Proverbs 26, Fools, Sluggards and Trolls

We begin with a series of proverbs on the Fool, followed by characteristics of the Sluggard. The last one-third of the chapter is on the individual who is divisive, a malicious gossip.

Proverbs 26:1, Snow and honor

 Like snow in summer or rain in harvest, 

honor is not fitting for a fool.

One unnatural event (snow in summer), another unusual and undesired event (rain at harvest) are compared with the irrationality of giving honor to a fool. (Yet, of course, giving honor to a fool is not uncommon, in my experience.)

A slightly different but similar proverb is Proverbs 19:10.

Proverbs 26:12, Undeserved curses

 Like a fluttering sparrow or a darting swallow, 

an undeserved curse does not come to rest.

An undeserved curse has no power. (Don't be ruled by superstitions that claim they do!) An undeserved curse is like a darting swallow, flitting everywhere but finding no rest.

Proverbs 26:3, A rod on the back

 A whip for the horse, 

a halter for the donkey, 

and a rod for the backs of fools!

A fool should be disciplined, like any other unruly beast. (In the ANE, a whipping was an acceptable punishment.)

In Psalm 32:8-9 YHWH instructs David and promises to counsel him with love. He adds, "Do not be like the horse or the mule, which have no understanding but must be controlled by bit and bridle or they will not come to you." A stubborn person, one with no understanding, like the fool of Proverbs, has begun to stoop towards animal behavior. Sometimes, like Asaph of Psalm 73:22, I have identified with this; I have admitted to God, "I was senseless and ignorant; I was a brute beast before you."

Proverbs 26:4-5, On answering a fool

 Do not answer a fool according to his folly, 

or you will be like him yourself.

 Answer a fool according to his folly, 

or he will be wise in his own eyes.

The apparently conflicting proverbs display the difficulty in dealing with a fool. On one hand, answering a fool is to stoop to his level. But occasionally confrontation may be necessary.

Proverbs 26:6, A fool as messenger

 Like cutting off one's feet or drinking violence

 is the sending of a message by the hand of a fool.

It is silly to send messages by a fool, who may accidentally, or deliberately, corrupt the message. On the other hand, a wise messenger is rewarding, see 25:13.

Proverbs 26:7, Lame man's legs

Like a lame man's legs that hang limp

 is a proverb in the mouth of a fool.

A fool doesn't know what a proverb means or when it should be applied, and so it is useless to him. Just like the legs of a paralyzed man.

Proverbs 26:8, Stone in a sling

Like tying a stone in a sling 

is the giving of honor to a fool.

Just as in verse 1, a fool should not receive honor. Here that honor is compared with a stone in a sling. Some commentators emphasize the image of tying up a stone in a sling so that it cannot move, a ridiculous action when the whole point of a sling is to propel the stone. Other commentators view the first line differently and argue that giving honor to fool is like giving him a slingshot -- he will only use the honor to hurt others. The first viewpoint is preferred by Alter and Kidner and I like that argument.

Proverbs 26:9, Drunkard with thornbush

Like a thornbush in a drunkard's hand

 is a proverb in the mouth of a fool.

A drunk stumbling around in the deserts of Palestine is likely to put his hand on a thornbush. (This is certainly true in west Texas!)  A painful thornbush in the hand of a drunkard is like a useless proverb voiced by a fool who does not understand. See verse 7.

Proverbs 26:10, Archer shooting at random

Like an archer who wounds at random

 is he who hires a fool or any passer-by.

Hiring a fool for an errand is likely shooting arrows randomly. Sometimes they do damage.

Proverbs 26:11, A dog's vomit

As a dog returns to its vomit, 

so a fool repeats his folly.

This vivid metaphor points out that the fool does stupid things and then, refusing to learn, does them again. This proverb is quoted in the New Testament, in 2 Peter 2:22.

Proverbs 26:12, Worse than a fool

 Do you see a man wise in his own eyes? 

There is more hope for a fool than for him.

Even worse than a fool is someone who sees himself as wise and ignores all evidence to the contrary. This is a warning to those of us who feel we can identify others who are fools... but don't believe we are!

Proverbs 29:20 has a similar comparison, equating "worse than a fool" with someone who speaks in haste. The subtle implication in these verses is that being a fool is so bad that it is used as a comparison for other bad behavior.

Closely related to the fool is the "sluggard", the lazy person who refuses to work. The next four verses focus on that individual.

Proverbs 26:13, A lion in the streets!

 The sluggard says, "There is a lion in the road,

 a fierce lion roaming the streets!"

This proverb repeats 22:13. The point is that the sluggard always has some excuse.

Proverbs 26:14, Swinging door

 As a door turns on its hinges, 

so a sluggard turns on his bed.

In this vivid image we see a door swinging back and forth on its hinges, going nowhere, just like the fool turning over in his bed, sleeping for a time, then turning over again, going nowhere.

Proverbs 26:15, Hand in dish

 The sluggard buries his hand in the dish; 

he is too lazy to bring it back to his mouth.

This proverb repeats 19:24. The comical image is of one so lazy he cannot even lift his food to his mouth. Ouch!

Proverbs 26:16, Too wise

 The sluggard is wiser in his own eyes 

than seven men who answer discreetly.

As Kidner points out, this proverb might alert us to the fact that the sluggard won't be reading these passages about sluggards. They don't recognize themselves in this list!

Among the Fools and Sluggards are those who are deceitful gossips, who love to inflict their opinions into spaces where they are not welcome. (In today's technological world, some of these are internet 

trolls....) The rest of this chapter looks at those people,

Proverbs 26:17, Grabbing at ears

 Like one who seizes a dog by the ears

is a passer-by who meddles in a quarrel not his own.

The rest of this chapter looks at these people who cause division and speak maliciously. Here we have a passer-by who foolishly tries to intervene in a quarrel he does not understand. Recall that in the culture of the ANE, dogs were semi-feral and detested as annoyances. So grabbing the ears of a wild dog is definitely not a good idea. You will get bit.

Proverbs 26:18-19, Deception with a shrug

  Like a madman shooting firebrands or deadly arrows

 is a man who deceives his neighbor and says, "I was only joking!"

Some deceive their neighbors and then deflect any responsibility. "It was only a joke," is an answer often given when the deception backfires. 

Proverbs 26:20-21, Escalation, de-escalation

 Without wood a fire goes out; 

without gossip a quarrel dies down.

 As charcoal to embers and as wood to fire, 

so is a quarrelsome man for kindling strife.

A quarrelsome man, a gossip, an internet troll, likes to escalate the conflict when a wise person will step in with smooth words and try to de-escalate the quarrel.

Proverbs 26:22, Words hurt

 The words of a gossip are like choice morsels;

 they go down to a man's inmost parts.

The words of a gossip can sting and stay with a person. Much more than the gossip can know.

This proverb repeats 18:8.

Proverbs 26:23-26, Malicious lips

 Like a coating of glaze over earthenware 

are fervent lips with an evil heart.

 A malicious man disguises himself with his lips, 

but in his heart he harbors deceit.

 Though his speech is charming, do not believe him, 

for seven abominations fill his heart.

 His malice may be concealed by deception, 

but his wickedness will be exposed in the assembly.

A person may sound fervent and caring, but that may merely be fake glittery glaze over a dull clay surface. The malicious person is deceitful but charming. He will smile, wave the flag, have smooth talk, all the while working an agenda you cannot see. It will take a great deal to expose them. 

Proverbs 26:27, Boomerang

 If a man digs a pit, he will fall into it; 

if a man rolls a stone, it will roll back on him.

The evil person may (will?) eventually be caught in their own traps. (Oh, if only I can live to see that?) A similar passage is in 28:10. (See also Psalm 7:15.)

Proverbs 26:28, Lie turns to hate

 A lying tongue hates those it hurts, 

and a flattering mouth works ruin.

The proverb expands a bit on the damage done by lies. Whatever the original motive, the lying tongue eventually leads to the liar hating the victim. As Alter points out, it is not uncommon for the victimizer to eventually despise the victim; an example of this in a sexual crime occurs in 2 Samuel 13 where Amnon rapes Tamar and then decides that he hates her.

Proverbs 25, Word Pictures of Wisdom

It is likely that the last two-and-a-half chapters of Proverbs have been lengthier sayings collected from the surrounding ANE culture. Here we have some sayings that are clearly stated as having been collected by Hezekiah.

Many of these proverbs have a common style -- they give a picture, an image, often from nature, and then an action or thought with which to compare that word picture. Many of these verses have a hint of riddle in them. For example, 

Question. What is like purifying silver by removing the dross (verse 4)? 

Answer. Removing the wicked from the king's presence.

Alter calls this style "riddle form", since it hints at this type of question. 

Proverbs 25:1, Collected by Hezekiah

These are more proverbs of Solomon, copied by the men of Hezekiah king of Judah:

This section is explicitly described as compiled and edited by Hezekiah, who reigned in Judah around 700 BC, after the fall of the northern kingdoms. Hezekiah's reign overlapped with the ministry of Isaiah.

Proverbs 25:2-5, In the king's presence

 It is the glory of God to conceal a matter; 

to search out a matter is the glory of kings.

 As the heavens are high and the earth is deep, 

so the hearts of kings are unsearchable.

 Remove the dross from the silver, 

and out comes material for the silversmith;

 remove the wicked from the king's presence, 

and his throne will be established through righteousness.

The role of a king is to search out knowledge and wisdom, even though things may be hidden to others. This is especially relevant to issues of justice, in which the king's thoughts (and knowledge?) should be deep and well researched. This verse may be putting some responsibility on the king to be above the populace in wisdom and knowledge.

After the statement about knowledge begins a series of metaphors, word pictures, each compared with certain acts of thoughts of the wise or the wicked.  For example, removing the wicked from the king's presence (and from the kingdom) is compared to purifying silver and removing the dross.

Proverbs 25:6-7a, Humility before the king

 Do not exalt yourself in the king's presence, 

and do not claim a place among great men;

 it is better for him to say to you, "Come up here,"

 than for him to humiliate you before a nobleman.

Before the king, one should be humble and let the king himself boast of you or seat you at a high place. Jesus said something similar about seating at a wedding in Luke 14:8-11. My mother, in a home with three precocious children, said, "You may be smart but don't brag to others about your achievements. Let others brag about you." (That advice explains why, despite my exceptional intelligence, I also have exceptional modesty! 😆 )

Proverbs 25:7b-8, Impatience

 What you have seen with your eyes

 do not bring hastily to court,

 for what will you do in the end 

if your neighbor puts you to shame?

A hurried and impatient appeal to the court can lead to a public loss.

Proverbs 25:9-11, Confidences

 If you argue your case with a neighbor, 

do not betray another man's confidence,

 or he who hears it may shame you 

and you will never lose your bad reputation.

Be careful with confidences.

Proverbs 25:11-12, Apt words

 A word aptly spoken 

is like apples of gold in settings of silver.

 Like an earring of gold or an ornament of fine gold 

is a wise man's rebuke to a listening ear.

Luxurious golden apples among silver, luxurious golden earrings or other golden ornaments -- those are compared to wise words and wise, constructive criticism. Alter points out the strength of the last analogy: the wise man's rebuke whispered into one's ear is as precious as a gold earring worn there.

The Hebrew word tappuach, translated "apple" here could be quince, says Kidner.

Proverbs 25:13-14, Cool snow

Like the coolness of snow at harvest time 

is a trustworthy messenger to those who send him; 

he refreshes the spirit of his masters.

 Like clouds and wind without rain 

is a man who boasts of gifts he does not give.

Alter: harvest time in Judah is especially warm, too warm for snow. And so a cool snow would be remarkably refreshing, just like a trustworthy messenger. In contrast, in that desert climate, clouds and wind that promise rain but then pass on by -- that is like a man who boasts of gifts he does not have.

Proverbs 25:15, A powerful tongue

 Through patience a ruler can be persuaded,

 and a gentle tongue can break a bone.

A person can patiently work with a ruler to win them over. Indeed, the tongue is so powerful that it can break bones!

Proverbs 25:16-17, Vomiting honey

 If you find honey, eat just enough-- 

too much of it, and you will vomit.

 Seldom set foot in your neighbor's house-- 

too much of you, and he will hate you.

The first two lines form a warning about self-control and delayed gratification. Too much of a good thing can make you throw up even honey! In the same way, don't offer your sweet presence to your neighbor too often -- or they might expel you out the front door!

Proverbs 25:18-19, Painful, faithless

Like a club or a sword or a sharp arrow 

is the man who gives false testimony against his neighbor.

 Like a bad tooth or a lame foot 

is reliance on the unfaithful in times of trouble.

What is like these weapons: club, sword, sharp arrow? A man who gives false testimony.

What is like an infected tooth or a sprained ankle? Someone who you cannot rely on.

In the first two lines we have an image of violence and damage caused by the false testimony. In the last two lines we have a tooth that won't let one chew or a bad foot that won't let one walk -- people can be equally unreliable.

Proverbs 25:20, Vinegar on soda

 Like one who takes away a garment on a cold day, 

or like vinegar poured on soda,

 is one who sings songs to a heavy heart.

Vinegar poured on soda creates an "acrid sizzle" (Alter.) And leaves one with nothing. Singing songs to one with a heavy heart is like a cheery hello before coffee -- it is painful and irritating, not at all helpful.

Proverbs 25:21-22, Burning coals

 If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat; 

if he is thirsty, give him water to drink.

 In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head,

 and the LORD will reward you.

Here one is encouraged to treat the enemy well -- possibly because it makes you look good and grates on them! There is some value in smiling in the face of taunts or abuse, especially if the person doing the taunting (eg. the social media troll) is doing this to get a rise. This proverb is repeated by Paul in Romans 12:20.

Similar proverbs on vengeance and bitterness occur in Proverbs 17:13, Proverbs 20:22 and Proverbs 24:29.

Proverbs 25:23, North wind and rain

As a north wind brings rain, 

so a sly tongue brings angry looks.

This proverb is unclear (both in Hebrew and English.) Apparently in Palestine the north wind brings dry air while rain is much desired. It is possible (says Kidner) that the strange Hebrew word chuwl, translated "bring" could really mean "push away" or the proverb comes from a region outside Palestine.

Proverbs 25:24, Live on the roof

Better to live on a corner of the roof 

than share a house with a quarrelsome wife.

This proverb duplicates 21:9.

Proverbs 25:25, Cold water

 Like cold water to a weary soul

is good news from a distant land.

This verse is similar to verse 13, with a refreshingly cool event compared to good news or trustworthy messenger.

Proverbs 25:26, Polluted well

 Like a muddied spring or a polluted well 

is a righteous man who gives way to the wicked.

A clear flowing stream is a prize in the desert land of the Levant. But a righteous man becoming tainted by evil is like a spring becoming muddy and polluted. (This metaphor also appears in Ezekiel 34:18-19, God accuses Israel of muddying the waters where His flock drink.)

Proverbs 25:27, Too much honey (again)

It is not good to eat too much honey, 

nor is it honorable to seek one's own honor.

See verse 6, above, and my comment there. Once again, eating honey is seen as the epitome of eating pleasure.

Proverbs 25:28, Broken walls

Like a city whose walls are broken down

is a man who lacks self-control.

A city with broken walls is easily defeated. So is a man who has no self-control, who lashes out at all restraints.

Proverbs 24, The Frailty of Appearances

We continue a collection of longer proverbs.

Proverbs 24:1-2, Beware the wicked

 Do not envy wicked men, 

do not desire their company;

 for their hearts plot violence, 

and their lips talk about making trouble.

This is one more proverb (eg. Proverbs 23:17) warning one away from envying people who appear to be successful but are only supported by their deceit and wickedness. One underlying theme of the book of Proverbs is that one must look past the surface and not be fooled by appearances.

Proverbs 24:3-4, Knowledge and understanding

By wisdom a house is built, 

and through understanding it is established;

through knowledge its rooms are filled with rare and beautiful treasures.

Wisdom builds and establishes a house, says this proverb, and then Knowledge fills the house with beauty. The literal house may have turned metaphorical by the end of this saying, the house representing life in general.

Proverbs 24:5-6, Guidance and advice

 A wise man has great power, 

and a man of knowledge increases strength;

 for waging war you need guidance, 

and for victory many advisers.

For success, in life or war, one needs Wisdom-Knowledge.

Proverbs 24:7, Embarrassed fool

 Wisdom is too high for a fool; 

in the assembly at the gate he has nothing to say.

The gate is the court where decisions are made. The fool has no idea of how to conduct himself there. (As I write these words, I see obvious examples from today's news.)

Proverbs 24:8-9, On reputation

He who plots evil 

will be known as a schemer.

 The schemes of folly are sin, 

and men detest a mocker.

Here is one more saying, similar to the first verses of the chapter, warning one away from the attractive scheming of the selfish man.

Proverbs 24:10-11 Persistence in difficulties

 If you falter in times of trouble, 

how small is your strength!

 Rescue those being led away to death; 

hold back those staggering toward slaughter.

There are times where intervention and rescue are important.

Proverbs 24:12,  God is watching

 If you say, "But we knew nothing about this," 

does not he who weighs the heart perceive it? 

Does not he who guards your life know it? 

Will he not repay each person according to what he has done?

One may make up excuses, "I didn't know." But God is observing, knowing the events and the heart. As in the previous passage, there are times where intervention and rescue are important.

Proverbs 24:13-14, Sweet wisdom

 Eat honey, my son, for it is good; 

honey from the comb is sweet to your taste.

 Know also that wisdom is sweet to your soul;

 if you find it, there is a future hope for you,

and your hope will not be cut off.

Honey is always viewed as a delicisious reward. Wisdom, says the Teacher, is just as sweet.

Proverbs 24:15-16, Resilience of the righteous

 Do not lie in wait like an outlaw against a righteous man's house,

do not raid his dwelling place;

 for though a righteous man falls seven times, he rises again, 

but the wicked are brought down by calamity.

The righteous man is persistent (see verses 10-11.) His persistence (rising seven times after seven defeats) is something that the wicked and the outlaws do not understand. Embedded in this is a suggestion to the righteous: Do not be discouraged! Get back up!

Proverbs 24:17-18, Do not gloat!

 Do not gloat when your enemy falls; 

when he stumbles, do not let your heart rejoice,

 or the LORD will see and disapprove 

and turn his wrath away from him.

Following on verses 12 (God's vision) and 15-16 (the protection of the righteous), is a warning to not gloat when one's enemies fail. Remember, you want God on your side!

Proverbs 24:19-20, Wickedness eventually leads to ruin

 Do not fret because of evil men

 or be envious of the wicked,

 for the evil man has no future hope, 

and the lamp of the wicked will be snuffed out.

Do not be angry and bitter! The evil person has no real longterm hope. This proverb repeats the concepts in verses 1 and 2, above.

Proverbs 24:21-22, Honor God and king

 Fear the LORD and the king, my son, 

and do not join with the rebellious,

 for those two will send sudden destruction upon them, 

and who knows what calamities they can bring?

In the culture of the ANE, one is warned away from attempting to overthrow the political structures of society. Both YHWH and the king are powerful. In New Testament times 1 Peter 2:17 includes instructions about respect and honor, of neighbors and of fellow believers and "fear God, honor the emperor."

Proverbs 24:23-26, Honesty

 These also are sayings of the wise: 

To show partiality in judging is not good:

 Whoever says to the guilty, "You are innocent"-- 

peoples will curse him and nations denounce him.

 But it will go well with those who convict the guilty,

 and rich blessing will come upon them.

 An honest answer is like a kiss on the lips.

Justice and impartiality are bedrocks of a healthy society. (There is just as much a need for honesty and justice today as there was 2500 years ago.) One should view honesty as precious, just like a lover's kiss.

Both Alter and Davidson see the first line of verse 23 as the beginnings of a new collection of anonymous teachings.

Proverbs 24:27, Planning

 Finish your outdoor work and get your fields ready;

 after that, build your house.

Work is a prelude to wealth and security. First put your time into the fields (the workplace of the agricultural ANE) and then, after the crops have been planted, you will have time to build your home. The underlying principle stresses the importance of building one's estate slowly, in the proper order. (See also verses 3 and 4, above.)

Proverbs 24:28-29, False witness

 Do not testify against your neighbor without cause, 

or use your lips to deceive.

 Do not say, "I'll do to him as he has done to me; 

I'll pay that man back for what he did."

False testimony against one's neighbor is condemned in the Ninth Commandment (eg. Exodus 20:16.)

As in verses 23-26, above, justice and impartiality are bedrocks of a healthy society. And if one is harmed by another, they must avoid vengeance and bitterness.  (Similar proverbs on vengeance and bitterness occur in Proverbs 17:13, Proverbs 20:22 and Proverbs 25:21.)

Proverbs 24:30-34, The sluggard

 I went past the field of the sluggard, 

past the vineyard of the man who lacks judgment;

 thorns had come up everywhere, 

the ground was covered with weeds, 

and the stone wall was in ruins.

 I applied my heart to what I observed 

and learned a lesson from what I saw:

 A little sleep, a little slumber, 

a little folding of the hands to rest--

  and poverty will come on you like a bandit 

and scarcity like an armed man.

Teachings about the sluggard is a theme throughout Proverbs. Here verse 33 repeats verse 10 of Proverbs 6:10-11.

Proverbs 23, Wisely Evaluating Others

We have moved into the third section of the book of Proverbs, the words of various wise men. The style has changed from the short bicolons of Solomon's proverbs. Some of these proverbs also occur in the Teachings of Amenemope (c. 1200 BC) of Egypt and other ancient Near East kingdoms. The remainder of the book of Proverbs will include sayings of various wise men, some identified in the text, some anonymous.

Proverbs 23:1-3, On dining out

When you sit to dine with a ruler, note well what is before you,

and put a knife to your throat if you are given to gluttony.

Do not crave his delicacies, for that food is deceptive.

There is value in delayed gratification. Watch how you eat in formal settings. Even if you are hungry at the ruler's banquet, hold off and be discreet. It is not the food that is important.

This is similar to an instruction from the Teachings of Amenemope, ch. 23: "Eat not bread in the presence of a ruler, And lunge not forward with thy mouth before a governor. When thou art replenished with that to which thou has no right, It is only a delight to thy spittle. Look upon the dish that is before thee, And let that (alone) supply thy need."

Proverbs 23:4-5, Avoid desire for wealth

 Do not wear yourself out to get rich; 

have the wisdom to show restraint.

Cast but a glance at riches, 

and they are gone, 

for they will surely sprout wings

and fly off to the sky like an eagle.

Continuing the guidance about behaviors with the wealthy is a warning about get-rich-quick schemes and caution around appearances of wealth. In chapter 7 of the Teachings of Amenemope is this instruction: "Toil not after riches; If stolen goods are brought to thee, they remain not over night with thee. They have made themselves wings like geese. And have flown into the heavens."

Proverbs 23:6-8, Eating with a stingy man

 Do not eat the food of a stingy man, 

do not crave his delicacies;

 for he is the kind of man who is always thinking about the cost.

"Eat and drink," he says to you, but his heart is not with you.

 You will vomit up the little you have eaten 

and will have wasted your compliments.

Just like one should not crave the delicacies of a rich ruler, one should also be careful at the table of a stingy man. If a stingy man is offering you some delicacies, there is some hidden motive. Or maybe the delicacies are not as good as they appear.

Proverbs 23:9, Don't waste time talking to a fool

 Do not speak to a fool, 

for he will scorn the wisdom of your words.

A fool doesn't want to hear you and it is no good arguing with them. (Especially if it is on Facebook, where your comment only raises the ranking of that original stupid post! Modern technology makes this advice even more important.)

In chapter 21 of the Teachings of Amenemope is "Empty not thine inmost soul to everyone, nor spoil (thereby) thine influence."

Proverbs 23:10-11, Boundary stones (again)

 Do not move an ancient boundary stone 

or encroach on the fields of the fatherless,

 for their Defender is strong;

 he will take up their case against you.

See Proverbs 22:28 and Deuteronomy 27:17. Here we add a statement about the fatherless -- it is especially evil to take advantage of a family that has no father to stand up for them. A similar teaching appears in chapter 6 of the Teachings of Amenemope: "Remove not the landmark from the bounds of the field ... and violate not the widows boundary." Boundary stones were a common way of marking off land possession in the ancient Near East.

The word go'el is translated here "Defender" (note the capital letter.) The word is often translated "redeemer" but could be either God or a kinsman who serves as an advocate (as in Ruth 4:1-4,14.)

Proverbs 23:12, Apply

 Apply your heart to instruction 

and your ears to words of knowledge.

This instruction is a bookend to the sayings which began in 22:17, repeating the instruction there. Emphasized in the first chapters of Proverbs is the concept, To get wisdom, you must seek it, work for it.

Proverbs 23:13-14, Discipline and punish your children 

 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.

See Proverbs 22:15. Here discipline is given as a way to prevent a child from veering off into dangerous behaviors.

Proverbs 23:15-16, I want you to do well

 My son, if your heart is wise, 

then my heart will be glad;

 my inmost being will rejoice 

when your lips speak what is right.

Note the chiasmic ABBA, with wise/right surrounding heart/inmost being is glad/rejoice. The mentor expresses a personal desire for his son (or student) to succeed, based on these teachings.

Proverbs 23: 17-18, Don't envy

 Do not let your heart envy sinners,

 but always be zealous for the fear of the LORD.

 There is surely a future hope for you, 

and your hope will not be cut off.

Things are not always as they seem. Some people ("sinners") seem to be having all the fun and getting away with everything, but the instruction warns against envying that lot. Look forwards towards a better future. 

Proverbs 23:19, Stay on the straight and narrow

 Listen, my son, and be wise, 

and keep your heart on the right path.

Continuing from verses 15 and 16, the Teacher wants his sons (students) to be successful by following the straight path set by Wisdom.

Proverbs 23:20-21, Too much partying

 Do not join those who drink too much wine

 or gorge themselves on meat,

 for drunkards and gluttons become poor, 

and drowsiness clothes them in rags.

Acting wisely, appropriately judging life skills means that one does not dive too deeply into the pleasures of wine or food. A certain moderation is assumed of the wise person.

Proverbs 23:22-25, Buy truth

 Listen to your father, who gave you life, 

and do not despise your mother when she is old.

 Buy the truth and do not sell it; 

get wisdom, discipline and understanding.

 The father of a righteous man has great joy; 

he who has a wise son delights in him.

 May your father and mother be glad; 

may she who gave you birth rejoice!

The importance of the family is a major theme of Proverbs. Here the children are to listen to their parents (following the Fourth Commandment, Exodus 20:12) and the children need to know that their righteousness and wisdom makes their parents proud and joyous. (As both a child and a parent, I attest to the truth of this! 😁)

Proverbs 23:26-28, Guard your heart regarding sexual attraction

 My son, give me your heart 

and let your eyes keep to my ways,

 for a prostitute is a deep pit 

and a wayward wife 

is a narrow well.

 Like a bandit she lies in wait, 

and multiplies the unfaithful among men.

One should guard their hearts and thoughts, especially when it comes to the powerful realm of sex. Here both the "wayward wife" (the stranger-woman) and the prostitute, two different categories of temptation to a married man, are an invitation to "the pit", both a pit of despair and loss and, possibly, the pit of Sheol. In Proverbs 5:15-20, the opposite of this pit is the pure cistern of intimacy with one's wife.

The Hebrew word bagad is translated "unfaithful" here -- it is a word for "treachery"; as Alter says, here the unfaithful man is also condemned, not just the "wayward wife."

Like the family theme (to which this is related), the temptation for adultery is a major theme of Proverbs, strongly described in Proverbs 7:5-27.

Proverbs 23:29-30, Be careful with wine!

 Who has woe? 

Who has sorrow? 

Who has strife? 

Who has complaints? 

Who has needless bruises? 

Who has bloodshot eyes?

 Those who linger over wine, 

who go to sample bowls of mixed wine.

A lifestyle of heavy drinking, whether wine or mixed wine, leads to a variety of physical, emotional and social problems, described here in a sequence of questions and riddles.

Proverbs 23:31-34, More on wine

 Do not gaze at wine when it is red, 

when it sparkles in the cup, 

when it goes down smoothly!

 In the end it bites like a snake 

and poisons like a viper.

 Your eyes will see strange sights 

and your mind imagine confusing things.

 You will be like one sleeping on the high seas, 

lying on top of the rigging.

This sounds like the advice of one who has look at cups of wine and had this experience. When sipping wine, one should think about the future -- the sleepless night, the morning vertigo and nausea. The passage ends with two parallel lines, first describing someone staggering around as if on the deck of a ship in heavy seas and then, with a certain comedic hyperbole, having the drunkard lying in the rigging.

Proverbs 23:35, Dull the senses

 "They hit me," you will say, 

"but I'm not hurt! 

They beat me, 

but I don't feel it! 

When will I wake up so I can find another drink?"

 

Wine dulls the senses and blocks the pain.

Long ago, one night when Jan and I were out on a date, we were first on the scene of a college girl who had been hit by a car.  She was briefly unconscious (and the situation was very scary) but eventually she was sitting up and an EMT was talking to her. She said, "I feel fine."  The EMT, aware that the girl and her friends had been drinking, said "You feel fine now, but you will hurt in the morning."  They kept her overnight in the hospital for observation -- I think she only had bruises -- but I am sure the next morning was painful in a number of ways!