Proverbs 23

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 23:1-8

Hints and warnings on conduct I. PERILS OF COURTLY LIFE . ( Proverbs 23:1-3 .) The Arab proverb says, "He who sups with the sultan burns his lips," and, "With kings one sits at the table for honour's sake, not for that of appetite." Horace says that kings are said to press dainties and wine upon those whom they desire to scrutinize and test, as to whether they be worthy of friendship. The caution is therefore one dictated by prudence. And in general it may be thus understood:... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 23:2

And put a knife to thy throat, if thou be a man given to appetite. "Stab thy gluttony," Wordsworth. Restrain thyself by the strongest measures, convince thyself that thou art in the utmost peril, if thou art a glutton or wine bibber (Ecclesiasticus 34:12 (31) ). The LXX . gives a different turn to the injunction, "And apply ( ἐπίβαλλε ) thy hand, knowing that it behoves thee to prepare such things." This is like the warning of Siracides, in the chapter quoted above, where the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 23:3

Be not desirous of his dainties. (For "dainties," see on Proverbs 23:6 .) Be not too greedy of the bounties of the royal table, so as to forget discretion, and be led to say and do things which are inexpedient or unseemly. For they are deceitful meat. Oftentimes such entertainment is not offered for friendship's sake, but for some sinister purpose—to make a man expose himself, to get at a man's real character or secrets. Far from being a sign of favour and good will, the seeming honour... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 23:4

Labour not —weary not thyself— to be rich. , John 6:27 , "Labour not for the meat that perisheth," where the warning is against that absorbing eagerness for wealth which leads to evil doing and neglect of all higher interests. Cease from thine own wisdom. The wisdom ( binah, Proverbs 3:5 ) is that which is necessary for making and keeping wealth. Vulgate, Prudentiae tuae pone modum. This is not the highest form of wisdom ( chochmah ) , but rather the faculty of distinguishing... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 23:4

Labouring to be rich Never was the advice of the wise man more appropriate than it is in the present day; but never were people more slow to accept it. Let us consider the grounds on which is based the warning, "Labour not to be rich." I. IT IS IMPOSSIBLE FOR MOST PEOPLE TO BECOME RICH . In the lottery of life the prizes are few and the blanks many. If the race for wealth is accelerated, the stakes are not multiplied. Or, if it be by production rather than by commerce... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 23:4-5

These form a pentastich. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 23:4-5

The worthelessness of wealth Wealth is not, indeed, absolutely worthless; it has a distinct value of its own; but relatively to man's deeper necessities, and to his other, spiritual resources, it is to be held in slight esteem. I. THE UNSUBSTANTIAL AS DISTINGUISHED FROM THE REAL . "Wilt thou set thine eyes upon that which is not?" Money regarded as that which purchases food, clothing. shelter, books, etc; has a certain value not easily overstated. But mere wealth, as... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 23:5

Wilt thou sat thine eyes upon that which is not? more literally, wilt thou let thine eyes fly upon it, and it is gone ? Why cast longing looks towards this wealth, and so prepare for yourself loss and disappointment? The pursuit is vain, and the result is never secure; what you gained by long toil and prudent care may be lost in an hour. Do you wish to incur this danger? Wordsworth quotes Persius, 'Sat.,' 3.61— " An passim sequeris corvos testaque lutoque? " For riches certainly... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 23:6

Eat thou not the bread of him that hath an evil eye; the envious and jealous man, in contrast to the "good of eye" ( Proverbs 22:9 ). Vulgate, Ne comedas cum heroine invido. Septuagint, ἀνδρὶ βασκάνῳ , the man who has the evil eye that fascinates, which, however, is a later idea; here the notion is rather of a grudging, sordid temper, that cannot bear the sight of others' happiness or prosperity (comp. Deuteronomy 15:9 ; Matthew 20:15 ). Ecclesiasticus 16:8, πονηρὸς ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 23:6-8

Another maxim, here a heptastich, concerning temperance. read more

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 23:1-8

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 23:2

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 23:3

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 23:4

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 23:4

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 23:4-5

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 23:4-5

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 23:5

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 23:6

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 23:6-8

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