Proverbs 23:1-3

1-3. When thou sittest to eat with a ruler The first three verses of this chapter are closely connected, and pertain to one and the same topic.

What Some render who. Zockler: “Him who is.”

Put a knife to thy throat Some read: “For thou wilt put.” The meaning is: Thou wilt be in great danger of ruin from overindulgence in his dainties; therefore, restrain thyself. Compare Genesis 27:4, in Hebrew. The third verse may be considered exegetical of the second: His delicacies are dangerous. Horace says that kings urge with frequent drinks those whose characters they wish to test. The last verse of the preceding chapter describes the qualities of the person who is most likely to come to preferment; so these verses caution him against the danger of luxurious living, to which he is exposed when promoted. Melanchthon regards these verses as an admonition to courtiers; but the principle may be more extensively applied.