Be not desirous of his dainties: for they are deceitful meat.
Parallel translations
- WEB Don’t be desirous of his dainties, since they are deceitful food.
- BSB Do not crave his delicacies, for that food is deceptive.
- 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 23:6Eat thou not the bread of him that hath an evil eye, neither desire thou his dainty meats:
- Ps 141:4Incline not my heart to any evil thing, to practise wicked works with men that work iniquity: and let me not eat of their dainties.
- Luke 21:34And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares.
- Dan 1:8But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king’s meat, nor with the wine which he drank: therefore he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself.
- Eph 4:22That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts;
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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