Proverbs 23:10-12

Here the writer added a reason to the warning in the fourth saying (Proverbs 22:28). God is the rescuing avenger of the defenseless (in Genesis 28:16; Exodus 6:6; Job 19:25; and many times in Isaiah 41-63). Here it is evidently God who is in view, rather than a human kinsman-redeemer (Heb. goel, cf. Genesis 48:16; Exodus 6:6; Job 19:25; Isaiah 41-63). This is another warning against taking unfair advantage of a defenseless person.

We should probably take Proverbs 23:12 as an exhortation added to the tenth saying. Some scholars have viewed it as an introduction to the remaining 20 sayings in view of its similarity to Proverbs 22:17; Proverbs 23:15-16; Proverbs 23:19; Proverbs 23:26. [Note: Toy, pp. 432-33.] In either case, it is a general admonition to apply these wise declarations to life.