Chapter Text
Sayings of the Wise Continued
Summary
These are also sayings of the wise. It is not good to show partiality in judgment. He who says to the wicked, thou art righteous, peoples will curse him and nations will abhor him. But to those who rebuke the wicked will be delight, and a good blessing will come upon them.
Prepare thy work without, and make it fit in the field; and afterwards build thine house. Be not a witness against thy neighbour without cause.
Meaning
The call to impartiality in judgment reflects the character of God Himself, who shows no favouritism. Those who call evil good for personal advantage earn the contempt of all, while those who courageously rebuke wickedness receive lasting blessing.
The practical counsel to establish one's field before building one's house teaches the wisdom of proper priorities. A man must first secure his livelihood before investing in comforts, ensuring that his foundation is sound before he builds upon it.
Background
This section introduces a new collection attributed to "the wise," suggesting that Solomon incorporated wisdom from other respected teachers alongside his own compositions.
The agricultural counsel about fields and houses reflects the economic reality of ancient Israel, where the harvest determined a family's survival and building a house represented a significant investment of resources.
Chapter Outline
- vv. 1-3Restraint at the ruler's table
- vv. 4-8The deceit of riches and grudging hosts
- vv. 9-11Fools, landmarks, and the Redeemer of the fatherless
- vv. 12-16A father's plea for a wise heart
- vv. 17-21Fear the LORD, shun gluttony and drink
- vv. 22-28Honor parents, buy truth, flee the harlot
- vv. 29-35The woes of the drunkard
Key Verses
“For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he: Eat and drink, saith he to thee; but his heart is not with thee.”— 23:7
One of the most quoted verses on the formative power of inward thought, often cited in discussions of character, integrity, and the gap between outward speech and the heart's true disposition.
“Buy the truth, and sell it not; also wisdom, and instruction, and understanding.”— 23:23
A foundational proverb on the supreme value of truth and wisdom, treating them as treasures to be acquired at any cost and never surrendered.
“My son, give me thine heart, and let thine eyes observe my ways.”— 23:26
A tender paternal appeal that anticipates the New Testament emphasis on whole-hearted devotion, framing wisdom as an affair of the heart rather than mere rule-keeping.
“Look not thou upon the wine when it is red, when it giveth his colour in the cup, when it moveth itself aright.”— 23:31
A vivid warning against drunkenness that has shaped Christian teaching on temperance for centuries, notable for confronting temptation at the level of the eye and desire.
People & Places
People
- The ruler — An unnamed person of power whose hospitality the wise must navigate with restraint and discernment.
- The fatherless — Vulnerable orphans whose inheritance is protected by the LORD as their mighty Redeemer.
- The son — The disciple addressed throughout, called to receive his father's instruction and give his heart to wisdom.
- Father and mother — The aged parents whose teaching is to be heeded and whose dignity must never be despised.
- The strange woman — The seductress portrayed as a deep ditch and predatory ambush, increasing transgressors among men.
Devotional
Proverbs 23 reaches past behavior into the heart, where real life is shaped. What we crave at a rich man's table, what we tolerate in a wine cup, what we permit our eyes to linger upon — these small inward consents become the architecture of character.
The chapter's tenderest line is also its most demanding: "My son, give me thine heart." God does not want managed appearances; He wants us. Buy the truth today, even at cost, and refuse to sell it back for comfort, applause, or a moment's pleasure.
Literary Style
Wisdom poetry in the form of paternal instruction, part of the "Sayings of the Wise" (Prov. 22:17–24:22). Marked by direct address ("my son"), vivid simile (riches as eagles, wine as a serpent), rhetorical questions, and synonymous parallelism.