Proverbs 23:9

Speak not in the ears of a fool: for he will despise the wisdom of thy words. SPEAK NOT (NAMELY, WISE WORDS) IN THE EARS OF A FOOL - such as the miserly host just described (Proverbs 23:6; )....

The “fool” here is one willfully and persistently deaf to it, almost identical with the scorner....

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

SPEAK NOT IN THE EARS OF A FOOL,.... For it is only beating the air, and speaking to the wind; it is casting pearls before swine, and that which is holy to dogs. By the "fool" is meant a wicked man, one abandoned to sin, and hardened in it; that scoffs at all admonitions and reproofs, that derides the word, and the preachers of it, and makes a mock at all good men, and everything they say; and therefore what is serious and sacred should not be said to them, since it only becomes the object of their banter and ridicule; FOR HE WILL DESPISE THE WISDOM OF THY WORDS; not only the words of doctrine, reproof, and correction, but the "wisdom" of them; or let them be ever so wisely spoken; for if the wisdom of God and his words, the truths of the Gospel, are foolishness with such, and despised by them, then much more the wisdom even of the best of men, and the wisest things they say; yea, when...

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

FOOL. Hebrew. _kesil._ See note on Proverbs 1:7. HE WILL DESPISE. Illustration: Amaziah (2 Chronicles 25:1; 2 Chronicles 25:16). WISDOM. intelligence. Hebrew. _sekel._ See note on Proverbs 1:2. Not the same word as in verses: Proverbs 23:4; Proverbs 23:23. WORDS. sayings. Hebrew. _millah_. discourse....

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....

LESSONS ABOUT WISDOM PROVERBS _KEITH SIMONS_ CHAPTER 23 V1 When a ruler invites you for a meal, be careful! Think, before you eat! V2 If you might be greedy, then hold your knife near your neck! V3 Do not allow the ruler’s good food to tempt you! His food is like a lie....