Proverbs 23

Eating with Lords, and with envious men, verse 1,2,3,6,7,8. Riches, 4,5. Speaking before fools, 9. Ancient borders, 10. Fatherless, 10,11. Discipline, 12,13,14,23. Wisdom, truth, and understanding, 15,16,19,23,24. Envy at the wicked, and the fear of the Lord, 17,18. Good children, 24. Winebibbers, and gluttons, 20,21,29, &c. Slumbering, 21. Obedience unto parents, 22,25. Admonition to beware of whores, 26,27,28.

1. When thou shalt sit down to eat with a Ruler; [That is, King, Prince, Duke, Lord, or one that is greater then thy self, and is able to do thee a mischief, if thou shouldest give him occasion to be angry with thee] then shalt thou sharply heed. [Hebr. Heeding, heed; that is, narrowly, or diligently heed] him that is before thy face. [to wit, whom thou must honour and respect, that thou mayest not offend him either in word, gesture, or actions. Oth. That which is before thy face; to wit, that thou mayest not eat thereof, then with such modesty and temperance, as is becoming, or decent.]

2. And put a knife to thy throat, [That is, restrain thine inordinate desire, or appetite eat and drink immoderately, as if thy throat were frighten from it by a knife. Or, otherwise thou shouldest out a knife to thy throat; that is, thou shouldest incure the uttermost hazard of bodily sickness, or of some other dangerous grief, if the liquorish meats and dainty dishes should allure thee to intemperance. Oth. Translate the Hebrew word, rendered here knife, thorns: but the sense is all one, or one and the same] if thou be a gluttonous man. [Hebr. A Lord of the soul; that is, of lust, and appetite, or desire. Meaning one that is very greedy and covetous after meat and drink. Compare Job 39. Verse 1. And the annot. Upon the word greediness. Oth. If thou be master, or, lover of thy self.]

3. Covet not his savoury meats: [Or, dainties, which are very pleasant, and toothsome to the mouth. So below verse 6. Compare Gen.27,4,7,9, &c.] for it is a lying, or deceitful meat. The meaning is, that Court-delights are as a bait, whereby men are enticed and allured, and commonly deceived in their expectations. Compare above chapter 20.17.]

4. Trouble not thy self to grow rich: desist from thine (own) understanding. [To wit, which thou mightiest employ to grow rich.]

5. Wilt thou suffer thine eyes to fly upon that which is not? [To wit, upon riches, whereof mention is made in the former verse. That which is not: that is, is very uncertain, and unconstant, and in many necessaries very impotent and weak. Compare Psalms 37:35,36. And 49.13,18. 1 Tim.6.17. Oth. That which (soon) will not be] for it [to wit, temporal wealth, or riches, it will soon get away, and leave thee, as followeth] will certainly make [Hebr. Making, make] it self wings: as an eagle, that flieth toward Heaven. [to wit, that flieth so swiftly on high towards Heaven, as that he is soon vanished away out of a mans sight: even so do riches perish and decay in a short time, so that a man cannot tell whither they are gone, or what is become of them.]

6. Eat not the bread of him that is of an evil eye, [That is, of him that is covetous, grudging, and envious. See Deut.15.on verse 9. Also below ch.28.22. Mark 7:22. To this is opposed the good eye, whereof see above ch.22.9. and the annot.] neither be desirous of his savory meats. [see above on verse 3.]

7. For as he hath thought in his soul, so will he say unto thee, [Oth. As he conceiveth in his soul, so is he; that is, thinketh or imagineth evil with himself, to wit, that thou consumes and devourest that which is his] eat and drink; but his heart is not with thee: [to wit, bearing thee no good will at all, but yet so, as that his covetous mind may be in a manner gathered from his gestures and words. Although he seeketh thereby to manifest the contrary.]

8. Thy morsel which thou hast eaten, shalt thou vomit up; [That is, it will vex and grieve thee that thou hast eaten of his meat, and hast had some friendly discourse at table with him] and thou shalt spoil thy pleasant words. [that is, lose them, and reap no profit or benefit by them.]

9. Speak not before the ear of a fool: for he will despise the understanding of thy words. [That is, that which thou hast spoken understandingly, learnedly, or prudently. Comp.ch.9.8. Mat.7.6.]

10. Set not the ancient border back: [See above ch.22.on verse 28. Hebr. Border of eternity] and enter not into the fields of the fatherless: [to wit, to wrong them: by deceit, or violence.]

11. For their Redeemer [To wit, God] is strong: he shall plead their cause against thee. [See above ch.22.on verse 23.]

12. Apply thine heart unto discipline: [To wit, unto good instruction, to learn wisdom. See above ch.1.on verse 2.] and thine ears to the speeches of knowledge. [that is, whereby true knowledge and wisdom, is learned, and obtained.]

13. Withhold not discipline [Meaning the discipline, which is not onely done by words, but also by blows: see ab.ch.7.on verse 22.] from the boy: [compare ab.ch.13.24. and 19.18. and 22.15. and below chap.29.15,17.] when thou shalt beat him with the rod, he shall not die: [to wit, neither here by the temporal punishment of the Magistrate, nor hereafter by the everlasting punishment of God.]

14. Thou shalt beat him with the rod, and deliver his soul from hell.

15. My son; if thine heart be wise; mine heart shall rejoice, yea I. [The same phrase which hath great strength to confirm and ratify that which is related, is used above ch.22.19.]

16. And my reins [Understand by this word the innermost powers and faculties of the soul. See Job 19.on innermost powers and faculties of the soul. See Job 19.on verse 27.] shall leap up for joy, when thy lips shall speak equities. [or, right things. Comp.ab.ch.1.on v.3.]

17. Let not thine heart be envious against sinners: [That is, those that are wholly bent unto sin, and make it their business to commit sin, and wickedness. See Gen.13.13. 1 Sam.15.18. Psal.1.1. and the annotate. Compare Psal.37.1. and 73.3. above chap.3.31. below chap.24.1.] but be (thou) in the fear of the LORD all the day (long): [that is, continually, all thy lifetime.]

18. For surely [See of these two first words in Hebrew chi im, Job 42.on ver. 8.] there is a reward: [Hebr. Hindermost end, or, uttermost; that is, reward, or blessed and happy end. So is the reward called, because it is the end of the work, or followeth after the work. God hath of his grace promised a reward to those that persevere and continue in his fear unto the end. Compare Psal.37.37. below chap.24.14,20. Elsewhere it signifieth an evil reward, and unhappy end. See above chap.5.4. and the annotate.] and thine expectation. [that is, the good which thou expectest, and lookest for of Gods free grace. See Job 5.on ver.18.] shall not be cut off.

19. Hear thou, my son. [See above chap.1.on verse 8.] and be wise: and direct thine heart in the way. [To wit, of the Lord, See of this way, Genes.18.on verse 19.]

20. Be not amongst the Wine-bibbers, nor amongst the flesh-devourers. [To wit, to imitate or follow them in their excessive drinking, and riotous or gluttonons eating; which those easily do, that converse and keep company with them. See above chap.13.20. Hebr. Amongst those that do swallow down, or, devour flesh for themselves. Compare Isa.5.22. Luk.21.34. Rom.13.13. Ephes.5.18.]

21. For a bibber, and (a) glutton shall be poor: and drawiness [The Hebrew word signifieth properly (according to the opinion of some) the beginning, and the proneness or inclination, or aptness to sleep. Consequently by the word here used in the Text, is to be understood the sleepiness or drowsiness, to wit, which issueth from laziness, and carelessness] causeth (a man) to wear rent clothes.

22. Hearken unto thy Father, that begat thee: and despise not thy Mother, when she is grown old. [Compare above chap.1.8.]

23. Buy the truth, [That is, the right and true knowledge of all things, concerning faith, and life, which we ought to know, that we may please God, and be saved] and fell it not: [that is, endeavour to get it by all honest and lawful ways and means; and when thou hast gotten it, lose it not, neither forget it: as the sellers do, that are willing to part with their wares and commodities for something else] (together with) wisdom, discipline, and understanding. [Compare above chap.4.7,8.]

24. The father of the righteous shall greatly rejoice: [Hebr. Rejoicing rejoice: that is, greatly rejoice; to wit, because he hath a righteous, and gracious son, that is, that is honest, godly, and prudent] and he that begetteth a wise (son) shall be glad because of him. [Compare Prov.10.1. and 15.20.]

25. Let thy father be glad, also thy mother: [That is, cause thy father and thy mother to be glad, when they behold thy understanding, and thy virtuous life] and let her rejoice that bare thee. [To wit, for the sorrow which she hath had in bearing thee.]

26. My son, give me thine heart: [That is, apply thine understanding, and thy mind hereunto, that thou hear, understand, receive, and keep my commandments] and let thine eyes [to wit, the eyes of thine understanding] keep my ways. [That is, the manner course of life, which I command, and prescribe unto thee, and especially warning the avoiding of whoredom, and adultery.]

27. For an whore is a deep ditch: [To wit, of miseries, out of which a man cannot easily get: as also not out of a narrow pit. Compare above chap.22.14. and the annotate.] and a strange woman [see above chap.2.on vers.16.] is a narrow pit.

28. She also looketh [To wit, for those whom she seeketh to seduce, and to ensnare in her immodest and unchaste love] as a robber: [or, (a man) of prey. Compare Job 24:20. and chap.35.13. and the annotate. Oth.as (for) a prey; Compare above chap.7.10,11,12,13,14,15.] and she multiplieth the faithless (ones) among men. [That is, she is the cause or occasion that very many fall into evil, and become disloyal unto their God]

29. With whom is who, with whom (is) alas? [The Hebrew word seemeth proper to those, who make great moan by reason of poverty where into they are fallen] with whom (are) brawlings? With whom (is) complaint? [Or, vain babbling, or unprofitable chattering and prating] with whom (are) wounds [or, blows: to wit, which a man easily gets about his ears, by ill-speaking when he is in drink, or by keeping company with drunkards] wit out cause? With whom (is) redress of eyes? [This is a relation of the plagues and calamities, which issue from drunkenness, propounded by way of questioning or asking. The question is answered in the following verse]

30. With those, that tarry long at the wine: [That is, that sit long by it, without making an end of drinking. Compare Isa.5.11,22.] with those that go to seek after mixt wine, [Hebr. Mixture; that is, mingled wine. See above chap.9.on ver.2. also Isa.5.22.]

31. Look not upon the wine [To wit, with an immoderate desire] when it appeareth red; when it giveth his colour [Hebr. Eye, see Numb.11.on ver.7.] in the cup (when) it goeth upright: [Hebr. Goeth in, or, with rightnesses, or, causeth it self to go in, or, with rightnesses; that is, when it moves it self in the cup, and by its strength leapeth up as with little sand, and mounteth straight upward. Oth.goeth straight in.]

32. (In) the end thereof it will bite like a serpent, and sting like an adder. [Oth. Basilisk]

33. Thine eyes shall look after strange women; [That is, those that are not thine. See above chap.2.on ver.16.] and thine heart shall perverseness. [That is, all things that tend to satisfy thy delight: or, idle, vain, and unprofitable words, and discourse, that cause hatred, envy, and strife.]

34. And thou [To wit, that overloadest thy self with drink] shalt be as one that slippeth into the heart of the sea; [that is, in the midst of the sea. See Exod.15.on ver.8. The Exposition is in Exod.14.22,29. So the heart of heaven, Deut.4.11, &c. See there the annotate. Thou shall be as one that sleepeth in the heart of the sea, &c. To wit, because thine head shall be so out of temper by the vapours of the drink arising, or ascending up out of the stomach into the head, as the sea is disturbed or distempered by reason of the winds that blow mightily upon it] and as one that sleepeth upon the top of the mast. [To wit, as upon the top-gallant. Understand one, that is in great danger of falling into some grievous mischief]

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? [to wit, from the wine] I will seek it this verse are the words which Solomon appropriateth unto drunkards, briefly signifying thereby, that they are without feeling; not onely without feeling, because they feel not the blows or stripes that are given them, but also without spiritual feeling, because having hardly slept out, or slept away their drink, they fall present to it again.]