Proverbios 23

1 Cuando te sientes a comer con un gobernante, considera bien lo que está delante de ti,

2 y pon cuchillo a tu garganta, si eres hombre de mucho apetito.

3 No desees sus manjares, porque es alimento engañoso.

4 No te fatigues en adquirir riquezas, deja de pensar en ellas

5 Cuando pones tus ojos en ella, ya no está. Porque la riqueza ciertamente se hace alas, como águila que vuela hacia los cielos.

6 No comas el pan del egoísta, ni desees sus manjares;

7 pues como piensa dentro de sí, así es. El te dice: Come y bebe, pero su corazón no está contigo.

8 Vomitarás el bocado que has comido, y malgastarás tus cumplidos.

9 No hables a oídos del necio, porque despreciará la sabiduría de tus palabras.

10 No muevas el lindero antiguo, ni entres en la heredad de los huérfanos,

11 porque su Redentor es fuerte; El defenderá su causa contra ti.

12 Aplica tu corazón a la instrucción y tus oídos a las palabras del conocimiento.

13 No escatimes la disciplina del niño; aunque lo castigues con vara, no morirá.

14 Lo castigarás con vara, y librarás su alma del Seol

15 Hijo mío, si tu corazón es sabio, mi corazón también se me alegrará;

16 y se regocijarán mis entrañas cuando tus labios hablen lo que es recto.

17 No envidie tu corazón a los pecadores, antes vive siempre en el temor del SEÑOR;

18 porque ciertamente hay un futuro, y tu esperanza no será cortada.

19 Escucha, hijo mío, y sé sabio, y dirige tu corazón por el buen camino

20 No estés con los bebedores de vino, ni con los comilones de carne,

21 porque el borracho y el glotón se empobrecerán, y la somnolencia se vestirá de harapos

22 Escucha a tu padre, que te engendró, y no desprecies a tu madre cuando envejezca.

23 Compra la verdad y no la vendas, adquiere sabiduría, instrucción e inteligencia.

24 El padre del justo se regocijará en gran manera, y el que engendra un sabio se alegrará en él.

25 Alégrense tu padre y tu madre, y regocíjese la que te dio a luz.

26 Dame, hijo mío, tu corazón, y que tus ojos se deleiten en mis caminos.

27 Porque fosa profunda es la ramera, y pozo angosto es la mujer desconocida.

28 Ciertamente como ladrón acecha, y multiplica los infieles entre los hombres.

29 ¿De quién son los ayes? ¿De quién las tristezas? ¿De quién las contiendas? ¿De quién las quejas? ¿De quién las heridas sin causa? ¿De quién los ojos enrojecidos?

30 De los que se demoran mucho con el vino, de los que van en busca de vinos mezclados.

31 No mires al vino cuando rojea, cuando resplandece en la copa; entra suavemente,

32 pero al final como serpiente muerde, y como víbora pica.

33 Tus ojos verán cosas extrañas, y tu corazón proferirá perversidades.

34 Y serás como el que se acuesta en medio del mar, o como el que se acuesta en lo alto de un mástil.

35 Y dirás: me hirieron, pero no me dolió; me golpearon, pero no lo sentí. Cuando despierte, volveré a buscar más.

Proverbios 23 Commentary

Chapter 23

Verses 1-3 God's restraints of the appetite only say, Do thyself no ( proverbs 23:4-5 ) this world are not happiness and a portion for a soul; those that hold them ever so fast, cannot hold them always, cannot hold them long. ( 6-8 ) . Do not make thyself burdensome to any, especially those not sincere. When we are called by God to his feast, and to let our souls delight themselves, Isa. 25:6 Isa. 55:2 |, we may safely partake of the Bread of life. Verse 9 . It is our duty to take all fit occasions to speak of Divine things; but if what a wise man says will not be heard, let him hold his ( proverbs 23:10-11 ) protection. He is their Redeemer, who will take their part; and he is mighty, almighty.

Verses 12-16 Here is a parent instructing his child to give his mind to the Scriptures. Here is a parent correcting his child: accompanied with prayer, and blessed of God, it may prove a means of preventing his destruction. Here is a parent encouraging his child, telling him what would be for his good. And what a comfort it would be, if herein he answered his ( proverbs 23:17-18 ) disappointed; the end of his trials, and of the sinner's prosperity, is at hand.

Verses 19-28 The gracious Saviour who purchased pardon and peace for his people, with all the affection of a tender parent, counsels us to hear and be wise, and is ready to guide our hearts in his way. Here we have an earnest call to young people, to attend to the advice of their godly parents. If the heart be guided, the steps will be guided. Buy the truth, and sell it not; be willing to part with any thing for it. Do not part with it for pleasures, honours, riches, or any thing in this world. The heart is what the great God requires. We must not think to divide the heart between God and the world; he will have all or none. Look to the rule of God's word, the conduct of his providence, and the good examples of his people. Particular cautions are given against sins most destructive to wisdom and grace in the soul. It is really a shame to make a god of the belly. Drunkenness stupifies men, and then all goes to ruin. Licentiousness takes away the heart that should be given to God. Take heed of any approaches toward this sin, it is very hard to retreat from it. It bewitches men to their ruin.

Verses 29-35 Solomon warns against drunkenness. Those that would be kept from sin, must keep from all the beginnings of it, and fear coming within reach of its allurements. Foresee the punishment, what it will at last end in, if repentance prevent not. It makes men quarrel. Drunkards wilfully make woe and sorrow for themselves. It makes men impure and insolent. The tongue grows unruly; the heart utters things contrary to reason, religion, and common civility. It stupifies and besots men. They are in danger of death, of damnation; as much exposed as if they slept upon the top of a mast, yet feel secure. They fear no peril when the terrors of the Lord are before them; they feel no pain when the judgments of God are actually upon them. So lost is a drunkard to virtue and honour, so wretchedly is his conscience seared, that he is not ashamed to say, I will seek it again. With good reason we were bid to stop before the beginning. Who that has common sense would contract a habit, or sell himself to a sin, which tends to such guilt and misery, and exposes a man every day to the danger of dying insensible, and awaking in hell? Wisdom seems in these chapters to take up the discourse as at the beginning of the book. They must be considered as the words of Christ to the sinner.

Chapter Summary

INTRODUCTION TO 1 KINGS 11

This chapter relates the false steps Solomon took, notwithstanding all his wisdom, in marrying strange wives, and worshipping other gods, 1Ki 11:1-8 upon which the Lord threatens him to rend the kingdom in his son's time, 1Ki 11:9-13 and he raised up adversaries against him, Hadad, Rezon, and Jeroboam, 1Ki 11:14-26 of which last an account is given, and of his being assured by Ahijah the prophet of his having ten of the tribes of Israel given to him; which Solomon having notice of sought to slay him, 1Ki 11:27-40 and the chapter is concluded with an account of Solomon's death and burial, 1Ki 11:41-43.