Proverbs 23

1 quando sederis ut comedas cum principe diligenter adtende quae posita sunt ante faciem tuam

2 et statue cultrum in gutture tuo si tamen habes in potestate animam tuam

3 ne desideres de cibis eius in quo est panis mendacii

4 noli laborare ut diteris sed prudentiae tuae pone modu

5 ne erigas oculos tuos ad opes quas habere non potes quia facient sibi pinnas quasi aquilae et avolabunt in caelum

6 ne comedas cum homine invido et ne desideres cibos eius

7 quoniam in similitudinem arioli et coniectoris aestimat quod ignorat comede et bibe dicet tibi et mens eius non est tecum

8 cibos quos comederas evomes et perdes pulchros sermones tuos

9 in auribus insipientium ne loquaris quia despicient doctrinam eloquii tui

10 ne adtingas terminos parvulorum et agrum pupillorum ne introeas

11 propinquus enim eorum Fortis est et ipse iudicabit contra te causam illorum

12 ingrediatur ad doctrinam cor tuum et aures tuae ad verba scientiae

13 noli subtrahere a puero disciplinam si enim percusseris eum virga non morietur

14 tu virga percuties eum et animam eius de inferno liberabi

15 fili mi si sapiens fuerit animus tuus gaudebit tecum cor meum

16 et exultabunt renes mei cum locuta fuerint rectum labia tua

17 non aemuletur cor tuum peccatores sed in timore Domini esto tota die

18 quia habebis spem in novissimo et praestolatio tua non auferetur

19 audi fili mi et esto sapiens et dirige in via animum tuu

20 noli esse in conviviis potatorum nec in comesationibus eorum qui carnes ad vescendum conferunt

21 quia vacantes potibus et dantes symbola consumentur et vestietur pannis dormitati

22 audi patrem tuum qui genuit te et ne contemnas cum senuerit mater tua

23 veritatem eme et noli vendere sapientiam et doctrinam et intellegentiam

24 exultat gaudio pater iusti qui sapientem genuit laetabitur in eo

25 gaudeat pater tuus et mater tua et exultet quae genuit te

26 praebe fili mi cor tuum mihi et oculi tui vias meas custodiant

27 fovea enim profunda est meretrix et puteus angustus aliena

28 insidiatur in via quasi latro et quos incautos viderit interficit

29 cui vae cuius patri vae cui rixae cui foveae cui sine causa vulnera cui suffusio oculorum

30 nonne his qui morantur in vino et student calicibus epotandis

31 ne intuearis vinum quando flavescit cum splenduerit in vitro color eius ingreditur blande

32 sed in novissimo mordebit ut coluber et sicut regulus venena diffundet

33 oculi tui videbunt extraneas et cor tuum loquetur perversa

34 et eris sicut dormiens in medio mari et quasi sopitus gubernator amisso clavo

35 et dices verberaverunt me sed non dolui traxerunt me et ego non sensi quando evigilabo et rursum vina repperiam

Proverbs 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.