Proverbios 23

1 Cuando te sentares a comer con algún señor, considera bien lo que estuviere delante de ti;

2 y pon cuchillo a tu garganta, si tienes gran apetito.

3 No codicies sus manjares, porque es pan engañoso.

4 No trabajes por ser rico; desiste de tu propia sabiduría

5 ¿Has de poner tus ojos en las riquezas, siendo ningunas? Porque se harán alas, como alas de águila, y volarán al cielo.

6 No comas pan de hombre de mal ojo, ni codicies sus manjares;

7 porque cual es su pensamiento en su alma, tal es él. Come y bebe, te dirá; mas su corazón no está contigo.

8 ¿Comiste tu parte? La vomitarás; y perderás tus suaves palabras.

9 No hables a oídos del loco; porque menospreciará la prudencia de tus razones.

10 No traspases el término antiguo, ni entres en la heredad de los huérfanos;

11 porque el redentor de ellos es el Fuerte, el cual juzgará la causa de ellos contra ti.

12 Aplica tu corazón al castigo, y tus oídos a las palabras de sabiduría.

13 No detengas el castigo del niño; porque si lo hirieres con vara, no morirá.

14 Tú lo herirás con vara, y librarás su alma del infierno

15 Hijo mío, si tu corazón fuere sabio, también a mí se me alegrará el corazón;

16 mis entrañas también se alegrarán, cuando tus labios hablaren cosas rectas.

17 No tenga tu corazón envidia de los pecadores, antes persevera en el temor del SEÑOR todo tiempo;

18 porque ciertamente hay fin, y tu esperanza no será cortada.

19 Oye tú, hijo mío, y sé sabio, y endereza tu corazón al camino

20 No estés con los borrachos de vino, ni con los glotones de carne;

21 porque el bebedor y el comilón empobrecerán; y el sueño hará vestir vestidos rotos

22 Oye a tu padre, a aquel que te engendró; y cuando tu madre envejeciere, no la menosprecies.

23 Compra la verdad, y no la vendas; la sabiduría, la enseñanza, y la inteligencia.

24 Mucho se alegrará el padre del justo; y el que engendró sabio se gozará con él.

25 Alégrense tu padre y tu madre, y gócese la que te dio a luz.

26 Dame, hijo mío, tu corazón, y miren tus ojos por mis caminos.

27 Porque sima profunda es la ramera, y pozo angosto la extraña.

28 También ella, como robador, acecha, y multiplica entre los hombres los prevaricadores.

29 ¿Para quién será el ay? ¿Para quién el ay? ¿Para quién las rencillas? ¿Para quién las quejas? ¿Para quién las heridas en balde? ¿Para quién lo amoratado de los ojos?

30 Para los que se detienen junto al vino, para los que van buscando la mixtura.

31 No mires al vino cuando rojea, cuando resplandece su color en el vaso, se entra suavemente;

32 mas al fin morderá como serpiente, y como basilisco dará dolor.

33 Tus ojos mirarán las extrañas, y tu corazón hablará perversidades.

34 Y serás como el que duerme en medio del mar, y como el que se acuesta junto al timón.

35 Y dirás : Me hirieron, mas no me dolió; me azotaron, mas no lo sentí; cuando despertare, aun lo volveré a buscar.

Proverbios 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.