God’s Word Translation
Proverbs 23:21
21because both a drunk and a glutton will become poor. Drowsiness will dress a person in rags.
Proverbs 23:21 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)For the drunkard and the glutton shall come to poverty: and drowsiness shall clothe a man with rags.
- New International Version (NIV)for drunkards and gluttons become poor, and drowsiness clothes them in rags.
- English Standard Version (ESV)for the drunkard and the glutton will come to poverty, and slumber will clothe them with rags.
- New King James Version (NKJV)For the drunkard and the glutton will come to poverty, And drowsiness will clothe a man with rags.
Context of Proverbs 23:21
19My son, listen, be wise, and keep your mind going in the right direction. 20Do not associate with those who drink too much wine, with those who eat too much meat, because both a drunk and a glutton will become poor. Drowsiness will dress a person in rags. 22Listen to your father since you are his son, and do not despise your mother because she is old. 23Buy truth (and do not sell it), ⌞that is,⌟ buy wisdom, discipline, and understanding.
Read all of Proverbs 23Proverbs 23:21 word by word
כִּי־סֹבֵ֣א וְ֭זוֹלֵל יִוָּרֵ֑שׁ וּ֝קְרָעִ֗ים תַּלְבִּ֥ישׁ נוּמָֽה׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Proverbs 23:21
- Proverbs 21:17Whoever loves pleasure will become poor. Whoever loves wine and expensive food will not become rich.
- Deuteronomy 21:20They will say to the leaders of the city, “This son of ours is stubborn and rebellious. He won’t obey us. He eats too much and is a drunk.”
- Isaiah 28:1How horrible it will be for the arrogant drunks of Ephraim. Their glorious beauty is ⌞like⌟ a withered flower. They are at the entrance to a fertile valley where they lie drunk from wine.
- Joel 1:5Wake up and cry, you drunks! Cry loudly, you wine drinkers! New wine has been taken away from you.
- 1 Corinthians 5:11Now, what I meant was that you should not associate with people who call themselves brothers or sisters in the Christian faith but live in sexual sin, are greedy, worship false gods, use abusive language, get drunk, or are dishonest. Don’t eat with such people.
- 1 Corinthians 6:10or thieves, those who are greedy or drunk, who use abusive language, or who rob people will not inherit God’s kingdom.
- Galatians 5:21envy, drunkenness, wild partying, and similar things. I’ve told you in the past and I’m telling you again that people who do these kinds of things will not inherit God’s kingdom.
- Philippians 3:19In the end they will be destroyed. Their own emotions are their god, and they take pride in the shameful things they do. Their minds are set on worldly things.
- Proverbs 6:9How long will you lie there, you lazy bum? When will you get up from your sleep?
- Proverbs 19:15Laziness throws one into a deep sleep, and an idle person will go hungry.
- Proverbs 24:30I passed by a lazy person’s field, the vineyard belonging to a person without sense.
Commentaries on Proverbs 23:21
- 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. 19-21Saying 15: Discipline is essential for a wise and balanced life. Drinking too much (drunkards, see also Proverbs 23:29–35), overeating (gluttons, see also Proverbs 23:1–3), or oversleeping (see also Proverbs 10:5; 19:15) leads to poverty.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 19-2119-21. guide ... way--or direct thy thoughts to a right course of conduct (compare Pr 4:4; 9:6).Read the comment
Topics related to Proverbs 23:21
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
God’s Word Translation — © 1995 God’s Word to the Nations Bible Society
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