Proverbs Chapter 23

Here is the Proverbs Chapter to Read for Today.

Feel free to reply after reading it with any insights or observations.

Proverbs, Chapter 23

23:1 When you sit to eat with a ruler, Consider diligently him who is before you;

23:2 And put a knife to your throat, If you are a man given to appetite.

23:3 Don't be desirous of his dainties; Seeing they are deceitful food.

23:4 Don't weary yourself to be rich; Cease from your own wisdom.

23:5 Will you set your eyes on that which is not? For [riches] certainly make themselves wings, Like an eagle that flies toward heaven.

23:6 Don't eat the bread of him who has an evil eye, Neither desire his dainties:

23:7 For as he thinks inside himself, so he is: Eat and drink, he says to you; But his heart is not with you.

23:8 The morsel which you have eaten you will vomit up, And lose your sweet words.

23:9 Don't speak in the hearing of a fool; For he will despise the wisdom of your words.

23:10 Don't remove the ancient landmark; And don't enter into the fields of the fatherless:

23:11 For their Redeemer is strong; He will plead their cause against you.

23:12 Apply your heart to instruction, And your ears to the words of knowledge.

23:13 Do not withhold correction from the child; [For] if you beat him with the rod, he will not die.

23:14 You will beat him with the rod, And will deliver his soul from Sheol.

23:15 My son, if your heart be wise, My heart will be glad, even mine:

23:16 Yes, my heart will rejoice, When your lips speak right things.

23:17 Don't let your heart envy sinners; But [be] in the fear of Yahweh all the day long:

23:18 For surely there is a reward; And your hope will not be cut off.

23:19 Hear, my son, and be wise, And guide your heart in the way.

23:20 Don't be among winebibbers, Among gluttonous eaters of flesh:

23:21 For the drunkard and the glutton will come to poverty; And drowsiness will clothe [a man] with rags.

23:22 Listen to your father who begot you, And don't despise your mother when she is old.

23:23 Buy the truth, and don't sell it; [Yes,] wisdom, and instruction, and understanding.

23:24 The father of the righteous will greatly rejoice; And he who begets a wise child will have joy of him.

23:25 Let your father and your mother be glad, And let her who bore you rejoice.

23:26 My son, give me your heart; And let your eyes delight in my ways.

23:27 For a prostitute is a deep ditch; And a foreign woman is a narrow pit.

23:28 Yes, she lies in wait as a robber, And increases the betrayers among man.

23:29 Who has woe? Who has sorrow? Who has contentions? Who has complaining? Who has wounds without cause? Who has redness of eyes?

23:30 Those who tarry long at the wine; Those who go to seek out mixed wine.

23:31 Don't look on the wine when it is red, When it sparkles in the cup, When it goes down smoothly:

23:32 At the last it bites like a serpent, And stings like an adder.

23:33 Your eyes will see strange things, And your heart will utter perverse things.

23:34 Yes, you will be as he who lies down in the midst of the sea, Or as he who lies on the top of a mast.

23:35 They have stricken me, [you will say], and I was not hurt; They have beaten me, and I did not feel it: When shall I awake? I will seek it yet again.

(UPDV Translation - Copyrighted, Used By Permission. A raised + sign next to a word means plural.)
 
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The following discussion is adapted from the January Reading of This Chapter of Proverbs at ericasp.com:<BR><BR>

<blockquote><p>Do not withhold discipline from a child; if you punish him with the rod, he will not die.  Punish him with the rod and save his soul from death (Proverbs 23:13-14).<br /></p></blockquote><p><br />It's especially interesting to see how this Proverb uses the word "<strong>withhold</strong>" in the context of discipline.  Normally speaking, the word "withhold" seems to suggest a special privilege or provision that parents can or should give to their child(ren):  like food, water, clothing, shelter, affection, affirmation... that type of thing.  In fact, any parent who would <strong>withhold </strong>any of these things from their children would be rightly considered mean, or inappropriate, or abusive.<br /><br />But for some reason our culture rarely thinks of discipline in this same way.  At best it's considered a "necessary evil" -- but more often it's thought to be domineering, destructive, deflating to a child's ego.  Wrong.<br /><br />However, the Proverbs regularly talk about disciplining one's children (not just in this one verse, but throughout the book) as being an act of love, care, and developing a stronger sense of well-being.  They speak of discipline as being a special privilege or provision for life -- something that is, in effect, maliciously <strong>withheld </strong>if absent.<br /><br />My own years of parenting experience, along with my observations of others' experiences in parenting, seem to back up the Proverbs.  Disciplined children are happy, well-adjusted, considerate of others, and they generally make good decisions.  On the other hand, undisciplined (or under-disciplined) children are unhappy, inflexible, selfish, and frequently ill-prepared for making wise decisions as they go through life.  Of course, child-rearing is not mechanistic or formulaic, and there are always unique circumstances in every parenting situation.  But in any event, it seems that a compelling case can be made for parents developing a coordinated strategy toward discipline.<br /><br />It's true that children don't typically appreciate discipline at the time when it's administered.  But then again, I wouldn't typically say that they appreciate food (i.e. vegetables), water, shelter, or clothing (think about children unwrapping a gift of clothes versus unwrapping a gift of toys) either!  The thing is that we don't do these things to win our children's approval.  We do it because it's the parental thing to do.</p>
 
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Do not withhold discipline from a child; if you punish him with the rod, he will not die. Punish him with the rod and save his soul from death (Proverbs 23:13-14).

All to often this proverb is either ignored or taken to the extreme. Children need discipline to learn right from wrong and to learn that there are consequences for every action. I pray that the lord touch all the parents in the world and let them know how to teach their children. I pray that god protect the children from abusive parents and let those parents know what it is to love a child and that he teach them how to show love to their children. Dear lord please guide me in raising my children and let me know how and when to discipline my children. Please let my children know my love and your love please let them be happy, healthy, successful in their endeavors, and learn how to strong in their faith. In Jesus's name I pray. Amen.
 
Havinf personal experience in this area it is true so sad when one parent applies discipline and the other doesn't want to. Makes the child very confused and true to what the verse says.
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What I found interesting was this verse in reference to Ecclesiastes 2:1-11

23:1 When you sit to eat with a ruler, Consider diligently him who is before you;

23:2 And put a knife to your throat, If you are a man given to appetite.

I decided to enjoy myself and find out what happiness is. But I found that this is useless, too. I discovered that laughter is foolish, that pleasure does you no good. Driven on by my desire for wisdom, I decided to cheer myself up with wine and have a good time. I thought that this might be the best way people can spend their short lives on earth.

I accomplished great things. I built myself houses and planted vineyards. I planted gardens and orchards, with all kinds of fruit trees in them;I dug ponds to irrigate them.I bought many slaves, and there were slaves born in my household. I owned more livestock than anyone else who had ever lived in Jerusalem. I also piled up silver and gold from the royal treasuries of the lands I ruled. Men and women sang to entertain me, and I had all the women a man could want.

Yes, I was great, greater than anyone else who had ever lived in Jerusalem, and my wisdom never failed me. Anything I wanted, I got. I did not deny myself any pleasure. I was proud of everything I had worked for, and all this was my reward.11 Then I thought about all that I had done and how hard I had worked doing it, and I realized that it didn't mean a thing. It was like chasing the wind no use at all.
 
Apply your heart to instruction. 23. 12  It is so important for all of us hear the word of God in oudio, video or any instruction God gives us from our church leaders. My pastor is always willing to instruct and explain what the Bible is trying to tell us. But we by ourselves shouls find time to read and pray because Jesus commanded us to so. Please Jesus, give wisdom and understanding to our pastors and leaders of our churches to instruct and teach the eternal word of God. Open our hearts and ears to hear what you wants us to hear. In Jesus precious name. Amen
 
Dear Jesus, I believe you as my God and saviour. Make me faithful to your gospel and the ten commandments. Because to follow your instrution is life and hapiness. Help me to share the gospel of Jesus to others who do not know or do not want to hear about eternal life. Just like your word says...Apply your heart to instruction. I want to learn more of you and your word and tell others about Jesus. I love you with my whole heart. Praise your holy name. Amen
 

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