Do not wear yourself out to get rich; have the wisdom to show restraint. What is the point of getting rich by ruining your health, Have the wisdom to slow down and not live just for wealth. Cast but a glance at riches, and they are gone, for they will surely sprout wings and fly off to the sky like an eagle. Grab a quick glance at riches, for they are not here to stay, For they will soon sprout wings and like an eagle soar away.

1. PROVERBS 23 I

2. POETRY
By Glenn Pease
1 When you sit to dine with a ruler,
note well what is before you,
2 and put a knife to your throat
if you are given to gluttony.
3 Do not crave his delicacies,
for that food is deceptive.
Here is your dining guide
When eating at the kings side.
First take note that your stomach is not as big as your eyes,
So make sure you don't fill your plate up to the skies.
Threaten your life if you even dream of saying “super size.”
If you are given to gluttony, it is a dangerous road you're paving,
So don't be deceived by all those delicacies you will be craving.
4 Do not wear yourself out to get rich;
have the wisdom to show restraint.
What is the point of getting rich by ruining your health,
Have the wisdom to slow down and not live just for wealth.
5 Cast but a glance at riches, and they are gone,
for they will surely sprout wings
and fly off to the sky like an eagle.
Grab a quick glance at riches, for they are not here to stay,
For they will soon sprout wings and like an eagle soar away.
6 Do not eat the food of a stingy man,
do not crave his delicacies;
7 for he is the kind of man
who is always thinking about the cost. [b]
"Eat and drink," he says to you,
but his heart is not with you.
8 You will vomit up the little you have eaten

3. and will have wasted your compliments.
Don't accept every invitation to come to the table,
For some who invite you are spiritually unstable,
They use food to entice you and stir up your craving,
But there is a wicked purpose behind their behaving.
They say eat up, and let me fill your cup,
But it is all an act, and they are setting you up.
You will see they are faking and throw up what you took,
And regret that you ever gave praise to such a crook.
9 Do not speak to a fool,
for he will scorn the wisdom of your words.
Just let me warn you,
A fool will scorn you,
So don't waste your wise words
For He will still think you're for the birds.
10 Do not move an ancient boundary stone
or encroach on the fields of the fatherless,
11 for their Defender is strong;
he will take up their case against you.
Do not move an ancient boundary stone,
And the field of the fatherless, just leave them alone.
Such illegal actions are immoral and base,
And in court you will certainly lose your case.
12 Apply your heart to instruction
and your ears to words of knowledge.
It should be an obvious deduction
That you need continuous instruction,
And any wise person will ever acknowledge
You need ever to listen to words of knowledge.
13 Do not withhold discipline from a child;
if you punish him with the rod, he will not die.
14 Punish him with the rod
and save his soul from death.

4. Don't spoil your child and let them get by,
Give just punishment and let them cry,
It is not pleasant, but they will not die.
Better they feel the pain of the rod,
Than end up dead, and separated from God.
15 My son, if your heart is wise,
then my heart will be glad;
16 my inmost being will rejoice
when your lips speak what is right.
My son, if your heart is wise, mine will be too,
And my heart will rejoice if you speak what is true.
My heart will be glad, and never be sad,
If I see your life avoiding all that is bad.
17 Do not let your heart envy sinners,
but always be zealous for the fear of the LORD.
18 There is surely a future hope for you,
and your hope will not be cut off.
Don't ever let your heart be envious of sinners;
Without the fear of the Lord they will never be winners.
But when I look at your zeal, and all your future scope,
I see you will have an endless future filled with hope.
19 Listen, my son, and be wise,
and keep your heart on the right path.
Listen up my son, and to be wise always strive,
Keeping your heart on that path will keep you alive.
20 Do not join those who drink too much wine
or gorge themselves on meat,
21 for drunkards and gluttons become poor,
and drowsiness clothes them in rags.
Do not join up with those excessive with wine,
For any place than that is better to dine.
And when you decide to sit down and eat,
Avoid those who gorge themselves on meat.

5. Your future can be filled with blessings galore,
But these drunkards and gluttons will end up poor.
22 Listen to your father, who gave you life,
and do not despise your mother when she is old.
Listen to your dad, and do what you're told
And don't ignore your mom just because she's old.
They gave you your life, and much wisdom too,
So whatever you do, to their love stay true.
23 Buy the truth and do not sell it;
get wisdom, discipline and understanding.
There is a wise way to live, and so I tell it,
By the truth and do not sell it.
Get wisdom, discipline, and understanding,
And you will have power in life that is commanding.
24 The father of a righteous man has great joy;
he who has a wise son delights in him.
The father of the good boy
Has a heart filled with joy,
And in this wise son he delights,
And sleeps in peace all his nights.
25 May your father and mother be glad;
may she who gave you birth rejoice!
May your parents always feel joyful and glad,
Because you never choose folly that makes them sad.
You can make these loving people who gave you birth,
By your choices, be some of the happiest people on earth.
26 My son, give me your heart
and let your eyes keep to my ways,
27 for a prostitute is a deep pit
and a wayward wife is a narrow well.
28 Like a bandit she lies in wait,
and multiplies the unfaithful among men.

6. We have been married for many years,
And I need to tell you some of my fears.
There is always a danger of going astray,
And not keeping your eyes on the right way.
The prostitute, and the immoral wife,
Should never be any part of your life,
But they can be clever the way they set bait,
Or just like a bandit lie silent and wait.
She has successfully lured many men,
Who quickly regret it, but it's too late then.
So don't be a fool and fall for her ways,
Then you will thank me for the rest of your days.
29 Who has woe? Who has sorrow?
Who has strife? Who has complaints?
Who has needless bruises? Who has bloodshot eyes?
30 Those who linger over wine,
who go to sample bowls of mixed wine.
Here is a quiz with answers easy to find
About those who live to be wined and dined.
Their lives are filled with woe and sorrow,
And many a painful headache on the morrow.
Too much wine makes them want to fight,
And turns their bodies into such a fright.
They end up with bruises and bloodshot eyes,
But they just can't resist those wine drinking guys.
In the long fun they damage body and soul,
Because they can't stay away from that mixed wine bowl.
31 Do not gaze at wine when it is red,
when it sparkles in the cup,
when it goes down smoothly!
32 In the end it bites like a snake
and poisons like a viper.
So the point of all that I said above,
Is wine should never be a strong love.
Don't even look at it when its fermented,
For its effects will be quickly resented.
It will bite like a snake, and poison like a viper,
And you will feel like you've been shot by a sniper.
And even more negative effects I will show,

7. In the verse down below.
33 Your eyes will see strange sights
and your mind imagine confusing things.
34 You will be like one sleeping on the high seas,
lying on top of the rigging.
35 "They hit me," you will say, "but I'm not hurt!
They beat me, but I don't feel it!
When will I wake up
so I can find another drink?"
It is not a pretty sight son, but I want you to see it,
So hopefully you will hate it, and never want to be it.
Here is a picture of a foolish drunk man,
Who drinks every chance that he can.
His mind will lose anchor, and drift into confusions
As he sees with his eyes very strange illusions.
He will be like a drunken sailor asleep on high seas,
And he will see things that no one else sees.
He see himself being beaten, but does not feel a thing,
So to wine again will his foolish mind swing,
He longs only to wake up
And have another cup.
As his ship is about to sink,
All he cares about is another drink.