Proverbs 23:7

7 for he is the kind of person who is always thinking about the cost.[a]“Eat and drink,” he says to you, but his heart is not with you.

Proverbs 23:7 in Other Translations

KJV
7 For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he: Eat and drink, saith he to thee; but his heart is not with thee.
ESV
7 for he is like one who is inwardly calculating. "Eat and drink!" he says to you, but his heart is not with you.
NLT
7 They are always thinking about how much it costs. “Eat and drink,” they say, but they don’t mean it.
MSG
7 He'll be as stingy with you as he is with himself; he'll say, "Eat! Drink!" but won't mean a word of it.
CSB
7 for as he thinks within himself, so he is. "Eat and drink," he says to you, but his heart is not with you.

Proverbs 23:7 Meaning and Commentary

Proverbs 23:7

For as he thinketh in his heart, so [is] he
He is not the man his mouth speaks or declares him to be, but what his heart thinks; which is discovered by his looks and actions, and by which he is to be judged of, and not by his words; eat and drink, saith he to thee, but his heart [is] not with thee;
he bids you eat and drink, but he does not desire you should, at least but very sparingly; it is only a mere compliment, not a hearty welcome.

Proverbs 23:7 In-Context

5 Cast but a glance at riches, and they are gone, for they will surely sprout wings and fly off to the sky like an eagle.
6 Do not eat the food of a begrudging host, do not crave his delicacies;
7 for he is the kind of person who is always thinking about the cost.“Eat and drink,” he says to you, but his heart is not with you.
8 You will vomit up the little you have eaten and will have wasted your compliments.
9 Do not speak to fools, for they will scorn your prudent words.

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Footnotes 1

  • [a]. Or "for as he thinks within himself," / "so he is" ; or "for as he puts on a feast," / "so he is"
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