Proverbs 23:15-25

15 ¹My son, if your heart is wise, my heart too will be glad.

16 My ²inmost being^[a] will exult when your lips speak ³what is right.

17 Let not your heart ⁴envy sinners, but continue in ⁵the fear of the LORD all the day.

18 Surely ⁶there is a future, and your ⁷hope will not be cut off.

19 Hear, my son, and ⁸be wise, and ⁹direct your heart in the way.

20 Be not among ¹⁰drunkards^[b] or among ¹¹gluttonous eaters of meat,

21 for the drunkard and the glutton will come to poverty, and ¹²slumber will clothe them with rags

22 ¹³Listen to your father who gave you life, ¹⁴and do not despise your mother when she is old.

23 ¹⁵Buy truth, and do not sell it; buy wisdom, instruction, and understanding.

24 ¹⁶The father of the righteous will greatly rejoice; he who fathers a wise son will be glad in him.

25 ¹⁷Let your father and mother be glad; let ¹⁸her who bore you rejoice.

Proverbs 23:15-25 Meaning and Commentary

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.

Cross References

• 1. ver. 24, 25; See Proverbs 29:3
• 2. Psalms 7:9; Psalms 73:21
• 3. [Proverbs 8:6]
• 4. See Psalms 37:1
• 5. [Proverbs 28:14]
• 6. Proverbs 24:14, 20
• 7. Psalms 9:18
• 8. Proverbs 6:6
• 9. [Proverbs 9:6]
• 10. [ver. 29, 30; Isaiah 5:11, 22; Matthew 24:49; Luke 21:34; Romans 13:13; Ephesians 5:18]
• 11. Proverbs 28:7
• 12. [Proverbs 6:10, 11]
• 13. See Proverbs 1:8
• 14. [Proverbs 30:17]
• 15. [Proverbs 4:5, 7; Proverbs 18:15; Matthew 13:44]
• 16. ver. 15; See Proverbs 29:3
• 17. [See ver. 24 above]
• 18. Proverbs 17:25

Footnotes

• [a]. Hebrew My kidneys
• [b]. Hebrew those who drink too much wine