Proverbes 23

1 Quand tu seras assis pour manger avec un prince, considère avec attention ce qui sera devant toi;

2 Autrement tu te mettras le couteau à la gorge, si ton appétit te domine.

3 Ne désire point ses friandises; car c'est une nourriture trompeuse.

4 Ne te fatigue pas à t'enrichir; n'y applique pas ton esprit

5 Pourquoi jeter les yeux sur des biens qui bientôt ne seront plus? Car certainement ils se feront des ailes, comme l'aigle qui s'envole vers les cieux.

6 Ne mange point le pain de celui qui est envieux, et ne désire point ses friandises.

7 Car il cache sa pensée au fond de son âme. Il te dira bien: Mange et bois; mais son cœur n'est point avec toi.

8 Tu vomiras le morceau que tu auras mangé, et tu auras perdu tes belles paroles.

9 Ne parle point quand un insensé t'écoute; car il méprisera la prudence de tes discours.

10 Ne déplace point la borne ancienne, et n'entre point dans les champs des orphelins;

11 Car leur vengeur est puissant; il plaidera leur cause contre toi.

12 Applique ton cœur à l'instruction, et tes oreilles aux paroles de la science.

13 N'épargne point la correction au jeune enfant; quand tu l'auras frappé de la verge, il n'en mourra pas.

14 En le frappant de la verge, tu délivreras son âme du Sépulcre

15 Mon fils, si ton cœur est sage, mon cœur s'en réjouira; oui, moi-même je m'en réjouirai;

16 Et mes reins tressailliront de joie, quand tes lèvres parleront avec droiture.

17 Que ton cœur ne porte point envie aux pécheurs; mais adonne-toi à la crainte de l'Éternel continuellement.

18 Car il y aura certainement une bonne issue, et ton attente ne sera point trompée.

19 Toi, mon fils, écoute, et deviens sage, et dirige ton cœur dans la bonne voie

20 Ne sois point avec les buveurs de vin, ni avec ceux qui aiment la bonne chère.

21 Car le buveur et le gourmand deviendront pauvres, et le dormeur portera des haillons

22 Écoute ton père; c'est celui qui t'a donné la vie; et ne méprise point ta mère quand elle sera devenue vieille.

23 Achète la vérité, et ne la vends point; achète la sagesse, l'instruction et la prudence.

24 Le père du juste a une grande joie; et celui qui aura mis au monde un enfant sage, en sera heureux.

25 Que ton père et ta mère se réjouissent, et que celle qui t'a enfanté soit ravie de joie.

26 Mon fils, donne-moi ton cœur, et que tes yeux prennent garde à mes voies.

27 Car la femme débauchée est une fosse profonde, et l'étrangère est un puits étroit.

28 Aussi se tient-elle en embuscade comme un brigand, et elle rendra plusieurs hommes infidèles.

29 A qui cette plainte: Malheur sur moi? A qui: Hélas? A qui les débats? A qui le bruit? A qui les blessures sans cause? A qui la rougeur des yeux?

30 A ceux qui s'arrêtent auprès du vin, et qui vont chercher le vin mixtionné.

31 Ne regarde point le vin quand il est rouge, quand il brille dans la coupe, et qu'il coule aisément.

32 A la fin, il mord comme le serpent, et pique comme le basilic.

33 Puis tes yeux regarderont les femmes étrangères, et ton cœur parlera d'une manière déréglée;

34 Et tu seras comme celui qui dort au milieu de la mer, et comme celui qui dort au sommet d'un mât.

35 On m'a battu, diras-tu, et je n'ai point de mal; on m'a frappé, et je ne l'ai point senti. Quand je me réveillerai, j'irai encore en chercher.

Proverbes 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.

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.