¶My son, if your heart is wise,
My heart will also be glad;
Yes, my heart will rejoice
When your lips speak right things.
¶Do not let your heart envy sinners [who live godless lives and have no hope of salvation],
But [continue to] live in the [reverent, worshipful] fear of the LORD day by day.
Surely there is a future [and a reward],
And your hope and expectation will not be cut off.
Listen, my son, and be wise,
And direct your heart in the way [of the LORD].
Do not associate with heavy drinkers of wine,
Or with gluttonous eaters of meat, [Is 5:22; Luke 21:34; Rom 13:13; Eph 5:18]
For the heavy drinker and the glutton will come to poverty,
And the drowsiness [of overindulgence] will clothe one with rags.
¶Listen to your father, who sired you,
And do not despise your mother when she is old.
Buy truth, and do not sell it;
Get wisdom and instruction and understanding.
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