Proverbs 23

Notes

Ver. 1. When you are honoured with a seat at the table of a great man, remember that you are in danger if you take not heed to your behaviour, considering what and how you eat, what and how you speak, and to whom. 2. And avoid, as you would avoid death, every approach to intemperance and folly in language, as well as excess in eating and drinking; and so much the more if thou art given to such weakness. 3. Never show a fondness for delicate provision; for it often betrays men into excess, or into some indecent unwarrantable behaviour. 4. Never labour immoderately with heart or hand to obtain riches; and never depend on thy own prudent management, but on God himself, for the success of thy undertakings. 5. Never set thy mind or affections upon riches, nor pursue with eagerness what perhaps thou canst never attain; for if thou dost, they may suddenly and irrecoverably be taken from thee, and become witnesses against thee before God, with respect to thy guilt in pursuing or abusing them. 6. Never receive an obligation from a sordid, covetous, and churlish wretch; and never let the best cheer tempt thee to accept of his invitation to a feast: 7. For he is to be judged of by the disposition of his heart, not by his fair words. And while he flatters and urges thee to eat, he has no real kindness for thee, nor in the least wishes thee to make use of his provision. 8. When thou seest his sordid carriage, it will make thee repent thy tasting of his dainty meats, or paying any regard to his kind but deceitful compliments. 9. The wisest counsels and reproofs, addressed to fools and scorners, will be but contemned and trampled under their feet. 10, 11. Never encroach upon the property of the fatherless or others who have no help in man: for the Almighty God will take their part, redress their grievances, and revenge the injuries done to them. 12-16. If parents carefully instruct and correct, and children seriously regard and receive their instruction, and submit to their correction, it will greatly promote the happiness and comfort of both. 17, 18. Never envy the prosperity of sinners; but study to live in favour and in humble fellowship with God. Thus shall thy troubles quickly have an end, and the expected blessings of eternity be enjoyed by thee, while the prosperity of sinners shall be turned into everlasting misery. 19-21. Carefully study true wisdom, and let thine heart be exercised in faith and holiness. Avoid all intimacy with intemperate persons; for they and their slothful brethren will quickly reduce themselves to outward and even eternal misery. 22-25. Pay the utmost regard to the instructions, reproofs, and good example of parents: spare no pains or cost to know, embrace, and hold fast the truths of God; to find out and walk in the true way of salvation, and to grow in the knowledge of Christ, and never part with it upon any account. Thus shalt thou be a remarkable blessing and comfort to thy parents. 26-28. Receive my counsels with thy whole heart, that it may be filled with and fixed on a God in Christ; and carefully observe and follow my directions and example. Thus shalt thou be delivered from whorish women, by whose enticements multitudes are seduced into manifold wickedness and irrecoverable ruin. 29-35. Carefully avoid all drunkenness, and every occasion of or temptation to it, as it occasions bloody quarrels, inflames fleshly lusts, and animates to whoredom: it fills the mouth with obscene, rude, profane, or senseless discourse; it renders the head stupid and giddy; it hardens men in wickedness; and, in fine, issues in misery both here and hereafter.

Ver. 6. Niggardliness and hospitality are not unfrequently combined in the same person. This hospitality, however, originates not in kindness, but in ostentation. With such contradictory characters form no intimacy: what is essentially evil cannot come to good. C.

Ver. 23. Buy the truth by the expenditure of attentive hearing, earnest prayer, diligent study, unreserved obedience, devoted zeal, cheerful self-denial—in all 'looking unto Jesus,' and depending upon the promise and gift of his teaching Spirit, whom he has freely promised to all who 'ask.'—Sell it not to appetites, to indolence, to vanity, to pride, to covetousness— whereby Satan ever seeks to 'catch away' the seed of truth from the heart, Mat. 13. 19. C.