Proverbs 23:16-26

16 My ¹inmost being^[a] will exult when your lips speak ²what is right.

17 Let not your heart ³envy sinners, but continue in ⁴the fear of the LORD all the day.

18 Surely ⁵there is a future, and your ⁶hope will not be cut off.

19 Hear, my son, and ⁷be wise, and ⁸direct your heart in the way.

20 Be not among ⁹drunkards^[b] or among ¹⁰gluttonous eaters of meat,

21 for the drunkard and the glutton will come to poverty, and ¹¹slumber will clothe them with rags

22 ¹²Listen to your father who gave you life, ¹³and do not despise your mother when she is old.

23 ¹⁴Buy truth, and do not sell it; buy wisdom, instruction, and understanding.

24 ¹⁵The father of the righteous will greatly rejoice; he who fathers a wise son will be glad in him.

25 ¹⁶Let your father and mother be glad; let ¹⁷her who bore you rejoice.

26 My son, give me your heart, and let your eyes observe^[c] my ways.

Proverbs 23:16-26 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. Psalms 7:9; Psalms 73:21
• 2. [Proverbs 8:6]
• 3. See Psalms 37:1
• 4. [Proverbs 28:14]
• 5. Proverbs 24:14, 20
• 6. Psalms 9:18
• 7. Proverbs 6:6
• 8. [Proverbs 9:6]
• 9. [ver. 29, 30; Isaiah 5:11, 22; Matthew 24:49; Luke 21:34; Romans 13:13; Ephesians 5:18]
• 10. Proverbs 28:7
• 11. [Proverbs 6:10, 11]
• 12. See Proverbs 1:8
• 13. [Proverbs 30:17]
• 14. [Proverbs 4:5, 7; Proverbs 18:15; Matthew 13:44]
• 15. ver. 15; See Proverbs 29:3
• 16. [See ver. 24 above]
• 17. Proverbs 17:25

Footnotes

• [a]. Hebrew My kidneys
• [b]. Hebrew those who drink too much wine
• [c]. Or delight in