Proverbs 23

1 When you sit down to dine with a ruler, think carefully about who is before you.

2 If you have a big appetite, put a knife to your throat!

3 Don't be greedy for his delicacies, for they are deceptive food.

4 Don't exhaust yourself in pursuit of wealth; be smart enough to desist

5 If you make your eyes rush at it, it's no longer there! For wealth will surely grow wings, like an eagle flying off to the sky.

6 Don't eat the food of a stingy man; don't be greedy for his delicacies.

7 For he is like someone who keeps accounts -"Eat! Drink!" he says to you, but he doesn't really mean it.

8 The little you eat you will vomit up, and your compliments will have been wasted.

9 Don't speak in the ears of a fool, for he will only despise the common sense in your words.

10 Don't move the ancient boundary stone or encroach on the land of the fatherless;

11 for their Redeemer is strong; he will take up their fight against you.

12 Apply your mind to discipline and your ears to words of knowledge.

13 Don't withhold discipline from a child -if you beat him with a stick, he won't die!

14 If you beat him with a stick, you will save him from Sh'ol

15 My son, if your heart is wise, then my own heart too is glad;

16 my inmost being rejoices when your lips say what is right.

17 Don't envy sinners, but follow the example of those who always fear God;

18 for then you will have a future; what you hope for will not be cut off.

19 You, my son: listen, be wise, and set your mind on the right way

20 Don't be one of those who guzzle wine or of those who eat meat to excess,

21 for both drunkard and glutton will become poor -drowsiness will clothe them with rags

22 Listen to your father, who gave you life; and don't despise your mother when she gets old.

23 Buy the truth, don't sell it, also wisdom, discipline and discernment.

24 A righteous person's father will be filled with joy; yes, he whose son is wise will rejoice in him.

25 So let your father and mother be glad; let her who gave you birth rejoice.

26 My son, give me your heart; let your eyes observe my ways.

27 A prostitute is a deep ditch, and a forbidden woman like a narrow well.

28 She lies in wait to snatch her prey and adds to the number of faithless men.

29 Who has misery? Who has regret? Who fights and complains all the time? Who gets bruised for no good reason? Who has bloodshot eyes?

30 Those who spend their time over wine, those always trying out mixed drinks.

31 Don't gaze at the red wine as it gives its color to the cup. It may glide down smoothly now;

32 but in the end, it bites like a serpent -yes, it strikes like a poisonous snake.

33 Your eyes will see peculiar things, your mind will utter nonsense.

34 You will feel as if lying on the waves of the sea or sprawled on top of the mast -

35 "They hit me, but I didn't feel it! They beat me up, and I didn't even know it! When will I wake up? . . . I'll go get another drink."

Proverbs 23 Commentary

Chapter 23

Verses 1-3 God's restraints of the appetite only say, Do thyself no ( proverbs 23:4-5 ) this world are not happiness and a portion for a soul; those that hold them ever so fast, cannot hold them always, cannot hold them long. ( 6-8 ) . Do not make thyself burdensome to any, especially those not sincere. When we are called by God to his feast, and to let our souls delight themselves, Isa. 25:6 Isa. 55:2 |, we may safely partake of the Bread of life. Verse 9 . It is our duty to take all fit occasions to speak of Divine things; but if what a wise man says will not be heard, let him hold his ( proverbs 23:10-11 ) protection. He is their Redeemer, who will take their part; and he is mighty, almighty.

Verses 12-16 Here is a parent instructing his child to give his mind to the Scriptures. Here is a parent correcting his child: accompanied with prayer, and blessed of God, it may prove a means of preventing his destruction. Here is a parent encouraging his child, telling him what would be for his good. And what a comfort it would be, if herein he answered his ( proverbs 23:17-18 ) disappointed; the end of his trials, and of the sinner's prosperity, is at hand.

Verses 19-28 The gracious Saviour who purchased pardon and peace for his people, with all the affection of a tender parent, counsels us to hear and be wise, and is ready to guide our hearts in his way. Here we have an earnest call to young people, to attend to the advice of their godly parents. If the heart be guided, the steps will be guided. Buy the truth, and sell it not; be willing to part with any thing for it. Do not part with it for pleasures, honours, riches, or any thing in this world. The heart is what the great God requires. We must not think to divide the heart between God and the world; he will have all or none. Look to the rule of God's word, the conduct of his providence, and the good examples of his people. Particular cautions are given against sins most destructive to wisdom and grace in the soul. It is really a shame to make a god of the belly. Drunkenness stupifies men, and then all goes to ruin. Licentiousness takes away the heart that should be given to God. Take heed of any approaches toward this sin, it is very hard to retreat from it. It bewitches men to their ruin.

Verses 29-35 Solomon warns against drunkenness. Those that would be kept from sin, must keep from all the beginnings of it, and fear coming within reach of its allurements. Foresee the punishment, what it will at last end in, if repentance prevent not. It makes men quarrel. Drunkards wilfully make woe and sorrow for themselves. It makes men impure and insolent. The tongue grows unruly; the heart utters things contrary to reason, religion, and common civility. It stupifies and besots men. They are in danger of death, of damnation; as much exposed as if they slept upon the top of a mast, yet feel secure. They fear no peril when the terrors of the Lord are before them; they feel no pain when the judgments of God are actually upon them. So lost is a drunkard to virtue and honour, so wretchedly is his conscience seared, that he is not ashamed to say, I will seek it again. With good reason we were bid to stop before the beginning. Who that has common sense would contract a habit, or sell himself to a sin, which tends to such guilt and misery, and exposes a man every day to the danger of dying insensible, and awaking in hell? Wisdom seems in these chapters to take up the discourse as at the beginning of the book. They must be considered as the words of Christ to the sinner.

Chapter Summary

INTRODUCTION TO 1 KINGS 11

This chapter relates the false steps Solomon took, notwithstanding all his wisdom, in marrying strange wives, and worshipping other gods, 1Ki 11:1-8 upon which the Lord threatens him to rend the kingdom in his son's time, 1Ki 11:9-13 and he raised up adversaries against him, Hadad, Rezon, and Jeroboam, 1Ki 11:14-26 of which last an account is given, and of his being assured by Ahijah the prophet of his having ten of the tribes of Israel given to him; which Solomon having notice of sought to slay him, 1Ki 11:27-40 and the chapter is concluded with an account of Solomon's death and burial, 1Ki 11:41-43.