Read & explore together
True Riches
Proverbs 23 strings together wise sayings that test appearances. Rich food, quick wealth, flattering hospitality, sexual temptation and sparkling wine may look attractive, yet the passage keeps urging restraint, truth, instruction and a steady heart.
Understanding the passage
Listening in context
A teacher addresses a learner directly, often saying “my son”. The sayings move from table manners and desire to money, manipulative generosity, fools, the fatherless and instruction. They then speak about correction, fearing Yahweh, listening to parents, gaining truth, avoiding sexual unfaithfulness and the misery of drunkenness.
Proverbs 23:1–35Main takeaway
This passage teaches that true riches are found in wisdom, truth and disciplined choices rather than in appetites that only seem rewarding.
Look closely at the words
Open a card to explore the full explanation and its Bible references.
01Desire needs restraintThe opening warns a person eating with a ruler to pay careful attention and control appetite.
Explanation
The opening warns a person eating with a ruler to pay careful attention and control appetite. Fine food may be “deceitful”. The warning then broadens to wealth itself. A person must not exhaust himself chasing riches, because they can quickly vanish, pictured as flying away like an eagle.
02Wise people hear instructionThe next sayings expose false hospitality. A stingy person may say, “Eat and drink!”, yet his heart is not with you, so the meal ends bitterly.
Explanation
The next sayings expose false hospitality. A stingy person may say, “Eat and drink!”, yet his heart is not with you, so the meal ends bitterly. A fool will despise wise words. By contrast, the learner is to respect the fatherless and apply heart and ears to instruction and knowledge.
03Choose wisdom over envyThe passage speaks of correcting a child and presents that correction as rescue from Sheol.
Explanation
The passage speaks of correcting a child and presents that correction as rescue from Sheol. It then turns to the joy of a wise heart and right speech. Instead of envying sinners, the learner is told to fear Yahweh all day long and to keep to the right path with future hope.
04Truth brings real gladnessOverdrinking, overeating and laziness lead to poverty and rags. In contrast, the learner must listen to father and mother and “buy the truth” along with wisdom, discipline and understanding.
Explanation
Overdrinking, overeating and laziness lead to poverty and rags. In contrast, the learner must listen to father and mother and “buy the truth” along with wisdom, discipline and understanding. These choices are pictured as bringing joy and gladness to parents who see righteousness and wisdom in a child.
05Guard your heart from trapsThe teacher asks for the learner’s heart and careful attention. Sexual unfaithfulness is described as a trap that increases unfaithfulness.
Explanation
The teacher asks for the learner’s heart and careful attention. Sexual unfaithfulness is described as a trap that increases unfaithfulness. The chapter closes with wine: it looks inviting, but ends like a snakebite, bringing confusion, instability and a person who wakes only wanting to seek more.
Questions to explore
Pause, look back at the verses and talk together.
01Which appealing things in this chapter are later shown to deceive or harm?
Compare the pleasant appearance of delicacies, riches and wine with what the passage says they become in the end.
02How does the passage describe the difference between a wise response and an envious one?
Look at the call to fear Yahweh, keep on the right path and hope, instead of letting the heart envy sinners.
03What signs show that drunkenness is destructive in the closing verses?
Notice the woe, sorrow, bruises, confusion, instability and repeated desire to return to drink.
Read the Bible passage
World English Bible ClassicScripture quotation · Public domain
Proverbs 23:1–35
1When you sit to eat with a ruler, consider diligently what is before you;
2put a knife to your throat if you are a man given to appetite.
3Don’t be desirous of his dainties, since they are deceitful food.
4Don’t weary yourself to be rich. In your wisdom, show restraint.
5Why do you set your eyes on that which is not? For it certainly sprouts wings like an eagle and flies in the sky.
6Don’t eat the food of him who has a stingy eye, and don’t crave his delicacies,
7for as he thinks about the cost, so he is. “Eat and drink!” he says to you, but his heart is not with you.
8You will vomit up the morsel which you have eaten and waste your pleasant words.
9Don’t speak in the ears of a fool, for he will despise the wisdom of your words.
10Don’t move the ancient boundary stone. Don’t encroach on the fields of the fatherless,
11for their Defender is strong. He will plead their case against you.
12Apply your heart to instruction, and your ears to the words of knowledge.
13Don’t withhold correction from a child. If you punish him with the rod, he will not die.
14Punish him with the rod, and save his soul from Sheol.
15My son, if your heart is wise, then my heart will be glad, even mine.
16Yes, my heart will rejoice when your lips speak what is right.
17Don’t let your heart envy sinners, but rather fear Yahweh all day long.
18Indeed surely there is a future hope, and your hope will not be cut off.
19Listen, my son, and be wise, and keep your heart on the right path!
20Don’t be among ones drinking too much wine, or those who gorge themselves on meat;
21for the drunkard and the glutton shall become poor; and drowsiness clothes them in rags.
22Listen to your father who gave you life, and don’t despise your mother when she is old.
23Buy the truth, and don’t sell it. Get wisdom, discipline, and understanding.
24The father of the righteous has great joy. Whoever fathers a wise child delights in him.
25Let your father and your mother be glad! Let her who bore you rejoice!
26My son, give me your heart; and let your eyes keep in my ways.
27For a prostitute is a deep pit; and a wayward wife is a narrow well.
28Yes, she lies in wait like a robber, and increases the unfaithful among men.
29Who has woe? Who has sorrow? Who has strife? Who has complaints? Who has needless bruises? Who has bloodshot eyes?
30Those who stay long at the wine; those who go to seek out mixed wine.
31Don’t look at the wine when it is red, when it sparkles in the cup, when it goes down smoothly.
32In the end, it bites like a snake, and poisons like a viper.
33Your eyes will see strange things, and your mind will imagine confusing things.
34Yes, you will be as he who lies down in the middle of the sea, or as he who lies on top of the rigging:
35“They hit me, and I was not hurt! They beat me, and I don’t feel it! When will I wake up? I can do it again. I will look for more.”