Proverbes 23

1 Si tu es à table avec un grand, Fais attention à ce qui est devant toi;

2 Mets un couteau à ta gorge, Si tu as trop d'avidité.

3 Ne convoite pas ses friandises: C'est un aliment trompeur.

4 Ne te tourmente pas pour t'enrichir, N'y applique pas ton intelligence.

5 Veux-tu poursuivre du regard ce qui va disparaître? Car la richesse se fait des ailes, Et comme l'aigle, elle prend son vol vers les cieux.

6 Ne mange pas le pain de celui dont le regard est malveillant, Et ne convoite pas ses friandises;

7 Car il est comme les pensées de son âme. Mange et bois, te dira-t-il; Mais son coeur n'est point avec toi.

8 Tu vomiras le morceau que tu as mangé, Et tu auras perdu tes propos agréables.

9 Ne parle pas aux oreilles de l'insensé, Car il méprise la sagesse de tes discours.

10 Ne déplace pas la borne ancienne, Et n'entre pas dans le champ des orphelins;

11 Car leur vengeur est puissant: Il défendra leur cause contre toi.

12 Ouvre ton coeur à l'instruction, Et tes oreilles aux paroles de la science.

13 N'épargne pas la correction à l'enfant; Si tu le frappes de la verge, il ne mourra point.

14 En le frappant de la verge, Tu délivres son âme du séjour des morts.

15 Mon fils, si ton coeur est sage, Mon coeur à moi sera dans la joie;

16 Mes entrailles seront émues d'allégresse, Quand tes lèvres diront ce qui est droit.

17 Que ton coeur n'envie point les pécheurs, Mais qu'il ait toujours la crainte de l'Eternel;

18 Car il est un avenir, Et ton espérance ne sera pas anéantie.

19 Ecoute, mon fils, et sois sage; Dirige ton coeur dans la voie droite.

20 Ne sois pas parmi les buveurs de vin, Parmi ceux qui font excès des viandes:

21 Car l'ivrogne et celui qui se livre à des excès s'appauvrissent, Et l'assoupissement fait porter des haillons.

22 Ecoute ton père, lui qui t'a engendré, Et ne méprise pas ta mère, quand elle est devenue vieille.

23 Acquiers la vérité, et ne la vends pas, La sagesse, l'instruction et l'intelligence.

24 Le père du juste est dans l'allégresse, Celui qui donne naissance à un sage aura de la joie.

25 Que ton père et ta mère se réjouissent, Que celle qui t'a enfanté soit dans l'allégresse!

26 Mon fils, donne-moi ton coeur, Et que tes yeux se plaisent dans mes voies.

27 Car la prostituée est une fosse profonde, Et l'étrangère un puits étroit.

28 Elle dresse des embûches comme un brigand, Et elle augmente parmi les hommes le nombre des perfides.

29 Pour qui les ah? pour qui les hélas? Pour qui les disputes? pour qui les plaintes? Pour qui les blessures sans raison? pour qui les yeux rouges?

30 Pour ceux qui s'attardent auprès du vin, Pour ceux qui vont déguster du vin mêlé.

31 Ne regarde pas le vin qui paraît d'un beau rouge, Qui fait des perles dans la coupe, Et qui coule aisément.

32 Il finit par mordre comme un serpent, Et par piquer comme un basilic.

33 Tes yeux se porteront sur des étrangères, Et ton coeur parlera d'une manière perverse.

34 Tu seras comme un homme couché au milieu de la mer, Comme un homme couché sur le sommet d'un mât:

35 On m'a frappé,... je n'ai point de mal!... On m'a battu,... je ne sens rien!... Quand me réveillerai-je?... J'en veux encore!

Proverbes 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.