Proverbs 23:8

8 You will ¹vomit up the morsel you have eaten, And waste your compliments.

Proverbs 23:8 Meaning and Commentary

Proverbs 23:8

The morsel [which] thou hast eaten, shalt thou vomit up
It shall turn in thy stomach, thou shall not be able to keep it, when thou understandest thou art not welcome; or thou wilt wish thou hadst never eaten a bit, or that thou couldest vomit up what thou hast; so disagreeable is the thought of being unwelcome, or when this appears to be the case; and lose thy sweet words;
expressed in thankfulness to the master of the feast, in praise of his food, in pleasantry with him, and the other guests at table; all which are repented of when a man finds he is not welcome.

Proverbs 23:8 In-Context

6 Do not eat the bread of a selfish man, Or desire his delicacies;

7 For as he thinks within himself, so he is. He says to you, "Eat and drink!" But his heart is not with you.

8 You will vomit up the morsel you have eaten, And waste your compliments.

9 Do not speak in the hearing of a fool, For he will despise the wisdom of your words.

10 Do not move the ancient boundary Or go into the fields of the fatherless,

Cross References

• 1. Proverbs 25:16

Footnotes

• [a] Lit "your"
• [b] Lit "pleasant words"