Proverbs 23 (NKJV)

¹ Consider carefully what is before you; ² If you are a man given to appetite. ³ For they are deceptive food. ⁴ Because of your own understanding, cease! ⁵ They fly away like an eagle toward heaven. ⁶ Nor desire his delicacies; ⁷ But his heart is not with you. ⁸ And waste your pleasant words. ⁹ For he will despise the wisdom of your words. ¹⁰ Nor enter the fields of the fatherless; ¹¹ He will plead their cause against you. ¹² And your ears to words of knowledge. ¹³ For if you beat him with a rod, he will not die. ¹⁴ And deliver his soul from hell. ¹⁵ My heart will rejoice—indeed, I myself; ¹⁶ When your lips speak right things. ¹⁷ But be zealous for the fear of the Lord all the day; ¹⁸ And your hope will not be cut off. ¹⁹ And guide your heart in the way. ²⁰ Or with gluttonous eaters of meat; ²¹ And drowsiness will clothe a man with rags. ²² And do not despise your mother when she is old. ²³ Also wisdom and instruction and understanding. ²⁴ And he who begets a wise child will delight in him. ²⁵ And let her who bore you rejoice. ²⁶ And let your eyes observe my ways. ²⁷ And a seductress is a narrow well. ²⁸ And increases the unfaithful among men. ²⁹ Who has redness of eyes? ³⁰ Those who go in search of mixed wine. ³¹ When it swirls around smoothly; ³² And stings like a viper. ³³ And your heart will utter perverse things. ³⁴ Or like one who lies at the top of the mast, saying: ³⁵ When shall I awake, that I may seek another drink?”