Proverbios 23

6

1 Cuando te sientes a comer con un gobernante,fíjate bien en lo que^[a] tienes ante ti.

2 Si eres dado a la glotonería,domina tu apetito.^[b]

3 No codicies sus manjares,pues tal comida no es más que un engaño.

7

4 No te afanes acumulando riquezas;no te obsesiones con ellas.

5 ¿Acaso has podido verlas? ¡No existen!Es como si les salieran alas,pues se van volando como las águilas.

8

6 No te sientes a la mesa de un tacaño,^[c]ni codicies sus manjares,

7 que son como un pelo en la garganta.^[d]«Come y bebe», te dirá,pero no te lo dirá de corazón.

8 Acabarás vomitando lo que hayas comido,y tus cumplidos no habrán servido de nada.

9

9 A oídos del necio jamás dirijas palabra,pues se burlará de tus sabios consejos.

10

10 No cambies de lugar los linderos antiguos,ni invadas la propiedad de los huérfanos,

11 porque su Defensor es muy poderosoy contra ti defenderá su causa.

11

12 Aplica tu corazón a la disciplinay tus oídos al conocimiento.

12

13 No dejes de disciplinar al joven,que de unos cuantos azotes no se morirá.

14 Dale unos buenos azotes,y así lo librarás del sepulcro.

13

15 Hijo mío, si tu corazón es sabio,también mi corazón se regocijará;

16 en lo íntimo de mi ser me alegrarécuando tus labios hablen con rectitud.

14

17 No envidies en tu corazón a los pecadores;más bien, muéstrate siempre celoso en el temor del SEÑOR.

18 Cuentas con una esperanza futura,la cual no será destruida.

15

19 Hijo mío, presta atención y sé sabio;mantén tu corazón en el camino recto.

20 No te juntes con los que beben mucho vino,ni con los que se hartan de carne,

21 pues borrachos y glotones, por su indolencia,acaban harapientos y en la pobreza.

16

22 Escucha a tu padre, que te engendró,y no desprecies a tu madre cuando sea anciana.

23 Adquiere la verdad y la sabiduría,la disciplina y el discernimiento,¡y no los vendas!

24 El padre del justo experimenta gran regocijo;quien tiene un hijo sabio se solaza en él.

25 ¡Que se alegren tu padre y tu madre!¡Que se regocije la que te dio la vida!

17

26 Dame, hijo mío, tu corazóny no pierdas de vista mis caminos.

27 Porque fosa profunda es la prostituta,y estrecho pozo, la mujer ajena.

28 Se pone al acecho, como un bandido,y multiplica la infidelidad de los hombres.

18

29 ¿De quién son los lamentos? ¿De quién los pesares?¿De quién son los pleitos? ¿De quién las quejas?¿De quién son las heridas gratuitas?¿De quién los ojos morados?

30 ¡Del que no suelta la botella de vinoni deja de probar licores!

31 No te fijes en lo rojo que es el vino,ni en cómo brilla en la copa,ni en la suavidad con que se desliza;

32 porque acaba mordiendo como serpientey envenenando como víbora.

33 Tus ojos verán alucinaciones,y tu mente imaginará estupideces.

34 Te parecerá estar durmiendo en alta mar,acostado sobre el mástil mayor.

35 Y dirás: «Me han herido, pero no me duele.Me han golpeado, pero no lo siento.¿Cuándo despertaré de este sueñopara ir a buscar otro trago?»

Proverbios 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.

Footnotes

• [a]. "en lo que" . Alt. "en quién" .
• [b]. "domina tu apetito" . Lit. "ponle un cuchillo a tu garganta" .
• [c]. "un tacaño" . Alt. "un hombre mal intencionado" .
• [d]. "que son " "… " "garganta " (LXX); "pues como él piensa en su interior, así es él " (TM).

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.