Proverbs 23:7-17

7 He'll be as stingy with you as he is with himself; he'll say, "Eat! Drink!" but won't mean a word of it.
8 His miserly serving will turn your stomach when you realize the meal's a sham.
9 Don't bother talking sense to fools; they'll only poke fun at your words.
10 Don't stealthily move back the boundary lines or cheat orphans out of their property,
11 For they have a powerful Advocate who will go to bat for them.
12 Give yourselves to disciplined instruction; open your ears to tested knowledge.
13 Don't be afraid to correct your young ones; a spanking won't kill them.
14 A good spanking, in fact, might save them from something worse than death
15 Dear child, if you become wise, I'll be one happy parent.
16 My heart will dance and sing to the tuneful truth you'll speak.
17 Don't for a minute envy careless rebels; soak yourself in the Fear-of-God -

Proverbs 23:7-17 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.

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Published by permission. Originally published by NavPress in English as THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language copyright 2002 by Eugene Peterson. All rights reserved.