Proverbs 23
Lutheran reading notes
In Proverbs chapter 23, the wisdom literature continues to explore wisdom for righteous living and reverence for God. Lutheran interpretation often emphasizes humanity’s limitations and the need to rely on God's grace and promises. The chapter highlights the contrast between human striving and the faithfulness of God.
1
When thou sittest to eat with a ruler, consider diligently what {is} before thee:
Proverbs 23:1 highlights wisdom, prayer, and faithful living with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
2
And put a knife to thy throat, if thou {be} a man given to appetite.
Proverbs 23:2 highlights wisdom, prayer, and faithful living with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
3
Be not desirous of his dainties: for they {are} deceitful meat.
Proverbs 23:3 highlights wisdom, prayer, and faithful living with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
4
Labour not to be rich: cease from thine own wisdom.
Proverbs 23:4 highlights wisdom, prayer, and faithful living with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
5
Wilt thou set thine eyes upon that which is not? for {riches} certainly make themselves wings; they fly away as an eagle toward heaven. {set...: Heb. cause thine eyes to fly upon}
Proverbs 23:5 highlights wisdom, prayer, and faithful living with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
6
Eat thou not the bread of {him that hath} an evil eye, neither desire thou his dainty meats:
Proverbs 23:6 highlights wisdom, prayer, and faithful living with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
7
For as he thinketh in his heart, so {is} he: Eat and drink, saith he to thee; but his heart {is} not with thee.
Proverbs 23:7 highlights wisdom, prayer, and faithful living with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
8
The morsel {which} thou hast eaten shalt thou vomit up, and lose thy sweet words.
Proverbs 23:8 highlights wisdom, prayer, and faithful living with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
9
Speak not in the ears of a fool: for he will despise the wisdom of thy words.
Proverbs 23:9 highlights wisdom, prayer, and faithful living with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
10
Remove not the old landmark; and enter not into the fields of the fatherless: {landmark: or, bound}
Proverbs 23:10 highlights wisdom, prayer, and faithful living with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
11
For their redeemer {is} mighty; he shall plead their cause with thee.
Proverbs 23:11 highlights wisdom, prayer, and faithful living with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
12
Apply thine heart unto instruction, and thine ears to the words of knowledge.
Proverbs 23:12 highlights wisdom, prayer, and faithful living with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
13
Withhold not correction from the child: for {if} thou beatest him with the rod, he shall not die.
Proverbs 23:13 highlights wisdom, prayer, and faithful living with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
14
Thou shalt beat him with the rod, and shalt deliver his soul from hell.
Proverbs 23:14 highlights wisdom, prayer, and faithful living with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
15
My son, if thine heart be wise, my heart shall rejoice, even mine. {even...: or, even I will rejoice}
Proverbs 23:15 highlights wisdom, prayer, and faithful living with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
16
Yea, my reins shall rejoice, when thy lips speak right things.
Proverbs 23:16 highlights wisdom, prayer, and faithful living with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
17
Let not thine heart envy sinners: but {be thou} in the fear of the LORD all the day long.
18
For surely there is an end; and thine expectation shall not be cut off. {end: or, reward}
Proverbs 23:18 highlights wisdom, prayer, and faithful living with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
19
Hear thou, my son, and be wise, and guide thine heart in the way.
Proverbs 23:19 highlights wisdom, prayer, and faithful living with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
20
Be not among winebibbers; among riotous eaters of flesh: {of flesh: Heb. of their flesh}
Proverbs 23:20 highlights wisdom, prayer, and faithful living with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
21
For the drunkard and the glutton shall come to poverty: and drowsiness shall clothe {a man} with rags.
Proverbs 23:21 highlights wisdom, prayer, and faithful living with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
22
Hearken unto thy father that begat thee, and despise not thy mother when she is old.
Proverbs 23:22 highlights wisdom, prayer, and faithful living with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
23
Buy the truth, and sell {it} not; {also} wisdom, and instruction, and understanding.
Proverbs 23:23 highlights wisdom, prayer, and faithful living with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
24
The father of the righteous shall greatly rejoice: and he that begetteth a wise {child} shall have joy of him.
Proverbs 23:24 highlights wisdom, prayer, and faithful living with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
25
Thy father and thy mother shall be glad, and she that bare thee shall rejoice.
Proverbs 23:25 highlights wisdom, prayer, and faithful living with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
26
My son, give me thine heart, and let thine eyes observe my ways.
Proverbs 23:26 highlights wisdom, prayer, and faithful living with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
27
For a whore {is} a deep ditch; and a strange woman {is} a narrow pit.
Proverbs 23:27 highlights wisdom, prayer, and faithful living with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
28
She also lieth in wait as {for} a prey, and increaseth the transgressors among men. {as for...: or, as a robber}
Proverbs 23:28 highlights wisdom, prayer, and faithful living with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
29
Who hath woe? who hath sorrow? who hath contentions? who hath babbling? who hath wounds without cause? who hath redness of eyes?
Proverbs 23:29 highlights wisdom, prayer, and faithful living with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
30
They that tarry long at the wine; they that go to seek mixed wine.
Proverbs 23:30 highlights wisdom, prayer, and faithful living with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
31
Look not thou upon the wine when it is red, when it giveth his colour in the cup, {when} it moveth itself aright.
Proverbs 23:31 highlights wisdom, prayer, and faithful living with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
32
At the last it biteth like a serpent, and stingeth like an adder. {an...: or, a cockatrice}
Proverbs 23:32 highlights wisdom, prayer, and faithful living with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
33
Thine eyes shall behold strange women, and thine heart shall utter perverse things.
Proverbs 23:33 highlights wisdom, prayer, and faithful living with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
34
Yea, 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. {the midst...: Heb. the heart of the sea}
Proverbs 23:34 highlights wisdom, prayer, and faithful living with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
35
They 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. {I felt...: Heb. I knew it not}
Proverbs 23:35 highlights wisdom, prayer, and faithful living with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.