17Don’t allow the actions of evil mento cause you to burn with anger.Instead, burn with unrelenting passionas you worship God in holy awe.18Your future is bright and filled with a living hopethat will never fade away.19As you listen to me, my beloved child,you will grow in wisdom and your heartwill be drawn into understanding,which will empower you to make right decisions.20Don’t live in the excesses of drunkenness or gluttony,or waste your life away by partying all the time,21because drunkards and gluttons sleep their lives awayand end up broke!22Give respect to your father and mother,for without them you wouldn’t even be here.And don’t neglect them when they grow old.23Embrace the truth and hold it close.Don’t let go of wisdom, instruction, and life-giving understanding.24When a father observes his child living in godliness,he is ecstatic with joy—nothing makes him prouder!25So may your father’s heart burst with joyand your mother’s soul be filled with gladness because of you.26My son, give me your heartand embrace fully what I’m about to tell you.27Stay far away from prostitutesand you’ll stay far away from the pit of destruction.For sleeping with a promiscuous woman is like falling into a trapthat you’ll never be able to escape!28Like a robber hiding in the shadowsshe’s waiting to claim another victim—another husband unfaithful to his wife.29Who has anguish? Who has bitter sorrow?Who constantly complains and argues?Who stumbles and falls and hurts himself?Who’s the one with bloodshot eyes?30It’s the one who drinks too muchand is always looking for a brew.Make sure it’s never you!31And don’t be drunk with winebut be known as one who enjoys the companyof the lovers of God,32for drunkenness brings the sting of a serpent,like the fangs of a viper spreading poison into your soul.33It will make you hallucinate, mumble,and speak words that are perverse.34You’ll be like a seasick sailor being tossed to and fro,dizzy and out of your mind.35You’ll awake only to say, “What hit me?I feel like I’ve been run over by a truck!”Yet off you’ll go, looking for another drink!
Scripture quoted by permission. The passage above is taken from The Passion Translation®. Copyright © 2017, 2018, 2020 by Passion & Fire Ministries, Inc. All rights reserved. ThePassionTranslation.com.