Zhēnyán 25:16

16 Nǐ dé le mì ma , zhī kĕ chī gòu ér yǐ . kǒngpà nǐ guō bǎo jiù ǒu tù chūlai .

Zhēnyán 25:16 Meaning and Commentary

Proverbs 25:16

Hast thou found honey?
&c.] Of which there was great plenty in Judea; and was to be found in fields and woods, ( 1 Samuel 14:25 1 Samuel 14:26 ) ; eat so much as is sufficient for thee;
to satisfy appetite, without overcharging the stomach; what may be conducive to health, and no more; lest thou be filled therewith, and vomit it;
that is, overfilled; filled to a loathing of it, so as to cause a casting of it up this is not merely to be understood in a literal sense; something more is intended, as in ( Proverbs 24:13 ) ; and according to the sense there, that which Maimonides ^F12 gives of this seems agreeable; that it respects the getting of wisdom and knowledge, which, like honey, is sweet and desirable, and excellent, and nourishing, moderately used: but then persons should take care to keep within due bounds, and not seek to be too wise; or to exercise themselves in things too high for them, and aim at that which is above their capacity; but should content themselves with what is within their reach and compass: and so Gersom understands it. Some think that moderation in the use of worldly things and lawful pleasures is here recommended: and others that the words refer to what follow; that when a man has got a pleasant and delightful friend, he should not visit him too often; lest, too much familiarity bringing contempt, he should lose his friend: so Jarchi connects the words,

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FOOTNOTES:

F12 Moreh. Nevochim, par. 1. c. 32, p. 41.

Zhēnyán 25:16 In-Context

14 Kòng kuā zèng sòng lǐwù de , hǎoxiàng wú yǔ de fēng yún .

15 Héng cháng rĕnnaì , kĕyǐ quàn dòng jūnwáng . róu hé de shétou , néng zhé duàn gútou .

16 Nǐ dé le mì ma , zhī kĕ chī gòu ér yǐ . kǒngpà nǐ guō bǎo jiù ǒu tù chūlai .

17 Nǐde jiǎo yào shǎo jìn línshè de jiā , kǒngpà tā yànfán nǐ , hèn è nǐ .

18 Zuò jià jiànzhèng xiànhaì línshè de , jiù shì dà chuí , shì lì dāo , shì kuaì jiàn .