Proverbs 23

1 what is before thee. Some versions render, “who is before thee”; i.e., in whose presence thou art. But the A.V. may be quite correct.

4. Cease from thine own wisdom. Do not believe the suggestions of worldly prudence, that wealth is a certain means of attaining happiness.

6 of him that hath an evil eye. Both the French and the German versions, following the Septuagint and the Vulgate, understand “the evil eye” to refer to an envious man. Moffatt has “niggardly.”

7 as he thinketh in his heart. The meaning seems to be that as the man is in heart so he will really prove himself to his guest.

11 their redeemer. Or, “their avenging kinsman (Goel)”: see Numb. xxxv. 12; Job xix. 25, and notes. Cp. also xxii. 22, 23; Psa. lxviii. 5.

13 he shall not die. He shall be saved from those evil courses which lead to premature death: see next verse.

14 hell. Heb., “Sheol,” the under-world. Thou shalt save him from dying before his time, and in his sins.

16 my reins. The very depths of my being; see Psa. lxxiii., note.

18 an end. Or, “an hereafter.” The expectation of a blessed eternity may well reconcile us to any temporal self-denial for which the service of God may call.

23. Buy the truth, and sell it not. Spare no pains or cost to obtain and to keep it.

28 as [for] a prey. Or, “as a robber,” R.V. transgressors. Heb., “the treacherous”: perhaps “the seducers.”

29 woe . . . sorrow. Heb., oh . . . aho. babbling. Rather, “anxiety.” redness. Or, “dimness.” Bloodshot eyes.

31 his (its) colour, etc. Or, “when it gleams in the cup, [and] goes down rightly,” i.e., smoothly and pleasantly: see R.V.

33 behold strange women. Or, “look upon.” Drunkenness leads to lust, as well as to filthy and foolish language.

34 that lieth down in the midst of the sea. The drunkard, giddy and reeling like a rolling vessel, and exposed to imminent danger, of which he is unconscious (34), yet reckons himself happy in his insensibility, and determines again to drown all thought and feeling as soon as he awakes from his stupor (35). A striking picture of the physical, mental, and moral evils of drunkenness.