Proverbs 23:18-28

18 Surely ¹there is a future, and your ²hope will not be cut off.

19 Hear, my son, and ³be wise, and ⁴direct your heart in the way.

20 Be not among ⁵drunkards^[a] or among ⁶gluttonous eaters of meat,

21 for the drunkard and the glutton will come to poverty, and ⁷slumber will clothe them with rags

22 ⁸Listen to your father who gave you life, ⁹and do not despise your mother when she is old.

23 ¹⁰Buy truth, and do not sell it; buy wisdom, instruction, and understanding.

24 ¹¹The father of the righteous will greatly rejoice; he who fathers a wise son will be glad in him.

25 ¹²Let your father and mother be glad; let ¹³her who bore you rejoice.

26 My son, give me your heart, and let your eyes observe^[b] my ways.

27 For a prostitute is ¹⁴a deep pit; ¹⁵an adulteress^[c] is a narrow ¹⁶well.

28 ¹⁷She lies in wait like a robber and increases the traitors among mankind.

Proverbs 23:18-28 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. Proverbs 24:14, 20
• 2. Psalms 9:18
• 3. Proverbs 6:6
• 4. [Proverbs 9:6]
• 5. [ver. 29, 30; Isaiah 5:11, 22; Matthew 24:49; Luke 21:34; Romans 13:13; Ephesians 5:18]
• 6. Proverbs 28:7
• 7. [Proverbs 6:10, 11]
• 8. See Proverbs 1:8
• 9. [Proverbs 30:17]
• 10. [Proverbs 4:5, 7; Proverbs 18:15; Matthew 13:44]
• 11. ver. 15; See Proverbs 29:3
• 12. [See ver. 24 above]
• 13. Proverbs 17:25
• 14. [Proverbs 22:14]
• 15. See Proverbs 2:16
• 16. Psalms 55:23
• 17. Proverbs 7:12; [Ecclesiastes 7:26]

Footnotes

• [a]. Hebrew those who drink too much wine
• [b]. Or delight in
• [c]. Hebrew a foreign woman