Proverbs 23:7-18

⁷for he is the kind of man who counts the price of the food. “Eat and drink!” he says to you, but his heart is not with you.

⁸You will vomit up the little you have eaten and you will have wasted your compliments.

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

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

¹¹for their Redeemer is strong and he will plead their case against you.

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

¹³Do not withhold instruction from a child, for if you discipline him, he will not die.

¹⁴It is you who must beat him with the rod and save his soul from Sheol.

¹⁵My son, if your heart is wise, then my heart also will be glad;

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

¹⁷Do not let your heart envy sinners, but continue in the fear of Yahweh all the day.

¹⁸Surely there is a future and your hope will not be cut off.