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Kretzmann's Popular Commentary

Proverbs 23:5

v. 5. Wilt thou set thine eyes upon that which is not, looking eagerly for, craving eagerly after, something which has no lasting substance? For riches certainly make themselves wings, they are not a dependable possession; they fly away as an eagle toward heaven, they are as unstable as a bird of the air, whence it follows that he who trusts in them is foolish.

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See also Proverbs 23:5 in other biblical comments:

  • Albert Barnes' Bible Commentary

    SET THINE EYES - literally, as in the margin, i. e., “gaze eagerly upon;” and then we get an emphatic parallelism with the words that follow, “they fly away as an eagle toward heaven;” “certainly make...

  • Annotated Bible by A.C. Gaebelein

    CHAPTER 23 INSTRUCTIONS CONTINUED The opening proverbs of this chapter treat of self-restraint in curbing the appetite and give manners to be observed in the presence of a superior. Warnings against r...

  • Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible

    It is possible to take these three verses together as a warning against treachery lurking in the dainties of a royal table. In that case, in Proverbs 23:1 we should render consider diligently what (_m...

  • Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes

    FOR. This is the reason why "it is gone"....

  • Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

    _Wilt thou set thine eyes_ More literally and forcibly: WILT THOU CAUSE THINE EYES TO FLY (or, _shall thine eyes fly_) UPON IT (with eager glance, as a bird swoops upon its prey, Isaiah 11:14)? IT IS...

  • College Press Bible Study Textbook Series

    CHAPTER 23 TEXT Proverbs 23:1-12 1. When thou sittest to eat with a ruler Consider diligently him that is before thee; 2. And put a knife to thy throat, If thou be a man given to appetite. 3....

  • Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

    Wilt thou set thine eyes upon that which is not? for riches certainly make themselves wings; they fly away as an eagle toward heaven. WILT THOU SET THINE EYES UPON THAT WHICH IS NOT? - literally, W...

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    1. RV 'him that is before thee.' Do not excite his contempt....

  • EasyEnglish Bible Commentaries

    LESSONS ABOUT WISDOM PROVERBS _KEITH SIMONS_ CHAPTER 23 V1 When a ruler invites you for a meal, be careful! Think, before you eat!...

  • EasyEnglish Bible Commentaries

    The Book of Proverbs encourages us to work hard. But some people work too hard, because they want to become wealthy. These people suffer because they use all their energy in their work. Their families...

  • Ellicott's Commentary On The Whole Bible

    THEY FLY AWAY. — Rather, _As an eagle that flieth toward heaven,_ far beyond thy reach....

  • ETCBC data on Hebrew bible

    _הֲ_†_תָ֤עִיף_† עֵינֶ֥יךָ בֹּ֗ו וְֽ אֵ֫ינֶ֥נּוּ כִּ֤י...

  • Expositor's Bible Commentary (Nicoll)

    CHAPTER 24 EDUCATION: THE PARENT'S THOUGHT OF THE CHILD "Train up a child according to his way, and even when he is old he will not depart from it."- Proverbs 22:6 "Withhold not correction from the...

  • G. Campbell Morgan's Exposition on the Whole Bible

    At the seventeenth verse of the previous chapter the section of the Book begins in which the method is slightly changed. While the teaching is still proverbial, it takes the form of longer discourses...

  • George Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary

    _Riches. Septuagint, "to him, the rich man, he no where appears. He has prepared," &c. (Haydock) --- Like. Hebrew, "as the eagle, it will fly," &c. (Haydock) --- We must therefore fix our hearts on mo...

  • Hawker's Poor man's commentary

    When thou sittest to eat with a ruler, consider diligently what is before thee: And put a knife to thy throat, if thou be a man given to appetite. Be not desirous of his dainties: for they are deceitf...

  • John Darby's Synopsis

    THE FOLLOWING COMMENTARY COVERS CHAPTER S 10 THROUGH 31. In chapter 10 begin the details which teach those who give ear how to avoid the snares into which the simple might fall, the path to be followe...

  • John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible

    WILT THOU SET THINE EYES UPON THAT WHICH IS NOT?.... The Vulgate Latin version is, "do not lift up thine eyes to riches which thou canst not have;'' riches no doubt are intended, and which may be sa...

  • John Trapp Complete Commentary

    _Wilt thou set thine eyes upon that which is not? for [riches] certainly make themselves wings; they fly away as an eagle toward heaven._ Ver. 5. _Wilt thou set thine eyes, &c._] Heb., Wilt thou caus...

  • Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    _Labour not_ Hebrew, אל תיגע, _Do not weary thyself_, namely, with immoderate cares and labours, as many covetous men do; _to be rich_ To raise an estate, and make thy property abundantly more than it...

  • Marginal Notes in the King James Version (1611)

    WILT THOU SET THINE EYES UPON THAT WHICH IS NOT?: _ Heb._ wilt thou cause thine eyes to fly upon?...

  • Matthew Poole's Concise Commentary On The Bible

    WILT THOU SET THINE EYES UPON THAT, i.e. look upon it with earnestness and greedy desire, employing the eyes of thy mind and body about it. WHICH IS NOT; which hath no solid and settled being; which i...

  • Patchworkid's Personal Study Bible Notes

    Proverbs 23:5 set H5774 (H8686) (H8675) H5774 (H8799) eyes H5869 certainly H6213 (H8800) make...

  • Summarized Bible Commentary

    CONTENTS: Warnings and instructions. CHARACTERS: God, Solomon, his son. CONCLUSION: The indulgence of the appetites is a sin that easily besets us. We should apprehend ourselves to be in danger when...

  • Sutcliffe's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    Proverbs 23:1. _When thou sittest to eat with a ruler,_ and hast a princely feast before thee of meats and wines, _put a knife to thy throat, if thou be a man given to appetite._ How many have stained...

  • The ESV Global Study Bible's Study Notes

    PROVERBS—NOTE ON PROVERBS 23:4 The workaholic is encouraged to BE DISCERNING ENOUGH TO DESIST in his pursuit of wealth. SUDDENLY IT SPROUTS WINGS. Wealth is fleeting; there should come a point where a...

  • The Preacher's Complete Homiletical Commentary

    CRITICAL NOTES.— PROVERBS 23:5. WILT THOU SET THINE EYES? etc. Rather “_Wilt thou look eagerly after it, and it is gone?_” _MAIN HOMILETICS OF Proverbs 23:4_ THE DECEITFULNESS OF RICHES In order to...

  • The Pulpit Commentaries

    EXPOSITION PROVERBS 23:1 A hexastich closely connected with the last verse of the preceding chapter, as if the warning was addressed to the man of skill whom his talents had made the guest of kings....

  • Through The Bible C2000 Serie by Chuck Smith

    Now the next three verses are coupled together. When you sit to eat with a ruler, consider diligently what is before thee: And put a knife to your throat, if you be a man given to appetite. Be not de...

  • Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

    1 Corinthians 7:29; 1 John 2:16; 1 Timothy 6:17; Ecclesiastes 1:2;...

  • Wesley's Explanatory Notes

    Set thine eyes — Look upon it with earnestness and desire. Is not — Which has no solid and settled being. Eagle — Swiftly, strongly, and irrecoverably....

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