The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 23:19-21
An exhortation to temperance, as one of the results of the fear of God, prefaced by an exhortation to wisdom. read more
Proverbs-23
Spence, H. D. M., etc.
Spence, H. D. M., etc.
The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 23:19-25
The perils of dissipation and the antidote "Who hath ears to hear, let him hear." I. PERILS OF DISSIPATION . ( Proverbs 23:20 , Proverbs 23:21 .) Gluttony and wine bibbing. As the stomach is the centre of health, so it is also of disease. A wise man (Dr. Johnson) said that if one did not care for one's stomach, one was not likely to care for anything. It is equally true that he who cares only or chiefly for the flesh will make a wreck of everything else. Gluttony has been... read more
Spence, H. D. M., etc.
The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 23:20
Wine bibbers; persons who meet together for the express purpose of drinking intoxicating liquors. Among riotous eaters of flesh. The Hebrew is "of flesh for themselves," whence some take the meaning to be "of their own flesh," i.e. who by their gluttony and luxury ruin their own bodies. But tile parallelism with the wine drinker shows plainly that the flesh which they eat is meant, and the idea is that they eat for the gratification of their own appetites, caring nothing for anything... read more
Spence, H. D. M., etc.
The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 23:21
Intemperance leads to prodigality, carelessness, and ruin. And drowsiness shall clothe a man with rags. The luxury and excess spoken of above lead to drowsiness and inability to work, and poverty follows as the natural result (comp. Proverbs 19:15 ; Proverbs 24:33 , etc.). The Vulgate still harps on the same string as in the previous verse, "Those who waste time in drinking, and who give picnics ( dantes symbola ) , shall be ruined, and semnolence small clothe with rags." The LXX .... read more
Spence, H. D. M., etc.
The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 23:22
That begat thee. This is a claim on the attention and obedience of the son. When she is old. When old age with its consequent infirmities comes upon thy mother, despise her not, but rather thank God for giving her long life, and profit by her love and long experience (comp. Ecclesiastes 3:1 , etc; where the exhortation to honour parents is very full and touching). read more
Spence, H. D. M., etc.
The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 23:22
The mighty Redeemer I. THE HELPLESS NEED A MIGHTY REDEEMER . In simple, rough times some provision had to be made to protect the weak from the overbearing insolence and tyranny of the strong. When the arm of the law was not capable of maintaining justice, private friends were required and authorized to take up the cause of the wronged. The goel, or avenger, was then needed to stand up for his helpless kinsfolk. But there were extreme cases in which no such assistance could... read more
Spence, H. D. M., etc.
The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 23:22-25
An octastich, containing an earnest exhortation to the disciple. read more
Spence, H. D. M., etc.
The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 23:23
Buy the truth, and sell it not (comp. Proverbs 4:5 , Proverbs 4:7 ; Proverbs 16:16 ). Consider truth as a thing of the highest value, and spare no pains, cost, or sacrifice to obtain it, and, when gotten, keep it safe; do not barter it for earthly profit or the pleasures of sense; do not be reasoned out of it, or laughed out of it; "sell it not," do not part with it for any consideration. The second clause gives the sphere in which truth moves, or the three properties which appertain... read more
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The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 23:19
Hear thou. The pronoun gives force and personality to the injunction ( Job 33:33 ). Guide thine heart in the way. (For אשׁר , "to guide straight," see on Proverbs 4:14 ) "The way" is the right way, in distinction to the many wrong paths of life—the way of understanding, as it is called ( Proverbs 9:6 ). Septuagint, "Direct aright the thoughts of thy heart," for right thoughts lead to right actions. read more