19  Hear, my son, and be wise,

and direct your heart in the way.

20  Be not among ^ldrunkards¹

or among ^mgluttonous eaters of meat,

21  for the drunkard and the glutton ⁿwill come to poverty,

and ^oslumber will clothe them with rags.

22  Listen to your ^pfather who gave you life,

and do not despise your mother ^qwhen she is old.

23  ^rBuy truth, and do not sell it;

buy wisdom, ^sinstruction, and understanding.

24  ^tThe father of the righteous will greatly rejoice;

he who fathers a wise son will be glad in him.

25  Let your father and mother be glad;

let her who bore you rejoice.

26  My son, give me your heart,

and let your eyes observe² my ways.

27  For a prostitute is ^ua deep pit;

an adulteress³ is a narrow well.

28  ^vShe lies in wait like a robber

and increases the traitors among mankind.

29  Who has woe? Who has sorrow?

Who has strife? Who has complaining?

Who has wounds without cause?

Who has redness of eyes?

30  Those who tarry long over ^wwine;

those who go to try mixed wine.

31  Do not look at wine when it is red,

when it sparkles in the cup

and goes down smoothly.

32  In the end it bites like a serpent

and stings like an adder.

33  Your eyes will see strange things,

and your heart utter ^xperverse things.

34  You will be like one who lies down in the midst of the sea,

like one who lies on the top of a mast.⁴

35  “They struck me,” you will say,⁵ “but I was not hurt;

they beat me, but I did not feel it.

When shall I awake?

I must have another drink.”