Proverbs 23

Proverbs 23:1

COnsider] Be restrained and moderate in thine eating, and discreet in not laying thy hands upon any thing, but what shall be set before thee, as thy proper portion, according to the ancient manner of feasts, and especially beware thou touch not that which is for the Lord.

Proverbs 23:2

Pat a kinfe] Thou wilt draw some misfortune upon thy selfe by the meanes of the Princes displeasure.

Proverbs 23:3

Of his dainties] His rich garnished courtly Tables Deceitfull] Because that it is a bait to bring one into much slavery and divers miseries and courtly ruines; and it is no firme thing: nor alwayes loyall witnesse of good will.

Proverbs 23:4

Labour not] Unreasonably with anxiety, and biting care Wisedome] Namely, carnall wisedome, by which thou art driven to gaine great wealth, as a meanes of worldly happinesse. Or which thou employest to get riches, and in which thou puttest thy confidence to grow rich. Or wherein thou gloriest after thou art grown wealthy.

Proverbs 23:5

Set thine eyes] Hebr. wilt thou cause thine eyes to flye towards riches?

Proverbs 23:6

That hath an evill] That is miserable or envious, who is never liberall, courteous, nor of a sincere heart.

Proverbs 23:8

Shalt thou vomit up] After thou hast perceived his sordidnesse, thou shalt loath his table, and his meats, and shalt wish thou hadst never tasted of them, and shalt repent to have lost thy festiall conversation in such sort.

Proverbs 23:11

Their Redeemer] Namely God himselfe, Psal. 68. 6.

Proverbs 23:18

There is an end] the Italian, If there be reward] seeing that undoubtedly God doth always reward good works, thou canst not faile in thy hopes.

Proverbs 23:21

Drowsinesse] Namely, idlenesse and sloth: Proverbs 19:15.

Proverbs 23:23

Buy] That is to say, gaine it with labour, study, and expence, renouncing all other delights, and ease, and never dispossesse thy selfe of it.

Proverbs 23:27

A narrow pt] Wherein when a man is fallen, he cannot stirre himselfe to get out.

Proverbs 23:31

It moveth] A figurative terme, that is to say, it sheweth its strength, by frothing, and sparkling in the glasse. Others expound it, it seemeth to doe no hurt, being sweet and pleasant, Son 7:9.

Proverbs 23:32

It ieth] It will astonish thee, and make thine understanding dull, and thy body weak; as if thou wert bitten with an Asp.

Proverbs 23:34

He that lyeth] Languishing, astonied, and staggering.

Proverbs 23:35

Shalt thou say] Thou shalt find thy selfe bruised and wounded, and shalt not know who hath done it, nor how: nor wherefore it was done when I shall] amongst all the hurts which drunkennesse doth, this is one of the chief, that it causeth a kind of heat and perpetuall desire to continue in it, that one cannot abstaine, nor forsake it, nor the evills which it produceth. See Deuteronomy 29:19. Isaiah 56:12.