Proverbs 23:5

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, Wilt thou cause, thine eyes to fly upon? etc. (cf. 1 Samuel 15:19, "fly upon the spoil"). So the Qeri' ( hataa`iyp (H5774)). But the Kethibh need not be changed (hataa`ip). 'Will thine eye fly upon that?' etc. (Maurer). But Gesenius translates even the Kethibh as the English version. "Which is not" - i:e., which suddenly vanishes. What the world designates as especially substance, God calls "that which is not" Which has no solid existence. For (riches) certainly make (literally, make, make) themselves wings; they fly away as an eagle toward heaven....

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 themselves wings.”...

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. PROVERBS 23:1 WHEN THOU SITTEST TO EAT WITH A RULER. This, of course, would be a great honour to a man of lowly birth, or to one of the middle class, to whom the manners of courts and palaces were practically unknown. CONSIDER DILIGENTLY WHAT IS BEFORE THEE. So the Vulgate, _Qua apposita sunt ante faciem tuam_;_ _and the Septuagint, Τὰ παρατιθέμενά σοι_. _Take heed lest the unusual dainties on the table tempt thee to excess, which may lead not only to unseemly behavi

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 said to be "not"; they are not the true riches, have only the shadow and appearance of riches; they are not lasting and durable; in a little time they will not be; they are perishing things, they have no substance or solidity in them; they are not satisfying; they do not make them happy; they are rather nonentities than realities; and therefore the eyes of the mind and the affections of the heart should not be set on them: it may be rendered, "wilt thou cause thine eyes to fly upon that which is not?" w denoting the intenseness of the mind, and the eagerness of the affections, and with what rapidity and force they move towards them. The Targum is, "if thou fixest thine eyes on him, he shall n...

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 riches and their uncertainty are contained in Proverbs 23:4 and Proverbs 23:5. How well it would be if the great mass of professing Christians, and some true believers also, would consider this instruction: “Labor not to be rich.” But this exhortation as well as the exhortation in 1Ti 6:1-10 is overlooked, and many who profess to have their riches in Christ, in the heavenly places and never ending glory, weary themselves with earthly gain, and aim to become wealthy. But riches have wings; they can fly away swiftly as does the eagle when he mounts heavenward. This too is mentioned in the epistle to Timoth

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 (_mg._) is set before thee, and in Proverbs 23:2 continue, For thou wilt put (_mg.)._ But possibly the general interpretation represented by RV is more suitable, and Proverbs 23:3 has come in by error from Proverbs 23:6, where it more naturally belongs. Proverbs 23:4 f. The uncertainty of riches. The general sense is clear, but the text is

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

_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 GONE! It eludes even the swiftness of thy glance, and itself spreads its wings and flies away. FOR _riches_(supplied from Proverbs 23:4) CERTAINLY MAKE THEMSELVES WINGS, LIKE AN EAGLE THAT FLIETH TOWARD HEAVEN. Comp. for the sentiment πλούτου ἀδηλότης, 1 Timothy 6:17....

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. Be not desirous of his dainties; Seeing they are deceitful food. 4. Weary not thyself to be rich; Cease from thine own wisdom. 5. Wilt thou set thine eyes upon that which is not? For riches certainly make themselves wings, Like an eagle that flieth toward heaven. 6. Eat thou not the bread of him that hath an evil eye, Neither desire thou his dainties: 7. For as he thinketh within himself, so is he: Eat and drink, saith he to thee; But his heart is not with thee. 8. The morsel which thou hast eaten shalt thou vomit up, And lose thy sweet words

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