1 When thou sittest to eat with a ruler, consider diligently what is before thee:
2 And put a knife to thy throat, if thou be a man given to appetite.
3 Be not desirous of his dainties: for they are deceitful meat.
4 Labour not to be rich: cease from thine own wisdom.
5 Wilt thou set thine eyes upon that which is not? for riches certainly make themselves wings; they fly away as an eagle toward heaven.
6 Eat thou not the bread of him that hath an evil eye, neither desire thou his dainty meats:
7 For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he: Eat and drink, saith he to thee; but his heart is not with thee.
8 The morsel which thou hast eaten shalt thou vomit up, and lose thy sweet words.
9 Speak not in the ears of a fool: for he will despise the wisdom of thy words.
10 Remove not the old landmark; and enter not into the fields of the fatherless:
11 For their redeemer is mighty; he shall plead their cause with thee.
12 Apply thine heart unto instruction, and thine ears to the words of knowledge.
13 Withhold not correction from the child: for if thou beatest him with the rod, he shall not die.
14 Thou shalt beat him with the rod, and shalt deliver his soul from hell.
15 My son, if thine heart be wise, my heart shall rejoice, even mine.
16 Yea, my reins shall rejoice, when thy lips speak right things.
17 Let not thine heart envy sinners: but be thou in the fear of the LORD all the day long.
18 For surely there is an end; and thine expectation shall not be cut off.
19 Hear thou, my son, and be wise, and guide thine heart in the way.
20 Be not among winebibbers; among riotous eaters of flesh:
21 For the drunkard and the glutton shall come to poverty: and drowsiness shall clothe a man with rags.
22 Hearken unto thy father that begat thee, and despise not thy mother when she is old.
23 Buy the truth, and sell it not; also wisdom, and instruction, and understanding.
24 The father of the righteous shall greatly rejoice: and he that begetteth a wise child shall have joy of him.
25 Thy father and thy mother shall be glad, and she that bare thee shall rejoice.
26 My son, give me thine heart, and let thine eyes observe my ways.
27 For a whore is a deep ditch; and a strange woman is a narrow pit.
28 She also lieth in wait as for a prey, and increaseth the transgressors among men.
29 Who hath woe? who hath sorrow? who hath contentions? who hath babbling? who hath wounds without cause? who hath redness of eyes?
30 They that tarry long at the wine; they that go to seek mixed wine.
31 Look not thou upon the wine when it is red, when it giveth his colour in the cup, when it moveth itself aright.
32 At the last it biteth like a serpent, and stingeth like an adder.
33 Thine eyes shall behold strange women, and thine heart shall utter perverse things.
34 Yea, thou shalt be as he that lieth down in the midst of the sea, or as he that lieth upon the top of a mast.
35 They have stricken me, shalt thou say, and I was not sick; they have beaten me, and I felt it not: when shall I awake? I will seek it yet again.
1 When thou sittest H3427 to eat H3898 with a ruler, H4910 consider H995 diligently H995 what is before H6440 thee:
2 And put H7760 a knife H7915 to thy throat, H3930 if thou be a man given H1167 to appetite. H5315
3 Be not desirous H183 of his dainties: H4303 for they are deceitful H3577 meat. H3899
4 Labour H3021 not to be rich: H6238 cease H2308 from thine own wisdom. H998
5 Wilt thou set H5774 H5774 thine eyes H5869 upon that which is not? for riches certainly H6213 make H6213 themselves wings; H3671 they fly away H5774 H5774 as an eagle H5404 toward heaven. H8064
6 Eat H3898 thou not the bread H3899 of him that hath an evil H7451 eye, H5869 neither desire H183 thou his dainty meats: H4303
7 For as he thinketh H8176 in his heart, H5315 so is he: Eat H398 and drink, H8354 saith H559 he to thee; but his heart H3820 is not with thee.
8 The morsel H6595 which thou hast eaten H398 shalt thou vomit up, H6958 and lose H7843 thy sweet H5273 words. H1697
9 Speak H1696 not in the ears H241 of a fool: H3684 for he will despise H936 the wisdom H7922 of thy words. H4405
10 Remove H5253 not the old H5769 landmark; H1366 and enter H935 not into the fields H7704 of the fatherless: H3490
11 For their redeemer H1350 is mighty; H2389 he shall plead H7378 their cause H7379 with thee.
12 Apply H935 thine heart H3820 unto instruction, H4148 and thine ears H241 to the words H561 of knowledge. H1847
13 Withhold H4513 not correction H4148 from the child: H5288 for if thou beatest H5221 him with the rod, H7626 he shall not die. H4191
14 Thou shalt beat H5221 him with the rod, H7626 and shalt deliver H5337 his soul H5315 from hell. H7585
15 My son, H1121 if thine heart H3820 be wise, H2449 my heart H3820 shall rejoice, H8055 even mine. H589
16 Yea, my reins H3629 shall rejoice, H5937 when thy lips H8193 speak H1696 right things. H4339
17 Let not thine heart H3820 envy H7065 sinners: H2400 but be thou in the fear H3374 of the LORD H3068 all the day H3117 long.
18 For surely there is H3426 an end; H319 and thine expectation H8615 shall not be cut off. H3772
19 Hear H8085 thou, my son, H1121 and be wise, H2449 and guide H833 thine heart H3820 in the way. H1870
20 Be not among winebibbers; H3196 H5433 among riotous eaters H2151 of flesh: H1320
21 For the drunkard H5433 and the glutton H2151 shall come to poverty: H3423 and drowsiness H5124 shall clothe H3847 a man with rags. H7168
22 Hearken H8085 unto thy father H1 that begat H3205 thee, and despise H936 not thy mother H517 when she is old. H2204
23 Buy H7069 the truth, H571 and sell H4376 it not; also wisdom, H2451 and instruction, H4148 and understanding. H998
24 The father H1 of the righteous H6662 shall greatly H1524 rejoice: H1523 and he that begetteth H3205 a wise H2450 child shall have joy H8055 of him.
25 Thy father H1 and thy mother H517 shall be glad, H8055 and she that bare H3205 thee shall rejoice. H1523
26 My son, H1121 give H5414 me thine heart, H3820 and let thine eyes H5869 observe H7521 H5341 my ways. H1870
27 For a whore H2181 is a deep H6013 ditch; H7745 and a strange woman H5237 is a narrow H6862 pit. H875
28 She also lieth in wait H693 as for a prey, H2863 and increaseth H3254 the transgressors H898 among men. H120
29 Who hath woe? H188 who hath sorrow? H17 who hath contentions? H4079 H4066 who hath babbling? H7879 who hath wounds H6482 without cause? H2600 who hath redness H2448 of eyes? H5869
30 They that tarry long H309 at the wine; H3196 they that go H935 to seek H2713 mixed wine. H4469
31 Look H7200 not thou upon the wine H3196 when it is red, H119 when it giveth H5414 his colour H5869 in the cup, H3563 H3599 when it moveth H1980 itself aright. H4339
32 At the last H319 it biteth H5391 like a serpent, H5175 and stingeth H6567 like an adder. H6848
33 Thine eyes H5869 shall behold H7200 strange women, H2114 and thine heart H3820 shall utter H1696 perverse things. H8419
34 Yea, thou shalt be as he that lieth down H7901 in the midst H3820 of the sea, H3220 or as he that lieth H7901 upon the top H7218 of a mast. H2260
35 They have stricken H5221 me, shalt thou say, and I was not sick; H2470 they have beaten H1986 me, and I felt H3045 it not: when shall I awake? H6974 I will seek H1245 it yet H3254 again.
1 When thou sittest to eat with a ruler, Consider diligently him that is before thee;
2 And put a knife to thy throat, If thou be a man given to appetite.
3 Be not desirous of his dainties; Seeing they are deceitful food.
4 Weary not thyself to be rich; Cease from thine own wisdom.
5 Wilt thou set thine eyes upon that which is not? For `riches' certainly make themselves wings, Like an eagle that flieth toward heaven.
6 Eat thou not the bread of him that hath an evil eye, Neither desire thou his dainties:
7 For as he thinketh within himself, so is he: Eat and drink, saith he to thee; But his heart is not with thee.
8 The morsel which thou hast eaten shalt thou vomit up, And lose thy sweet words.
9 Speak not in the hearing of a fool; For he will despise the wisdom of thy words.
10 Remove not the ancient landmark; And enter not into the fields of the fatherless:
11 For their Redeemer is strong; He will plead their cause against thee.
12 Apply thy heart unto instruction, And thine ears to the words of knowledge.
13 Withhold not correction from the child; `For' if thou beat him with the rod, he will not die.
14 Thou shalt beat him with the rod, And shalt deliver his soul from Sheol.
15 My son, if thy heart be wise, My heart will be glad, even mine:
16 Yea, my heart will rejoice, When thy lips speak right things.
17 Let not thy heart envy sinners; But `be thou' in the fear of Jehovah all the day long:
18 For surely there is a reward; And thy hope shall not be cut off.
19 Hear thou, my son, and be wise, And guide thy heart in the way.
20 Be not among winebibbers, Among gluttonous eaters of flesh:
21 For the drunkard and the glutton shall come to poverty; And drowsiness will clothe `a man' with rags.
22 Hearken unto thy father that begat thee, And despise not thy mother when she is old.
23 Buy the truth, and sell it not; `Yea', wisdom, and instruction, and understanding.
24 The father of the righteous will greatly rejoice; And he that begetteth a wise child will have joy of him.
25 Let thy father and thy mother be glad, And let her that bare thee rejoice.
26 My son, give me thy heart; And let thine eyes delight in my ways.
27 For a harlot is a deep ditch; And a foreign woman is a narrow pit.
28 Yea, she lieth in wait as a robber, And increaseth the treacherous among men.
29 Who hath woe? who hath sorrow? who hath contentions? Who hath complaining? who hath wounds without cause? Who hath redness of eyes?
30 They that tarry long at the wine; They that go to seek out mixed wine.
31 Look not thou upon the wine when it is red, When it sparkleth in the cup, When it goeth down smoothly:
32 At the last it biteth like a serpent, And stingeth like an adder.
33 Thine eyes shall behold strange things, And thy heart shall utter perverse things.
34 Yea, thou shalt be as he that lieth down in the midst of the sea, Or as he that lieth upon the top of a mast.
35 They have stricken me, `shalt thou say', and I was not hurt; They have beaten me, and I felt it not: When shall I awake? I will seek it yet again.
1 When thou sittest to eat with a ruler, Thou considerest diligently that which `is' before thee,
2 And thou hast put a knife to thy throat, If thou `art' a man of appetite.
3 Have no desire to his dainties, seeing it `is' lying food.
4 Labour not to make wealth, From thine own understanding cease, Dost thou cause thine eyes to fly upon it? Then it is not.
5 For wealth maketh to itself wings, As an eagle it flieth to the heavens.
6 Eat not the bread of an evil eye, And have no desire to his dainties,
7 For as he hath thought in his soul, so `is' he, `Eat and drink,' saith he to thee, And his heart `is' not with thee.
8 Thy morsel thou hast eaten thou dost vomit up, And hast marred thy words that `are' sweet.
9 In the ears of a fool speak not, For he treadeth on the wisdom of thy words.
10 Remove not a border of olden times, And into fields of the fatherless enter not,
11 For their Redeemer `is' strong, He doth plead their cause with thee.
12 Bring in to instruction thy heart, And thine ear to sayings of knowledge.
13 Withhold not from a youth chastisement, When thou smitest him with a rod he dieth not.
14 Thou with a rod smitest him, And his soul from Sheol thou deliverest.
15 My son, if thy heart hath been wise, My heart rejoiceth, even mine,
16 And my reins exult when thy lips speak uprightly.
17 Let not thy heart be envious at sinners, But -- in the fear of Jehovah all the day.
18 For, is there a posterity? Then thy hope is not cut off.
19 Hear thou, my son, and be wise, And make happy in the way thy heart,
20 Be not thou among quaffers of wine, Among gluttonous ones of flesh,
21 For the quaffer and glutton become poor, And drowsiness clotheth with rags.
22 Hearken to thy father, who begat thee, And despise not thy mother when she hath become old.
23 Truth buy, and sell not, Wisdom, and instruction, and understanding,
24 The father of the righteous rejoiceth greatly, The begetter of the wise rejoiceth in him.
25 Rejoice doth thy father and thy mother, Yea, she that bare thee is joyful.
26 Give, my son, thy heart to me, And let thine eyes watch my ways.
27 For a harlot `is' a deep ditch, And a strange woman `is' a strait pit.
28 She also, as catching prey, lieth in wait, And the treacherous among men she increaseth.
29 Who hath wo? who hath sorrow? Who hath contentions? who hath plaint? Who hath wounds without cause? Who hath redness of eyes?
30 Those tarrying by the wine, Those going in to search out mixed wine.
31 See not wine when it showeth itself red, When it giveth in the cup its colour, It goeth up and down through the upright.
32 Its latter end -- as a serpent it biteth, And as a basilisk it stingeth.
33 Thine eyes see strange women, And thy heart speaketh perverse things.
34 And thou hast been as one lying down in the heart of the sea, And as one lying down on the top of a mast.
35 `They smote me, I have not been sick, They beat me, I have not known. When I awake -- I seek it yet again!'
1 When thou sittest to eat with a ruler, consider well who is before thee;
2 and put a knife to thy throat, if thou be a man given to appetite.
3 Be not desirous of his dainties; for they are deceitful food.
4 Weary not thyself to become rich; cease from thine own intelligence:
5 wilt thou set thine eyes upon it, it is gone; for indeed it maketh itself wings and it flieth away as an eagle towards the heavens.
6 Eat thou not the food of him that hath an evil eye, neither desire thou his dainties.
7 For as he thinketh in his soul, so is he. Eat and drink! will he say unto thee; but his heart is not with thee.
8 Thy morsel which thou hast eaten must thou vomit up, and thou wilt have wasted thy sweet words.
9 Speak not in the ears of a foolish [man], for he will despise the wisdom of thy words.
10 Remove not the ancient landmark; and enter not into the fields of the fatherless:
11 for their redeemer is mighty; he will plead their cause against thee.
12 Apply thy heart unto instruction, and thine ears to the words of knowledge.
13 Withhold not correction from the child; for [if] thou beatest him with the rod, he shall not die:
14 thou shalt beat him with the rod, and shalt deliver his soul from Sheol.
15 My son, if thy heart be wise, my heart shall rejoice, even mine;
16 and my reins shall exult, when thy lips speak right things.
17 Let not thy heart envy sinners, but [be thou] in the fear of Jehovah all the day;
18 for surely there is a result, and thine expectation shall not be cut off.
19 Thou, my son, hear and be wise, and direct thy heart in the way.
20 Be not among winebibbers, among riotous eaters of flesh.
21 For the drunkard and the glutton shall come to poverty; and drowsiness clotheth with rags.
22 Hearken unto thy father that begat thee, and despise not thy mother when she is old.
23 Buy the truth, and sell it not; wisdom, and instruction, and intelligence.
24 The father of a righteous [man] shall greatly rejoice, and he that begetteth a wise [son] shall have joy of him:
25 let thy father and thy mother have joy, and let her that bore thee rejoice.
26 My son, give me thy heart, and let thine eyes observe my ways.
27 For a whore is a deep ditch; and a strange woman is a narrow pit.
28 She also lieth in wait as a robber, and increaseth the treacherous among men.
29 Who hath woe? Who hath sorrow? Who contentions? Who complaining? Who wounds without cause? Who redness of eyes?
30 -- They that tarry long at the wine; they that go to try mixed wine.
31 Look not upon the wine when it is red, when it sparkleth in the cup, and goeth down smoothly:
32 at the last it biteth like a serpent, and stingeth like an adder.
33 Thine eyes shall behold strange women, and thy heart shall speak froward things;
34 and thou shalt be as he that lieth down in the midst of the sea, and as he that lieth down upon the top of a mast:
35 -- ''They have smitten me, [and] I am not sore; they have beaten me, [and] I knew it not. When shall I awake? I will seek it yet again.''
1 When you sit to eat with a ruler, Consider diligently what is before you;
2 Put a knife to your throat, If you are a man given to appetite.
3 Don't be desirous of his dainties, Seeing they are deceitful food.
4 Don't weary yourself to be rich. In your wisdom, show restraint.
5 Why do you set your eyes on that which is not? For it certainly sprouts wings like an eagle and flies in the sky.
6 Don't eat the food of him who has a stingy eye, And don't crave his delicacies:
7 For as he thinks about the cost, so he is. "Eat and drink!" he says to you, But his heart is not with you.
8 The morsel which you have eaten you shall vomit up, And lose your good words.
9 Don't speak in the ears of a fool, For he will despise the wisdom of your words.
10 Don't move the ancient boundary stone. Don't encroach on the fields of the fatherless:
11 For their Defender is strong. He will plead their case against you.
12 Apply your heart to instruction, And your ears to the words of knowledge.
13 Don't withhold correction 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 Sheol.
15 My son, if your heart is wise, Then my heart will be glad, even mine:
16 Yes, my heart will rejoice, When your lips speak what is right.
17 Don't let your heart envy sinners; But rather fear Yahweh all the day long.
18 Indeed surely there is a future hope, And your hope will not be cut off.
19 Listen, my son, and be wise, And keep your heart on the right path!
20 Don't be among ones drinking too much wine, Or those who gorge themselves on meat:
21 For the drunkard and the glutton shall become poor; And drowsiness clothes them in rags.
22 Listen to your father who gave you life, And don't despise your mother when she is old.
23 Buy the truth, and don't sell it: Get wisdom, discipline, and understanding.
24 The father of the righteous has great joy. Whoever fathers a wise child delights in him.
25 Let your father and your mother be glad! Let her who bore you rejoice!
26 My son, give me your heart; And let your eyes keep in my ways.
27 For a prostitute is a deep pit; And a wayward wife is a narrow well.
28 Yes, she lies in wait like a robber, And increases the unfaithful among men.
29 Who has woe? Who has sorrow? Who has strife? Who has complaints? Who has needless bruises? Who has bloodshot eyes?
30 Those who stay long at the wine; Those who go to seek out mixed wine.
31 Don't look at the 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.
33 Your eyes will see strange things, And your mind will imagine confusing things.
34 Yes, you will be as he who lies down in the midst of the sea, Or as he who lies on top of the rigging:
35 "They hit me, and I was not hurt; They beat me, and I don't feel it! When will I wake up? I can do it again. I can find another."
1 When you take your seat at the feast with a ruler, give thought with care to what is before you;
2 And put a knife to your throat, if you have a strong desire for food.
3 Have no desire for his delicate food, for it is the bread of deceit.
4 Take no care to get wealth; let there be an end to your desire for money.
5 Are your eyes lifted up to it? it is gone: for wealth takes to itself wings, like an eagle in flight up to heaven.
6 Do not take the food of him who has an evil eye, or have any desire for his delicate meat:
7 For as the thoughts of his heart are, so is he: Take food and drink, he says to you; but his heart is not with you.
8 The food which you have taken will come up again, and your pleasing words will be wasted.
9 Say nothing in the hearing of a foolish man, for he will put no value on the wisdom of your words.
10 Do not let the landmark of the widow be moved, and do not go into the fields of those who have no father;
11 For their saviour is strong, and he will take up their cause against you.
12 Give your heart to teaching, and your ears to the words of knowledge.
13 Do not keep back training from the child: for even if you give him blows with the rod, it will not be death to him.
14 Give him blows with the rod, and keep his soul safe from the underworld.
15 My son, if your heart becomes wise, I, even I, will be glad in heart;
16 And my thoughts in me will be full of joy when your lips say right things.
17 Have no envy of sinners in your heart, but keep in the fear of the Lord all through the day;
18 For without doubt there is a future, and your hope will not be cut off.
19 Give ear, my son, and be wise, guiding your heart in the right way.
20 Do not be among those who give themselves to wine-drinking, or among those who make themselves full with meat:
21 For those who take delight in drink and feasting will come to be in need; and through love of sleep a man will be poorly clothed.
22 Give ear to your father whose child you are, and do not keep honour from your mother when she is old.
23 Get for yourself that which is true, and do not let it go for money; get wisdom and teaching and good sense.
24 The father of the upright man will be glad, and he who has a wise child will have joy because of him.
25 Let your father and your mother be glad, let her who gave you birth have joy.
26 My son, give me your heart, and let your eyes take delight in my ways.
27 For a loose woman is a deep hollow, and a strange woman is a narrow water-hole.
28 Yes, she is waiting secretly like a beast for its food, and deceit by her is increased among men.
29 Who says, Oh! who says, Ah! who has violent arguments, who has grief, who has wounds without cause, whose eyes are dark?
30 Those who are seated late over the wine: those who go looking for mixed wine.
31 Keep your eyes from looking on the wine when it is red, when its colour is bright in the cup, when it goes smoothly down:
32 In the end, its bite is like that of a snake, its wound like the wound of a poison-snake.
33 Your eyes will see strange things, and you will say twisted things.
34 Yes, you will be like him who takes his rest on the sea, or on the top of a sail-support.
35 They have overcome me, you will say, and I have no pain; they gave me blows without my feeling them: when will I be awake from my wine? I will go after it again.
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on Proverbs 23
Commentary on Proverbs 23 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
CHAPTER 23
Pr 23:1-35.
1. Avoid the dangers of gluttony.
2. put a knife—an Eastern figure for putting restraint on the appetite.
3. are deceitful meat—though well tasted, injurious.
4, 5. (Compare 1Ti 6:9, 10).
thine own wisdom—which regards riches intrinsically as a blessing.
5. Wilt … eyes—As the eyes fly after or seek riches, they are not, that is, either become transitory or unsatisfying; fully expressed by their flying away.
6-8. Beware of deceitful men, whose courtesies even you will repent of having accepted.
evil eye—or purpose (Pr 22:9; De 15:9; Mt 6:23).
8. The morsel … words—that is, disgusted with his true character, all pleasant intercourse will be destroyed.
9. (Compare Pr 9:8). "Cast not your pearls before swine" (Mt 7:6).
10, 11. (Compare Pr 22:22, 23).
11. redeemer—or avenger (Le 25:25, 26; Nu 35:12), hence advocate (Job 19:25).
plead … thee—(Compare Job 31:21; Ps 35:1; 68:5).
12. Here begins another series of precepts.
13, 14. While there is little danger that the use of the "divine ordinance of the rod" will produce bodily harm, there is great hope of spiritual good.
15, 16. The pleasure afforded the teacher by the pupil's progress is a motive to diligence.
16. my reins—(Compare Ps 7:9).
17, 18. (Compare Margin). The prosperity of the wicked is short.
18. an end—or, "hereafter," another time, when apparent inequalities shall be adjusted (compare Ps 37:28-38).
19-21. guide … way—or direct thy thoughts to a right course of conduct (compare Pr 4:4; 9:6).
20. riotous … flesh—prodigal, or eating more than necessary. Instead of "their flesh" (compare Margin), better, "flesh to them," that is, used for pleasure.
21. drowsiness—the dreamy sleep of the slothful.
22. Hearken—that is, obey (Pr 1:8; Eph 6:1).
despise … old—Adults revere the parents whom, as children, they once obeyed.
23. Buy—literally, "get" (Pr 4:5).
truth—generally and specially as opposed to errors of all kinds.
24, 25. (Compare Pr 10:1; 17:21, 25).
26-35. A solemn warning against whoredom and drunkenness (Ho 4:11).
give me—This is the address of that divine wisdom so often presented (Pr 8:1; 9:3, &c.).
heart—confidence.
observe—keep.
my ways—such as I teach you (Pr 3:17; 9:6).
27, 28. deep ditch—a narrow pit, out of which it is hard to climb.
lieth in wait—to ensnare men into the pit, as hunters entrap game (compare Pr 22:14).
28. increaseth … transgressors—(Pr 5:8-10). The vice alluded to is peculiarly hardening to the heart.
29, 30. This picture is often sadly realized now.
mixed wine—(Compare Pr 9:2; Isa 5:11).
31. when … red—the color denoting greater strength (compare Ge 49:11; De 32:14).
giveth … cup—literally, "gives its eye," that is, sparkles.
moveth … aright—Perhaps its foaming is meant.
32. The acute miseries resulting from drunkenness contrasted with the temptations.
33, 34. The moral effects: it inflames passion (Ge 19:31, 35), lays open the heart, produces insensibility to the greatest dangers, and debars from reformation, under the severest sufferings.
35. awake—that is, from drunkenness (Ge 9:24). This is the language rather of acts than of the tongue.