Proverbs 23

Proverbs 23:1

COnsider diligently what is before thee] Eat with sobriety and discretion.

what] Or, who.

Proverbs 23:2

And put] Or, Or else thou puttest.

And put a knife to thy throat] Bridle thine appetite, as it were by force and violence; or otherwise thou mayest ndanger thy life, if thou give way to thy greedie appetite.

Proverbs 23:3

for they are deceitfull meat] For oftentimes the rich, when they bid their inferiours to their tables, it is not for any love they bear to them, but for their own secret purposes. A court-complement.

deceitfull meat] Heb. meat of deceitfulnesses: that is, most deceitfull met.

Proverbs 23:4

Labour not to be rich] 1 Tim. 6. 9, 10. Weary not thy self to get riches, nor take more pains then thy strength can bear.

Proverbs 23:5

Wilt thou set thine eyes upon] Heb. Wilt thou cause thine eyes to flee upon.

Proverbs 23:6

of him that hath an evil eye] That is, of a covetous man, who looks sowrely on his guests; as on the contrary, a man of a good eye is a liberall man, chap. 22. 9. for he looks chearfully on his guests.

Proverbs 23:7

For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he] He is to be esteemed according to his heart, not according to his words: now he thinks ill towards thee, though he speak kindly to thee.

Proverbs 23:8

shalt thou vomit up] He will do thee some mischief for his good chear.

and lose thy sweet words] Which he hath spoken to thee: or, thy chearfull words at his table.

Proverbs 23:10

Remove not the old land-mark] Deuteronomy 19:14. and Deuteronomy 27:17. chap. 22. 28.

land-mark] Or, bound.

enter not into the fields of the fatherlesse] To take away their corn, or do them harm.

Proverbs 23:11

For their Redeemer is mighty] Job 31:21. chap. 22. 23.

Proverbs 23:13

Withhold not correction from the childe] Chap. 13. 24. and 19. 18. and 22. 15.

Proverbs 23:14

and shalt deliver his soul from hell] From destruction both of body and soul.

Proverbs 23:15

my heart shall rejoyce] Chap. 10. 1. and 15. 20.

even mine] Or, even I will rejoyce.

Proverbs 23:17

Let not thine heart envie sinners] Psalms 37:1. and Psalms 73:3. chap. 3. 31. and 24. 1.

fear of the Lord all the day long] Chap. 28. 14.

Proverbs 23:18

For surely there is an end] Chap. 24. 14. The prosperity of the wicked shall not continue long: or, there is a reward for thy pietie in the end, psal. 37. 37, 38. and 58. 11.

end] Or, reward.

Proverbs 23:19

guide thine heart in the way] In the observation of Gods commandments: or, in all thy courses.

Proverbs 23:20

Be not amongst wine-bibbers] Romans 13:13. Eph. 5. 18.

of flesh] Heb. of their flesh.

Proverbs 23:22

Hearken unto thy father that begat thee, &c.] Chap. 1. 8.

Proverbs 23:23

Buy the truth, and sell it not] Spare no cost for truths sake, neither depart from it for any gain: be a merchant in buying it, but sell it not again for any pretended or promised gain, as they do their best wares.

Proverbs 23:24

The father of the righteous shall greatly rejoyce] Chap. 10. 1. and 15. 20.

Proverbs 23:26

give me thine heart] Give thy self wholly to wisedom, and to walk cheerfully in the ways that I prescribe unto thee.

Proverbs 23:27

For an whore is a deep ditch] Chap. 22. 14.

a strange woman is a narrow pit] So that a man cannot get out again.

Proverbs 23:28

She also lieth in wait as for a prey] Chap. 7. 12.

as for a prey] Or, as a robber.

and encreaseth the transgressours among men] She seduceth many, and causeth them to offend God.

Proverbs 23:29

Who hath wo?] Isaiah 5:11.

Proverbs 23:30

mixt wine] Psalms 75:8. chap. 9. 2.

Proverbs 23:31

when it moveth itself aright] Heb. when it goeth up and down in uprightnesses: that is, when it sparkleth, as the most generous wine useth to do.

Proverbs 23:32

an adder] Or, a cockatrice.

Proverbs 23:33

Thine eyes shall behold strange women] That is, drunkennesse shall bring thee to whoredom: or, make thee see strange sights, by disturbing thy brain.

women] Or, things.

Proverbs 23:34

in the midst of the sea] Heb. in the heart of the sea, Ezekiel 27:4. Jonah 2:3. In such great danger shalt thou be: or, roll up and down as ships upon the sea, psal. 107. 26, 27.

Proverbs 23:35

and I was not sick] Drunkennesse makes men senslesse, so that they feel no blows.

I felt it not] Heb. I know it not.

I will seek it yet again] Though drunkennesse make men worse then beasts, yet it rules them so tyrannically, that they cannot leave it, Isaiah 56:12.