Proverbs 23:14-24

14 If you strike him with the rod, you will ¹save his soul from Sheol.

15 ²My son, if your heart is wise, my heart too will be glad.

16 My ³inmost being^[a] will exult when your lips speak ⁴what is right.

17 Let not your heart ⁵envy sinners, but continue in ⁶the fear of the LORD all the day.

18 Surely ⁷there is a future, and your ⁸hope will not be cut off.

19 Hear, my son, and ⁹be wise, and ¹⁰direct your heart in the way.

20 Be not among ¹¹drunkards^[b] or among ¹²gluttonous eaters of meat,

21 for the drunkard and the glutton will come to poverty, and ¹³slumber will clothe them with rags

22 ¹⁴Listen to your father who gave you life, ¹⁵and do not despise your mother when she is old.

23 ¹⁶Buy truth, and do not sell it; buy wisdom, instruction, and understanding.

24 ¹⁷The father of the righteous will greatly rejoice; he who fathers a wise son will be glad in him.

Proverbs 23:14-24 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.

Cross References

• 1. [1 Corinthians 5:5]
• 2. ver. 24, 25; See Proverbs 29:3
• 3. Psalms 7:9; Psalms 73:21
• 4. [Proverbs 8:6]
• 5. See Psalms 37:1
• 6. [Proverbs 28:14]
• 7. Proverbs 24:14, 20
• 8. Psalms 9:18
• 9. Proverbs 6:6
• 10. [Proverbs 9:6]
• 11. [ver. 29, 30; Isaiah 5:11, 22; Matthew 24:49; Luke 21:34; Romans 13:13; Ephesians 5:18]
• 12. Proverbs 28:7
• 13. [Proverbs 6:10, 11]
• 14. See Proverbs 1:8
• 15. [Proverbs 30:17]
• 16. [Proverbs 4:5, 7; Proverbs 18:15; Matthew 13:44]
• 17. ver. 15; See Proverbs 29:3

Footnotes

• [a]. Hebrew My kidneys
• [b]. Hebrew those who drink too much wine