Proverbs 23:20-30

20 Be not among ¹drunkards^[a] or among ²gluttonous eaters of meat,

21 for the drunkard and the glutton will come to poverty, and ³slumber will clothe them with rags

22 ⁴Listen to your father who gave you life, ⁵and do not despise your mother when she is old.

23 ⁶Buy truth, and do not sell it; buy wisdom, instruction, and understanding.

24 ⁷The father of the righteous will greatly rejoice; he who fathers a wise son will be glad in him.

25 ⁸Let your father and mother be glad; let ⁹her who bore you rejoice.

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

27 For a prostitute is ¹⁰a deep pit; ¹¹an adulteress^[c] is a narrow ¹²well.

28 ¹³She lies in wait like a robber and increases the traitors among mankind.

29 ¹⁴Who has woe? Who has sorrow? Who has strife? Who has complaining? Who has ¹⁵wounds without cause? Who has ¹⁶redness of eyes?

30 Those who ¹⁷tarry long over wine; those who go to try ¹⁸mixed wine.

Proverbs 23:20-30 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. 29, 30; Isaiah 5:11, 22; Matthew 24:49; Luke 21:34; Romans 13:13; Ephesians 5:18]
• 2. Proverbs 28:7
• 3. [Proverbs 6:10, 11]
• 4. See Proverbs 1:8
• 5. [Proverbs 30:17]
• 6. [Proverbs 4:5, 7; Proverbs 18:15; Matthew 13:44]
• 7. ver. 15; See Proverbs 29:3
• 8. [See ver. 24 above]
• 9. Proverbs 17:25
• 10. [Proverbs 22:14]
• 11. See Proverbs 2:16
• 12. Psalms 55:23
• 13. Proverbs 7:12; [Ecclesiastes 7:26]
• 14. [ver. 20, 21]
• 15. [ver. 35]
• 16. Genesis 49:12
• 17. Isaiah 5:11
• 18. Proverbs 9:2, 5; Psalms 75:8; Isaiah 5:22; Isaiah 65:11

Footnotes

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