Proverbs 23:21 - Exposition

Intemperance leads to prodigality, carelessness, and ruin. And drowsiness shall clothe a man with rags. The luxury and excess spoken of above lead to drowsiness and inability to work, and poverty follows as the natural result (comp. Proverbs 19:15 ; Proverbs 24:33 , etc.). The Vulgate still harps on the same string as in the previous verse, "Those who waste time in drinking, and who give picnics ( dantes symbola ) , shall be ruined, and semnolence small clothe with rags." The LXX . introduces a new idea which the Hebrew does not warrant, "For every drunkard and whoremonger shall be poor, and every sluggard shall clothe himself with tatters and rags."