The Strand Study Bible

PROVERBS 23:17

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PROVERBS 24:13

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 10 yet again. Proverbs 24 Wisdom and foolishness contrasted Date Written - c. 1007 BC/AM 2993 1 Be not thou 11 envious against evil men, neither desire to be with them. 2 For their heart studieth destruction, and their lips talk of mischief. 3 Through wisdom is an house builded; and by understanding it is established: 4 And by knowledge shall the chambers be filled with all precious and pleasant riches. 5 A wise man is strong; yea, a man of knowledge increaseth strength. 6 For by wise counsel thou shalt make thy war: and in multitude of counsellors there is safety. 7 Wisdom is too high for a fool: he openeth not his mouth in the gate. 8 He that deviseth to do evil shall be called a mischievous person. 9 The 12 thought of foolishness is sin: and the scorner is an abomination to men. 10 If thou faint in the day of adversity, thy strength is small. 11 If thou forbear to deliver them that are drawn unto death, and those that are ready to be slain; 12 If thou sayest, Behold, we knew it not; doth not he that pondereth the heart con- sider it? and he that keepeth thy soul, doth not he know it? 13 and shall not he render to every man according to his works? 13 My son, eat thou honey, because it is good; and the honeycomb, which is sweet to thy taste:

17 Let not thine heart 1 envy sinners: but be thou in the fear of the LORD all the day long. 18 For surely there is 2 an end; and thine expectation shall not be cut off. 19 Hear thou, my son, and be wise, and guide thine heart in the way. 20 Be not among winebibbers; among riotous eaters of flesh: 21 For the drunkard and the glutton shall come to poverty: and drowsiness shall clothe a man with rags. 22 Hearken unto thy father that begat thee, and despise not thy mother when she is old. 23 3 Buy the truth, and sell it not; also wisdom, and instruction, andunderstanding. 24 The father of the righteous shall greatly rejoice: and he that begetteth a wise child shall have joy of him. 25 Thy father and thy mother shall be glad, and she that bare thee shall rejoice. 26 My son, give me thine heart, 4 and let thine eyes observe my ways. 27 For a whore is a deep ditch; and a strange woman is a narrow pit. 28 She also lieth in wait as for a prey, and increaseth the transgressors among men. 29 5 Who hath woe? 6 who hath sorrow? who hath contentions? who hath 7 babbling? who hath wounds without cause? who hath redness of eyes? 30 They that tarry long at the wine; they that go to seek mixed wine. 31 Look not thou upon the wine when it is red, 8 when it giveth his colour in the cup, 9 when it moveth itself aright. 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

1. Prov 24:1,19-21 2. or, “future” 3. Prov 4:7 4. Gen 18:19 5. Isa 5:11,22 6. Gen 9:20-24 7. or, “complaining” 8. Heb. - “when it sparkles”

9. Heb. - “ when it goes (down) smoothly” 10. speaking of, “addiction” 11. Prov 23:17 12. Mt 5:28 13. Prov 3:35 & Mt 13:43

23:18 An eternal perspective ( an end - II Cor 4:18 ) always helps to place temporal problems in perspective. 23:23 According to Solomon, truth should costs us something... because it cost God everything (Jn 3:16 & 14:6). Thus, we are pressed of God to buy the truth . But at what rate? God does not say. However, we must purchase it at any rate. THE ADAGE IS TRUE: If you think education is expensive, try biblical ignorance ( Hos 4:6 ) 23:31 The warning here is against drinking ( Look not ), not drunkenness. The admonition here is to steer clear of the beauty ( giveth his colour ) and taste ( moveth ) of alcoholic beverages ( Acts 2:15 , Prov 20:1 & 31:6 and Hab 2:15 ). NOTE - If you never take that first drink, it’s impossible to become a drunk. 23:34 Those who are deceived by the beauty and taste of alcoholic beverages (vs. 31) will eventually ( thou shalt be ): (1) hurt themselves ( he that lieth down in the midst of the sea –speaking of a drunken sailor who falls overboard and drowns), (2) hurt others ( he that lieth upon the top of a mast –speaking of a sailor who falls asleep in the crow’s nest when his job is to stay alert). 24:4 Delightful wealth ( pleasant riches ) comes from divine wisdom (vs 3). 24:7 Knowledge is beyond the grasp of fools ( is too high ). THE ADAGE IS TRUE: He who knows not and knows not that he knows not (because he has no wisdom) is a fool 24:10 a THE ADAGE IS TRUE: The caliber of a person is measured by the amount of opposition it takes to discourage him 24:10 b THE ADAGE IS TRUE: People are like tea bags –you have to put them in hot water before you know how strong they are