Do not crave his delicacies, for that food is deceptive.
Parallel translations
- WEB Don’t be desirous of his dainties, since they are deceitful food.
- KJV Be not desirous of his dainties: for they are deceitful meat.
- NKJV Do not desire his delicacies, For they are deceptive food.
- NASB Do not desire his delicacies, For it is deceptive food.
- NLT don’t desire all the delicacies, for he might be trying to trick you.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Do not crave a ruler's fine food, for it may come with hidden strings attached.
Overview
The ruler's delicacies are called "deceitful" because indulging in them may incur unseen debts or expectations. Wisdom looks past immediate pleasure to consider hidden cost and motive. This caution against being mastered by desire echoes the call to set the mind on lasting things rather than fleeting gratification (Col. 3:1-2).
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 5
- Prov 23:6Do not eat the bread of a stingy man, and do not crave his delicacies;
- Ps 141:4Do not let my heart be drawn to any evil thing or take part in works of wickedness with men who do iniquity; let me not feast on their delicacies.
- Luke 21:34But watch yourselves, or your hearts will be weighed down by dissipation, drunkenness, and the worries of life—and that day will spring upon you suddenly like a snare.
- Dan 1:8But Daniel made up his mind that he would not defile himself with the king’s food or wine. So he asked the chief official for permission not to defile himself.
- Eph 4:22to put off your former way of life, your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires;
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
Wisdom personified, with God before creation and the agent of all things, anticipates Christ 'in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom' — the wisdom of God made flesh.
How Proverbs 23:3 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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