--- title: "Clarke" description: "Verse Proverbs 23:1. When thou sittest to eat with a ruler — When invited to the table of thy betters, eat moderately. Do not appear as if half starved at" image: "/images/missing.jpg" url: "https://realbiblebelievers.com/commentaries/clarkes-commentary/proverbs/23" --- Verse [Proverbs 23:1](../../../kjv/proverbs/23/1). ***When thou sittest to eat with a ruler*** — When invited to the table of thy betters, eat *moderately*. Do not appear as if half starved at home. Eat not of *delicacies* to which thou art not accustomed; they are *deceitful meat*; they please, but they do not profit. They are pleasant to the *sight*, the *taste*, and the *smell*; but they are injurious to *health*. These are prudential cautions; and should be carefully observed by all who would avoid the conduct of a *clown*, and desire to pass for a *well-bred* man. Verse [Proverbs 23:2](../../../kjv/proverbs/23/2). ***Put a knife to thy throat*** — Repress thy appetite, and do not be incontinent of speech. Eat, drink, and converse, under a *check*. Verse [Proverbs 23:4](../../../kjv/proverbs/23/4). ***Labour not to be rich*** — Let not this be thy object. Labour to provide things *honest* in the sight of God and all men; and if thou get wealth, do not forget the *poor*, else God's curse will be a canker even in thy *gold*. ***Cease from thine own wisdom.*** — בינתך *binathecha*, thy own *understanding* or *prudence*. The world says, "Get rich *if* thou canst, and *how* thou canst." Rem, si possis, recte; si non, quocunque modo rem; "Get a fortune *honestly* if thou canst; but if not, get one at all events." This is the devil's counsel, and well it is followed; but Solomon says, and God says, "Cease from thine own counsel." Thou hast an immortal soul, and shalt shortly appear before God. Lay up treasure for heaven, and be rich towards God. Verse [Proverbs 23:6](../../../kjv/proverbs/23/6). ***Of*****him that hath*****an evil eye*** — Never eat with a covetous or stingy man; if he entertains you at his own expense, he grudges every morsel you put in your mouth. This is well marked by the wise man in the next verse: "Eat and drink, saith he: but his heart is not with thee." Verse [Proverbs 23:8](../../../kjv/proverbs/23/8). ***The morsel*****which*****thou hast eaten*** — On reflection thou wilt even blame thyself for having accepted his invitation. Verse [Proverbs 23:10](../../../kjv/proverbs/23/10). ***Remove not the old landmark*** — See the preceding chapter, [Proverbs 22:28](../../../kjv/proverbs/22/28). ***Enter not into the fields of the fatherless*** — Take nothing that belongs to an orphan. The heaviest curse of God will fall upon them that do so. Verse [Proverbs 23:11](../../../kjv/proverbs/23/11). ***For their redeemer*****is*****mighty*** — גאלם *goalam*, their *kinsman*. The word means the person who has a right, being next in blood, to *redeem a field* or *estate*, alienated from the family, to avenge *the blood* of a murdered relative, by slaying the murderer; and to take to *wife* a brother's widow, who had died childless, in order to preserve the family. The *strength* here mentioned refers to the *justness* of his claim, the *extent* of his *influence*, and the powerful *abettors* of such a cause. But in reference to the orphans here mentioned, they having no *kinsman*, God takes up, vindicates, and avenges their cause. Verse [Proverbs 23:14](../../../kjv/proverbs/23/14). ***Thou shalt beat him with the rod*** — A proper correction of children was a favourite point of discipline with Solomon. We have already seen how forcibly he speaks on this subject. See the notes on the places referred to in the margin. Verse [Proverbs 23:18](../../../kjv/proverbs/23/18). ***Surely there is an end*** — יש אחרית *yesh acharith*, there is *another* life; "and thy expectation" of the enjoyment of a blessed immortality "shall not be cut off." The Old MS. Bible reads thus: *For thou schalt hav hop in the last: and thin abiiding* *schal not ben taken awei*. "For the ende is not yet come; and thy pacient abydinge shal not be in vayne." - COVERDALE. Verse [Proverbs 23:20](../../../kjv/proverbs/23/20). ***Be not among winebibbers*** — There is much of this chapter spent in giving directions concerning *eating, drinking*, and *entertainments* in general. First, the pupil is directed relative to the manner in which he is to conduct himself in his visits to the tables of the *rich* and *great*. 2. Relative to the *covetous*, and his intercourse with them. And 3. To *public* *entertainments*, where there were generally riot and debauch. The reasons, says *Calmet*, which induced the wise man to give these directions were, 1. The useless expense. 2. The loss of time. 3. The danger from bad company. And 4. The danger of contracting irregular habits, and of being induced to lead a voluptuous and effeminate life. Verse [Proverbs 23:22](../../../kjv/proverbs/23/22). ***Despise not thy mother when she is old.*** — A very necessary caution, as *very old women* are generally helpless, useless, and burdensome: yet these circumstances do not at all lessen the child's *duty*. And this *duty* is strengthened by the Divine command here given. Verse [Proverbs 23:23](../../../kjv/proverbs/23/23). ***Buy the truth*** — Acquire the *knowledge of God* at all events; and in order to do this, too much pains, industry, and labour cannot be expended. ***And sell*****it*****not*** — When once acquired, let no consideration deprive thee of it. Cleave to and guard it, even at the risk of thy life. *Coverdale* translates: "Labour for to get the treuth; sell not awaye wissdome." Verse [Proverbs 23:26](../../../kjv/proverbs/23/26). ***My son, give me thine heart*** — This is the speech of God to every *human soul*; give thy *affections* to *God*, so as to love him with all thy heart, soul, mind, and strength. ***And let thine eyes observe my ways.*** — Be obedient to me in all things. *My son*, thou believest that I AM, and that I AM the *Fountain of all good*. *Give me thy heart*; it is I alone who can make thee happy. *Observe my ways*-follow me; do what is right in my sight. This exhortation contains *three* words: BELIEVE LOVE, OBEY! This is the *sum* of God's counsels to every child of man. Verse [Proverbs 23:27](../../../kjv/proverbs/23/27). ***For a whore*****is*****a deep ditch*** — See on [Proverbs 22:14](../../../kjv/proverbs/22/14). Verse [Proverbs 23:28](../../../kjv/proverbs/23/28). ***Increaseth the transgressors among men.*** — More iniquity springs from this one source of evil, than from any other cause in the whole system of sin. *Women* and *strong drink* cause many millions to *transgress*. Verse [Proverbs 23:29](../../../kjv/proverbs/23/29). ***Who hath wo?*** — I believe Solomon refers here to the natural effects of drunkenness. And perhaps אוי *oi*, which we translate *wo*, and אבוי *aboi*, which we translate *sorrow*, are mere natural sounds or vociferations that take place among drunken men, either from illness, or the *nauseating* effects of too much liquor. As to *contentions* among such; *babblings* on a variety of subjects, which they neither understand nor are fit to discuss; *wounds*, got by falling out about nothing; and *red eyes*, bloodshotten with excess of drink, or *black* and *blue eyes* with fighting; - these are such common and general effects of these *compotations*, as naturally to follow from them. So that they who *tarry long at wine*, and use *mixed wine* to make it more inebriating, (see [Proverbs 9:2](../../../kjv/proverbs/9/2),) are the very persons who are most distinguished by the circumstances enumerated above. I need scarcely add, that by *wine* and *mixed wine* all inebriating liquors are to be understood. Verse [Proverbs 23:31](../../../kjv/proverbs/23/31). ***Look not thou upon the wine*** — Let neither the *colour*, the *odour*, the *sparkling*, &c., of the wine, when poured out, induce thee to drink of it. However *good* and *pure* it may be, it will to thee be a snare, because thou art addicted to it, and hast no self-command. Verse [Proverbs 23:33](../../../kjv/proverbs/23/33). ***Thine eyes shall behold strange women*** — Evil concupiscence is inseparable from drunkenness. Mr. *Herbert* shows these effects well: - Did, with his liquor, slide into his veins. The drunkard forfeits *man*; and doth divest All worldly right, save what he hath by *beast*. HERBERT'S *Poems*. - *The Church Porch*. Verse [Proverbs 23:34](../../../kjv/proverbs/23/34). ***Lieth down in the midst of the sea*** — He is utterly regardless of life; which is expressed very forcibly by one in a state of intoxication ascending the *shrouds*, clasping the mast-head, and there *falling asleep*; whence, in a few moments, he must either fall down upon the deck and be dashed to pieces, or fall into the sea and be drowned. Reader, if thou be a man given to this appetite, put a knife to thy throat. Verse [Proverbs 23:35](../../../kjv/proverbs/23/35). ***They have stricken me*** — Though beat and abused, full of pain, and exhibiting a frightful figure; yet so drunk was he, as to be insensible who had struck him: still, after all this abuse and disgrace, he purposes to embrace the next opportunity of repeating his excesses! SIN makes a man *contemptible* in life, *miserable* in death, and *wretched* to all eternity. 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When thou sittest to eat with a ruler — When invited to the table of thy betters, eat moderately. 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