Amplified Bible
Proverbs 23:23
23Buy truth, and do not sell it; Get wisdom and instruction and understanding.
Proverbs 23:23 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Buy the truth, and sell it not; also wisdom, and instruction, and understanding.
- New International Version (NIV)Buy the truth and do not sell it— wisdom, instruction and insight as well.
- English Standard Version (ESV)Buy truth, and do not sell it; buy wisdom, instruction, and understanding.
- New King James Version (NKJV)Buy the truth, and do not sell it, Also wisdom and instruction and understanding.
Context of Proverbs 23:23
21For the heavy drinker and the glutton will come to poverty, And the drowsiness [of overindulgence] will clothe one with rags. 22Listen to your father, who sired you, And do not despise your mother when she is old. Buy truth, and do not sell it; Get wisdom and instruction and understanding. 24The father of the righteous will greatly rejoice, And he who sires a wise child will have joy in him. 25Let your father and your mother be glad, And let her who gave birth to you rejoice [in your wise and godly choices].
Read all of Proverbs 23Proverbs 23:23 word by word
אֱמֶ֣ת קְ֭נֵה וְאַל־תִּמְכֹּ֑ר חָכְמָ֖ה וּמוּסָ֣ר וּבִינָֽה׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Proverbs 23:23
- Proverbs 2:2So that your ear is attentive to [skillful and godly] wisdom, And apply your heart to understanding [seeking it conscientiously and striving for it eagerly];
- Proverbs 4:5Get [skillful and godly] wisdom! Acquire understanding [actively seek spiritual discernment, mature comprehension, and logical interpretation]! Do not forget nor turn away from the words of my mouth.
- Proverbs 10:1The proverbs of Solomon: A wise son makes a father glad, But a foolish [stubborn] son [who refuses to learn] is a grief to his mother.
- Proverbs 16:16How much better it is to get wisdom than gold! And to get understanding is to be chosen above silver.
- Proverbs 17:16Why is there money in the hand of a fool to buy wisdom, When he has no common sense or even a heart for it?
- Job 28:12“But where can wisdom be found? And where is the place of understanding?
- Psalms 119:72The law from Your mouth is better to me Than thousands of gold and silver pieces.
- Isaiah 55:1“Everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; And you who have no money come, buy grain and eat. Come, buy wine and milk Without money and without cost [simply accept it as a gift from God].
- Matthew 13:44“The kingdom of heaven is like a [very precious] treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and hid again; then in his joy he goes and sells all he has and buys that field [securing the treasure for himself].
- Philippians 3:7But whatever former things were gains to me [as I thought then], these things [once regarded as advancements in merit] I have come to consider as loss [absolutely worthless] for the sake of Christ [and the purpose which He has given my life].
- Revelation 3:18I counsel you to buy from Me gold that has been heated red hot and refined by fire so that you may become truly rich; and white clothes [representing righteousness] to clothe yourself so that the shame of your nakedness will not be seen; and healing salve to put on your eyes so that you may see.
- Matthew 16:26For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world [wealth, fame, success], but forfeits his soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?
- Acts 20:23except that the Holy Spirit solemnly [and emphatically] affirms to me in city after city that imprisonment and suffering await me.
- Hebrews 11:26He considered the reproach of the Christ [that is, the rebuke he would suffer for his faithful obedience to God] to be greater wealth than all the treasures of Egypt; for he looked ahead to the reward [promised by God].
- Revelation 12:11And they overcame and conquered him because of the blood of the Lamb and because of the word of their testimony, for they did not love their life and renounce their faith even when faced with death.
Commentaries on Proverbs 23:23
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 23Buy the truth - Acquire the knowledge of God at all events; and in order to do this, too much pains, industry, and labor cannot be expended. And sell it not - When once acquired, let no consideration deprive thee of it. Cleave to and guard it, even at the risk of thy life. Coverdale translates: "Labour for to get the treuth; sell not awaye wissdome."Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 15-35Verses 15-35 Another continuous exhortation rather than a collection of maxims. Proverbs 23:16 The teacher rejoices when the disciple‘s heart Proverbs 23:15 receives wisdom, and yet more when his lips can utter it. Reins - See Job 19:27 note. Proverbs 23:17 Envy sinners - Compare in Psalm 37:1; Psalm 73:3; the feeling which looks half-longingly at the prosperity of evil doers. Some connect the verb “envy” with the second clause, “envy not sinners, but…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 19-28Verses 19-28 The gracious Saviour who purchased pardon and peace for his people, with all the affection of a tender parent, counsels us to hear and be wise, and is ready to guide our hearts in his way. Here we have an earnest call to young people, to attend to the advice of their godly parents. If the heart be guided, the steps will be guided. Buy the truth, and sell it not; be willing to part with any thing for it. Do not part with it for pleasures…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 22-25Saying 16: This saying encourages seeking the wisdom that both a godly father and mother offer. Unlike other ancient Near East wisdom texts, Proverbs credits wisdom to both parents (Proverbs 1:8; 6:20).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 2323. Buy--literally, "get" (Pr 4:5). truth--generally and specially as opposed to errors of all kinds.Read the comment
Topics related to Proverbs 23:23
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Proverbs 23
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Rashi on Tanakh
- Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
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