Proverbs 23:1-8

A.1 When thou sittest to eat with a ruler, consider diligently what is before thee:2 And put a knife to thy throat, if thou be a man given to appetite.

B.3 Be not desirous of his dainties: for they are deceitful meat.

C.4 Labour not to be rich: cease from thine own wisdom.

D.5 Wilt thou set thine eyes upon that which is not?

C’.for riches certainly make themselves wings; they fly away as an eagle toward heaven.

B’.6 Eat thou not the bread of him that hath an evil eye, neither desire thou his dainty meats:7 For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he: Eat and drink, saith he to thee; but his heart is not with thee.

A’.8 The morsel which thou hast eaten shalt thou vomit up, and lose thy sweet words.

One thought on “Proverbs 23:1-8”

  1. The chiasm extends even a couple verses later, with bookends _A_ being basic honesty (don’t move the ancient landmark) and _B_ being diligence or wisdom brining you before kings, before we get to the central message of motivations for wealth.

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