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.
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.