The Message

Proverbs 23:10-11-19-21 The Message (MSG)

10-11. Don’t stealthily move back the boundary linesor cheat orphans out of their property,For they have a powerful Advocatewho will go to bat for them.

12. Give yourselves to disciplined instruction;open your ears to tested knowledge.

13-14. Don’t be afraid to correct your young ones;a spanking won’t kill them.A good spanking, in fact, might save themfrom something worse than death.

15-16. Dear child, if you become wise,I’ll be one happy parent.My heart will dance and singto the tuneful truth you’ll speak.

17-18. Don’t for a minute envy careless rebels;soak yourself in the Fear-of-God—That’s where your future lies.Then you won’t be left with an armload of nothing.

19-21. Oh listen, dear child—become wise;point your life in the right direction.Don’t drink too much wine and get drunk;don’t eat too much food and get fat.Drunks and gluttons will end up on skid row,in a stupor and dressed in rags.