Proverbs 23:17-35

17 Do not let your heart envy sinners, but always continue in the fear of the Lord.

18 Surely there is a future, and your hope will not be cut off.

19 Hear, my child, and be wise, and direct your mind in the way

20 Do not be among winebibbers, or among gluttonous eaters of meat;

21 for the drunkard and the glutton will come to poverty, and drowsiness will clothe them with rags

22 Listen to your father who begot you, and do not despise your mother when she is old.

23 Buy truth, and do not sell it; buy wisdom, instruction, and understanding.

24 The father of the righteous will greatly rejoice; he who begets a wise son will be glad in him.

25 Let your father and mother be glad; let her who bore you rejoice.

26 My child, give me your heart, and let your eyes observe my ways.

27 For a prostitute is a deep pit; an adulteress is a narrow well.

28 She lies in wait like a robber and increases the number of the faithless.

29 Who has woe? Who has sorrow? Who has strife? Who has complaining? Who has wounds without cause? Who has redness of eyes?

30 Those who linger late over wine, those who keep trying mixed wines.

31 Do not look at wine when it is red, when it sparkles in the cup and goes down smoothly.

32 At the last it bites like a serpent, and stings like an adder.

33 Your eyes will see strange things, and your mind utter perverse things.

34 You will be like one who lies down in the midst of the sea, like one who lies on the top of a mast.

35 "They struck me," you will say, "but I was not hurt; they beat me, but I did not feel it. When shall I awake? I will seek another drink."

Proverbs 23:17-35 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.

Footnotes

• [a]. Another reading is [delight in]
• [b]. Heb [an alien woman]
• [c]. Meaning of Heb uncertain
• [d]. Gk Syr Vg Tg: Heb lacks [you will say]