Read the Bible

¹ When you sit down to dine with a ruler,
    think carefully about who is before you.
² If you have a big appetite,
    put a knife to your throat!
³ Don't be greedy for his delicacies,
    for they are deceptive food.
⁴ Don't exhaust yourself in pursuit of wealth;
    be smart enough to desist.
⁵ If you make your eyes rush at it,
    it's no longer there!
For wealth will surely grow wings,
    like an eagle flying off to the sky.

⁶ Don't eat the food of a stingy man;
    don't be greedy for his delicacies.
⁷ For he is like someone who keeps accounts —
"Eat! Drink!" he says to you,
    but he doesn't really mean it.
⁸ The little you eat you will vomit up,
    and your compliments will have been wasted.

⁹ Don't speak in the ears of a fool,
    for he will only despise the common sense in your words.

¹⁰ Don't move the ancient boundary stone
    or encroach on the land of the fatherless;
¹¹ for their Redeemer is strong;
    he will take up their fight against you.

¹² Apply your mind to discipline
    and your ears to words of knowledge.

¹³ Don't withhold discipline from a child —
    if you beat him with a stick, he won't die!
¹⁴ If you beat him with a stick,
    you will save him from Sh'ol.

¹⁵ My son, if your heart is wise,
    then my own heart too is glad;
¹⁶ my inmost being rejoices
    when your lips say what is right.

¹⁷ Don't envy sinners, but follow the example
    of those who always fear God;
¹⁸ for then you will have a future;
    what you hope for will not be cut off.

¹⁹ You, my son: listen, be wise,
    and set your mind on the right way.

²⁰ Don't be one of those who guzzle wine
    or of those who eat meat to excess,
²¹ for both drunkard and glutton will become poor —
    drowsiness will clothe them with rags.
²² Listen to your father, who gave you life;
    and don't despise your mother when she gets old.

²³ Buy the truth, don't sell it,
    also wisdom, discipline and discernment.

²⁴ A righteous person's father will be filled with joy;
    yes, he whose son is wise will rejoice in him.
²⁵ So let your father and mother be glad;
    let her who gave you birth rejoice.

²⁶ My son, give me your heart;
    let your eyes observe my ways.

²⁷ A prostitute is a deep ditch,
    and a forbidden woman like a narrow well.
²⁸ She lies in wait to snatch her prey
    and adds to the number of faithless men.

²⁹ Who has misery? Who has regret?
    Who fights and complains all the time?
Who gets bruised for no good reason?
    Who has bloodshot eyes?
³⁰ Those who spend their time over wine,
    those always trying out mixed drinks.
³¹ Don't gaze at the red wine
    as it gives its color to the cup.
It may glide down smoothly now;
³²     but in the end, it bites like a serpent —
    yes, it strikes like a poisonous snake.
³³ Your eyes will see peculiar things,
    your mind will utter nonsense.
³⁴ You will feel as if lying on the waves of the sea
    or sprawled on top of the mast —
³⁵ "They hit me, but I didn't feel it!
    They beat me up, and I didn't even know it!
When will I wake up? . . .
    I'll go get another drink."