Proverbs 23

1 When you sit down to eat with someone important, keep in mind who he is.

2 If you have a big appetite, restrain yourself.

3 Don't be greedy for the fine food he serves; he may be trying to trick you.

4 Be wise enough not to wear yourself out trying to get rich

5 Your money can be gone in a flash, as if it had grown wings and flown away like an eagle.

6 Don't eat at the table of a stingy person or be greedy for the fine food he serves.

7 "Come on and have some more," he says, but he doesn't mean it. What he thinks is what he really is.

8 You will vomit up what you have eaten, and all your flattery will be wasted.

9 Don't try to talk sense to a fool; he can't appreciate it.

10 Never move an old property line or take over land owned by orphans.

11 The Lord is their powerful defender, and he will argue their case against you.

12 Pay attention to your teacher and learn all you can.

13 Don't hesitate to discipline children. A good spanking won't kill them.

14 As a matter of fact, it may save their lives

15 My child, if you become wise, I will be very happy.

16 I will be proud when I hear you speaking words of wisdom.

17 Don't be envious of sinful people; let reverence for the Lord be the concern of your life.

18 If it is, you have a bright future.

19 Listen, my child, be wise and give serious thought to the way you live

20 Don't associate with people who drink too much wine or stuff themselves with food.

21 Drunkards and gluttons will be reduced to poverty. If all you do is eat and sleep, you will soon be wearing rags

22 Listen to your father; without him you would not exist. When your mother is old, show her your appreciation.

23 Truth, wisdom, learning, and good sense - these are worth paying for, but too valuable for you to sell.

24 A righteous person's parents have good reason to be happy. You can take pride in a wise child.

25 Let your father and mother be proud of you; give your mother that happiness.

26 Pay close attention, son, and let my life be your example.

27 Prostitutes and immoral women are a deadly trap.

28 They wait for you like robbers and cause many men to be unfaithful.

29 Show me people who drink too much, who have to try out fancy drinks, and I will show you people who are miserable and sorry for themselves, always causing trouble and always complaining. Their eyes are bloodshot, and they have bruises that could have been avoided.

31 Don't let wine tempt you, even though it is rich red, and it sparkles in the cup, and it goes down smoothly.

32 The next morning you will feel as if you had been bitten by a poisonous snake.

33 Weird sights will appear before your eyes, and you will not be able to think or speak clearly.

34 You will feel as if you were out on the ocean, seasick, swinging high up in the rigging of a tossing ship.

35 "I must have been hit," you will say; "I must have been beaten up, but I don't remember it. Why can't I wake up? I need another drink."

Proverbs 23 Commentary

Chapter 23

Verses 1-3 God's restraints of the appetite only say, Do thyself no ( proverbs 23:4-5 ) this world are not happiness and a portion for a soul; those that hold them ever so fast, cannot hold them always, cannot hold them long. ( 6-8 ) . Do not make thyself burdensome to any, especially those not sincere. When we are called by God to his feast, and to let our souls delight themselves, Isa. 25:6 Isa. 55:2 |, we may safely partake of the Bread of life. Verse 9 . It is our duty to take all fit occasions to speak of Divine things; but if what a wise man says will not be heard, let him hold his ( proverbs 23:10-11 ) protection. He is their Redeemer, who will take their part; and he is mighty, almighty.

Verses 12-16 Here is a parent instructing his child to give his mind to the Scriptures. Here is a parent correcting his child: accompanied with prayer, and blessed of God, it may prove a means of preventing his destruction. Here is a parent encouraging his child, telling him what would be for his good. And what a comfort it would be, if herein he answered his ( proverbs 23:17-18 ) disappointed; the end of his trials, and of the sinner's prosperity, is at hand.

Verses 19-28 The gracious Saviour who purchased pardon and peace for his people, with all the affection of a tender parent, counsels us to hear and be wise, and is ready to guide our hearts in his way. Here we have an earnest call to young people, to attend to the advice of their godly parents. If the heart be guided, the steps will be guided. Buy the truth, and sell it not; be willing to part with any thing for it. Do not part with it for pleasures, honours, riches, or any thing in this world. The heart is what the great God requires. We must not think to divide the heart between God and the world; he will have all or none. Look to the rule of God's word, the conduct of his providence, and the good examples of his people. Particular cautions are given against sins most destructive to wisdom and grace in the soul. It is really a shame to make a god of the belly. Drunkenness stupifies men, and then all goes to ruin. Licentiousness takes away the heart that should be given to God. Take heed of any approaches toward this sin, it is very hard to retreat from it. It bewitches men to their ruin.

Verses 29-35 Solomon warns against drunkenness. Those that would be kept from sin, must keep from all the beginnings of it, and fear coming within reach of its allurements. Foresee the punishment, what it will at last end in, if repentance prevent not. It makes men quarrel. Drunkards wilfully make woe and sorrow for themselves. It makes men impure and insolent. The tongue grows unruly; the heart utters things contrary to reason, religion, and common civility. It stupifies and besots men. They are in danger of death, of damnation; as much exposed as if they slept upon the top of a mast, yet feel secure. They fear no peril when the terrors of the Lord are before them; they feel no pain when the judgments of God are actually upon them. So lost is a drunkard to virtue and honour, so wretchedly is his conscience seared, that he is not ashamed to say, I will seek it again. With good reason we were bid to stop before the beginning. Who that has common sense would contract a habit, or sell himself to a sin, which tends to such guilt and misery, and exposes a man every day to the danger of dying insensible, and awaking in hell? Wisdom seems in these chapters to take up the discourse as at the beginning of the book. They must be considered as the words of Christ to the sinner.

Footnotes

• [a]. keep . . . is; [or] notice carefully what is before you.

Chapter Summary

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.