Proverbs 23
Sayings of the Wise Continue
1 When thou sittest to eat with a ruler, consider diligently what is before thee:
2 And put a knife to thy throat, if thou be a man given to appetite. Parallel theme: 1 Corinthians 9:27, Philippians 3:19
3 Be not desirous of his dainties: for they are deceitful meat. Parallel theme: Proverbs 23:6, Psalms 141:4, Daniel 1:8, Luke 21:34, Ephesians 4:22
4 Labour not to be rich: cease from thine own wisdom.
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. Parallel theme: Proverbs 27:24, Genesis 42:36, Ecclesiastes 12:8, Matthew 6:19, 1 Timothy 6:17, 1 John 2:16
6 Eat thou not the bread of him that hath an evil eye, neither desire thou his dainty meats: Evil: Proverbs 28:22, Deuteronomy 15:9, 28:56, Psalms 141:4, Matthew 20:15. Parallel theme: Proverbs 22:9, 23:3 +2
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. Parallel theme: Proverbs 19:22, Judges 16:15, Psalms 12:2, 55:21, Daniel 11:27, Luke 7:39
8 The morsel which thou hast eaten shalt thou vomit up, and lose thy sweet words.
9 Speak not in the ears of a fool: for he will despise the wisdom of thy words. Word: Isaiah 36:21. Parallel theme: Proverbs 1:7, Matthew 7:6, John 10:20
10 Remove not the old landmark; and enter not into the fields of the fatherless: Parallel theme: Proverbs 22:28, Deuteronomy 19:14, 27:17, Jeremiah 22:3, Zechariah 7:10, James 1:27
11 For their redeemer is mighty; he shall plead their cause with thee. Redemption: Job 19:25. Parallel theme: Proverbs 22:23
12 Apply thine heart unto instruction, and thine ears to the words of knowledge. Word: Proverbs 22:17, Ezekiel 33:31. Parallel theme: Proverbs 23:19, Matthew 13:52
13 Withhold not correction from the child: for if thou beatest him with the rod, he shall not die. Parallel theme: Proverbs 13:24, 19:18, 29:15, 29:17
14 Thou shalt beat him with the rod, and shalt deliver his soul from hell. Parallel theme: Proverbs 22:15, 1 Corinthians 5:5, 11:32
15 My son, if thine heart be wise, my heart shall rejoice, even mine. Parallel theme: Proverbs 1:10, 2:1, 4:1, 29:3, Zephaniah 3:17, 2 John 1:4
16 Yea, my reins shall rejoice, when thy lips speak right things. Parallel theme: Proverbs 8:6, Ephesians 4:29, 5:4, Colossians 4:4, James 3:2
17 Let not thine heart envy sinners: but be thou in the fear of the LORD all the day long. References Lord: Proverbs 15:16, Acts 9:31. Parallel theme: Proverbs 3:31, 24:1, 28:14, Ecclesiastes 5:7, 2 Corinthians 7:1, 1 Peter 1:17 +3
18 For surely there is an end; and thine expectation shall not be cut off. Parallel theme: Proverbs 24:14, 24:20, Psalms 9:18, 37:37, Jeremiah 29:11, Luke 16:25, Philippians 1:20, Hebrews 10:35 +3
Do Not Envy Sinners
19 Hear thou, my son, and be wise, and guide thine heart in the way. Parallel theme: Proverbs 6:6, 23:12, 23:26
20 Be not among winebibbers; among riotous eaters of flesh: Parallel theme: Proverbs 20:1, 28:7, Isaiah 5:11, 5:22, 22:13, Matthew 24:49, Luke 15:13, 21:34, Romans 13:13, Ephesians 5:18 +5
21 For the drunkard and the glutton shall come to poverty: and drowsiness shall clothe a man with rags. Parallel theme: Proverbs 19:15, 21:17, Deuteronomy 21:20, Joel 1:5, 1 Corinthians 5:11, Galatians 5:21, Philippians 3:19 +2
22 Hearken unto thy father that begat thee, and despise not thy mother when she is old. Parallel theme: Proverbs 1:8, 6:20, 30:11, 30:17, Leviticus 19:3, Deuteronomy 27:16, Mark 7:10 +2
23 Buy the truth, and sell it not; also wisdom, and instruction, and understanding. Parallel theme: Proverbs 10:1, 16:16, 18:15, Psalms 119:72, 119:127, Isaiah 55:1, Matthew 13:44, 16:26, Hebrews 11:26, Revelation 3:18 +5
24 The father of the righteous shall greatly rejoice: and he that begetteth a wise child shall have joy of him. Parallel theme: Proverbs 10:1, 15:20, 29:3
25 Thy father and thy mother shall be glad, and she that bare thee shall rejoice. Parallel theme: Proverbs 17:25, Luke 1:58
26 My son, give me thine heart, and let thine eyes observe my ways. Parallel theme: Proverbs 3:1, 4:4, 4:23, Deuteronomy 6:5, Psalms 119:2, Ephesians 3:17
27 For a whore is a deep ditch; and a strange woman is a narrow pit. Parallel theme: Proverbs 22:14
28 She also lieth in wait as for a prey, and increaseth the transgressors among men.
Woe to Those Who Linger Over Wine
29 Who hath woe? who hath sorrow? who hath contentions? who hath babbling? who hath wounds without cause? who hath redness of eyes? Parallel theme: Proverbs 20:1, 23:21, Genesis 49:12, 2 Samuel 13:28, Isaiah 5:11, 5:22, Nahum 1:10, Ephesians 5:18 +3
30 They that tarry long at the wine; they that go to seek mixed wine. Parallel theme: Proverbs 9:2, 20:1, Psalms 75:8, Isaiah 5:11, Amos 6:6, Ephesians 5:18
31 Look not thou upon the wine when it is red, when it giveth his colour in the cup, when it moveth itself aright. Parallel theme: 2 Samuel 11:2, Psalms 119:37, 1 John 2:16
32 At the last it biteth like a serpent, and stingeth like an adder.
33 Thine eyes shall behold strange women, and thine heart shall utter perverse things.
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.
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. Parallel theme: Proverbs 26:11, 27:22, Isaiah 56:12, Jeremiah 5:3