Proverbs 23:1-10

On Life and Conduct

1 When you sit down to dine with a ruler, Consider carefully what is before you,

2 And put a knife to your throat If you are a ¹man of great appetite.

3 Do not ²desire his delicacies, For it is deceptive food.

4 ³Do not weary yourself to gain wealth, ⁴Cease from your consideration of it

5 When you set your eyes on it, it is gone. For ⁵wealth certainly makes itself wings Like an eagle that flies toward the heavens.

6 ⁶Do not eat the bread of a ⁷selfish * man, Or desire his delicacies;

7 For as he thinks within himself, so he is. He says to you, "Eat and drink!" But ⁸his heart is not with you.

8 You will ⁹vomit up the morsel you have eaten, And waste your compliments.

9 ¹⁰Do not speak in the hearing of a fool, For he will ¹¹despise the wisdom of your words.

10 Do not move the ancient boundary Or ¹²go into the fields of the fatherless,

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Proverbs 23:1-10 Meaning and Commentary

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.

Taken from John Gill's Exposition of the Bible

Videos for Proverbs 23:1-10

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Cross References 12

1. Proverbs 23:20
2. Psalms 141:4; Proverbs 23:6; Dan 1:5, 8, 13, 15, 16
3. Proverbs 15:27; Proverbs 28:20; Matthew 6:19; 1 Timothy 6:9; Hebrews 13:5
4. Proverbs 3:5, 7
5. Proverbs 27:24; 1 Timothy 6:17
6. Psalms 141:4
7. Deuteronomy 15:9; Proverbs 28:22
8. Proverbs 26:24, 25
9. Proverbs 25:16
10. Matthew 7:6
11. Proverbs 1:7
12. Jeremiah 22:3; Zechariah 7:10

Footnotes 8

[a]. Or "who"
[b]. Or "understanding"
[c]. Lit "Will your eyes fly upon it and it is not?"
[d]. Lit "an evil eye"
[e]. Lit "reckons in his soul"
[f]. Lit "your"
[g]. Lit "pleasant words"
[h]. Lit "ears"