Proverbs 23 — with JFB Commentary
The King James text with the Jamieson-Fausset-Brown commentary (1871, public domain) directly beneath the verses it explains. Verses without a JFB note stand alone.
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1When thou sittest to eat with a ruler, consider diligently what is before thee:
CHAPTER 23
Pr 23:1-35.
1. Avoid the dangers of gluttony.
2And put a knife to thy throat, if thou be a man given to appetite.
2. put a knife--an Eastern figure for putting restraint on the appetite.
3Be not desirous of his dainties: for they are deceitful meat.
3. are deceitful meat--though well tasted, injurious.
4Labour not to be rich: cease from thine own wisdom.
4-5. (Compare 1Ti 6:9, 10).
thine own wisdom--which regards riches intrinsically as a blessing.
5Wilt thou set thine eyes upon that which is not? for riches certainly make themselves wings; they fly away as an eagle toward heaven.
4-5. (Compare 1Ti 6:9, 10).
thine own wisdom--which regards riches intrinsically as a blessing.
6Eat thou not the bread of him that hath an evil eye, neither desire thou his dainty meats:
6-8. Beware of deceitful men, whose courtesies even you will repent of having accepted.
evil eye--or purpose (Pr 22:9; De 15:9; Mt 6:23).
7For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he: Eat and drink, saith he to thee; but his heart is not with thee.
6-8. Beware of deceitful men, whose courtesies even you will repent of having accepted.
evil eye--or purpose (Pr 22:9; De 15:9; Mt 6:23).
8The morsel which thou hast eaten shalt thou vomit up, and lose thy sweet words.
6-8. Beware of deceitful men, whose courtesies even you will repent of having accepted.
evil eye--or purpose (Pr 22:9; De 15:9; Mt 6:23).
9Speak not in the ears of a fool: for he will despise the wisdom of thy words.
9. (Compare Pr 9:8). "Cast not your pearls before swine" (Mt 7:6).
10Remove not the old landmark; and enter not into the fields of the fatherless:
10-11. (Compare Pr 22:22, 23).
11For their redeemer is mighty; he shall plead their cause with thee.
10-11. (Compare Pr 22:22, 23).
12Apply thine heart unto instruction, and thine ears to the words of knowledge.
12. Here begins another series of precepts.
13Withhold not correction from the child: for if thou beatest him with the rod, he shall not die.
13-14. While there is little danger that the use of the "divine ordinance of the rod" will produce bodily harm, there is great hope of spiritual good.
14Thou shalt beat him with the rod, and shalt deliver his soul from hell.
13-14. While there is little danger that the use of the "divine ordinance of the rod" will produce bodily harm, there is great hope of spiritual good.
15My son, if thine heart be wise, my heart shall rejoice, even mine.
15-16. The pleasure afforded the teacher by the pupil's progress is a motive to diligence.
16Yea, my reins shall rejoice, when thy lips speak right things.
15-16. The pleasure afforded the teacher by the pupil's progress is a motive to diligence.
17Let not thine heart envy sinners: but be thou in the fear of the LORD all the day long.
17-18. (Compare Margin). The prosperity of the wicked is short.
18For surely there is an end; and thine expectation shall not be cut off.
17-18. (Compare Margin). The prosperity of the wicked is short.
19Hear thou, my son, and be wise, and guide thine heart in the way.
19-21. guide ... way--or direct thy thoughts to a right course of conduct (compare Pr 4:4; 9:6).
20Be not among winebibbers; among riotous eaters of flesh:
19-21. guide ... way--or direct thy thoughts to a right course of conduct (compare Pr 4:4; 9:6).
21For the drunkard and the glutton shall come to poverty: and drowsiness shall clothe a man with rags.
19-21. guide ... way--or direct thy thoughts to a right course of conduct (compare Pr 4:4; 9:6).
22Hearken unto thy father that begat thee, and despise not thy mother when she is old.
22. Hearken--that is, obey (Pr 1:8; Ep 6:1).
despise ... old--Adults revere the parents whom, as children, they once obeyed.
23Buy the truth, and sell it not; also wisdom, and instruction, and understanding.
23. Buy--literally, "get" (Pr 4:5).
truth--generally and specially as opposed to errors of all kinds.
24The father of the righteous shall greatly rejoice: and he that begetteth a wise child shall have joy of him.
24-25. (Compare Pr 10:1; 17:21, 25).
25Thy father and thy mother shall be glad, and she that bare thee shall rejoice.
24-25. (Compare Pr 10:1; 17:21, 25).
26My son, give me thine heart, and let thine eyes observe my ways.
26-35. A solemn warning against whoredom and drunkenness (Ho 4:11).
give me--This is the address of that divine wisdom so often presented (Pr 8:1; 9:3, &c.).
heart--confidence.
observe--keep.
my ways--such as I teach you (Pr 3:17; 9:6).
27For a whore is a deep ditch; and a strange woman is a narrow pit.
26-35. A solemn warning against whoredom and drunkenness (Ho 4:11).
give me--This is the address of that divine wisdom so often presented (Pr 8:1; 9:3, &c.).
heart--confidence.
observe--keep.
my ways--such as I teach you (Pr 3:17; 9:6).
28She also lieth in wait as for a prey, and increaseth the transgressors among men.
26-35. A solemn warning against whoredom and drunkenness (Ho 4:11).
give me--This is the address of that divine wisdom so often presented (Pr 8:1; 9:3, &c.).
heart--confidence.
observe--keep.
my ways--such as I teach you (Pr 3:17; 9:6).
29Who hath woe? who hath sorrow? who hath contentions? who hath babbling? who hath wounds without cause? who hath redness of eyes?
26-35. A solemn warning against whoredom and drunkenness (Ho 4:11).
give me--This is the address of that divine wisdom so often presented (Pr 8:1; 9:3, &c.).
heart--confidence.
observe--keep.
my ways--such as I teach you (Pr 3:17; 9:6).
30They that tarry long at the wine; they that go to seek mixed wine.
26-35. A solemn warning against whoredom and drunkenness (Ho 4:11).
give me--This is the address of that divine wisdom so often presented (Pr 8:1; 9:3, &c.).
heart--confidence.
observe--keep.
my ways--such as I teach you (Pr 3:17; 9:6).
31Look not thou upon the wine when it is red, when it giveth his colour in the cup, when it moveth itself aright.
26-35. A solemn warning against whoredom and drunkenness (Ho 4:11).
give me--This is the address of that divine wisdom so often presented (Pr 8:1; 9:3, &c.).
heart--confidence.
observe--keep.
my ways--such as I teach you (Pr 3:17; 9:6).
32At the last it biteth like a serpent, and stingeth like an adder.
26-35. A solemn warning against whoredom and drunkenness (Ho 4:11).
give me--This is the address of that divine wisdom so often presented (Pr 8:1; 9:3, &c.).
heart--confidence.
observe--keep.
my ways--such as I teach you (Pr 3:17; 9:6).
33Thine eyes shall behold strange women, and thine heart shall utter perverse things.
26-35. A solemn warning against whoredom and drunkenness (Ho 4:11).
give me--This is the address of that divine wisdom so often presented (Pr 8:1; 9:3, &c.).
heart--confidence.
observe--keep.
my ways--such as I teach you (Pr 3:17; 9:6).
34Yea, thou shalt be as he that lieth down in the midst of the sea, or as he that lieth upon the top of a mast.
26-35. A solemn warning against whoredom and drunkenness (Ho 4:11).
give me--This is the address of that divine wisdom so often presented (Pr 8:1; 9:3, &c.).
heart--confidence.
observe--keep.
my ways--such as I teach you (Pr 3:17; 9:6).
35They have stricken me, shalt thou say, and I was not sick; they have beaten me, and I felt it not: when shall I awake? I will seek it yet again.
26-35. A solemn warning against whoredom and drunkenness (Ho 4:11).
give me--This is the address of that divine wisdom so often presented (Pr 8:1; 9:3, &c.).
heart--confidence.
observe--keep.
my ways--such as I teach you (Pr 3:17; 9:6).