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1 When you sit down to eat with a dominating person, take careful note of what you are facing:
2 And put a knife to your throat, if you are a soulish person (ruled by your appetites).
3 Do not lust after his tasty treats: for they are the bread of deception.
4 Do not grow weary trying to become rich: stop trying to figure it out yourself.
The Lord brings us wealth, we do not need to strive for it.
- WEALTH - WISDOM

5 Do you want to end up staring at nothing? for it will sprout wings and fly away like an eagle into the skies.
Fix your eyes on wealth and it will fly away.
- WEALTH

6 Do not eat the bread of [one that has] an evil eye, neither desire his delicacies:
Do not be motivated by evil desires.
- ASSOCIATION

7 For as he thinks in his heart, so [is] he: Eat and drink, he says to you; but his heart [is] not with you.
What dominates a person's thinking will eventually manifest in their lifestyle.
- THOUGHTS

8 The morsel [which] you have eaten you will vomit up, and [you will] waste your sweet words.
9 Do not speak in the ears of a fool: for he will despise the wisdom of your words.
This is the same as casting your pearls before swine.
- WORDS - SPOKEN

10 Do not remove the old landmark; and do not enter into the fields of the fatherless:
11 For their redeemer [is] mighty; he will plead their cause with you.
 - POOR PEOPLE
12 Apply your heart to instruction, and your ears to the words of knowledge.
Always be open to being taught new things and add to your knowledge.
- KNOWLEDGE - HEART

13 Do not withhold correction from a child: for [if] you beat him with a rod, he will not die.
Correction and discipline of children is a good thing.
- CHILD REARING - DISCIPLINE

14 You will beat him with the rod, and will deliver his soul from hell.
 - DISCIPLINE
15 My son, if your heart is wise, my heart will rejoice.
16 Yes, my inward man will rejoice, when your lips speak right things.
Our words have an amazing effect on the inner man.
- HEART OF MAN

17 Do not permit your heart to envy sinners: but [remain] in the fear of the LORD [Yahweh] all the day long.
 - FEAR OF THE LORD
18 For surely there is an end time; and your future hope will not be cut off.
19 Listen, my son, and be wise, and guide your heart in the way.
Wisdom comes by listening and this affects the heart or inner being.
- HEART OF MAN - WISDOM

20 Do not mix with drunkards; with riotous eaters of flesh:
It is not the eating and drinking that is bad, but doing these in excess.
- DRINKING - GLUTTONY

21 For the drunkard and the glutton will come to poverty: and drowsiness will clothe [a man] with rags.
Excessive eating and drinking bring poverty. Weariness that comes as a result will steal all good things from you.
- POVERTY

22 Listen to your father that had you, and do not despise your mother when she is old.
We must continue to respect and appreciate our parents even into old age.
- PARENTS - ROLE

23 Buy the truth, and do not sell it; and do the same with wisdom, instruction and understanding.
There is a price to pay for truth and wisdom that comes from being taught and studying. But it must then be offered freely and not used for personal gain.
- TRUTH

24 The father of the righteous will greatly rejoice: and he that begets a wise [child] will have joy from him.
 - PARENTS - HONOUR
25 Your father and your mother will be glad, and she that bore you will rejoice.
26 My son, give me your heart, and let your eyes observe my ways.
 - HEART OF MAN
27 For a whore [is] a deep ditch; and a strange woman [is] a narrow pit.
28 She also lies in wait as [for] a prey, and increases the [number of] transgressors among men.
29 Who have woe? who have sorrow? who have arguments? who have moaning? who have wounds without cause? who have redness of eyes?
The results of too much emphasis on drinking.
- DRINKING

30 Those that spend a long time at the wine; those that go to find mixed wine.
 - DRINKING
31 Do not look upon the wine when it is red, when it shows its colours in the cup, [when] it flows smoothly.
 - DRINKING
32 In the end it bites like a serpent, and stings like an adder.
 - DRINKING
33 You eyes will see strange women, and your heart will utter obscene things.
 - DRINKING
34 Yes, you will be like a person that is lying down in the middle of the sea, or as one who lies on the top of a mast.
A good description of the feeling of being drunk.
- DRINKING

35 They have hit me, [you will say, and] I was not hurt; they have beaten me, [and] I did not feel [it]: when will I wake up so I can look for another drink?
Picture of an alcoholic.
- DRINKING