Proverbs 23: Buy the Truth, and Do Not Sell It

Solomon’s fatherly voice calls his son away from the ruler’s feast, the lure of riches, and the stupor of wine - and toward wisdom, the fear of the LORD, and the truth worth any price. Proverbs 23 belongs to the second Solomonic collection, composed in the royal court around 970-930 BC and compiled under Hezekiah’s scribes. The chapter moves across five distinct wisdom clusters - the vanity of wealth, the stingy host, the uselessness of counsel to a fool, the father’s repeated urgent call to his son, and a closing portrait of drunkenness so specific it reads like reportage. At the chapter’s center stands one of the most compressed commands in all of Proverbs: “Buy the truth, and do not sell it - wisdom, instruction and insight as well.”

Watch and Listen

Psalm Selah - Proverbs 23 | Cinematic Indie-Folk

Spotify · Apple Music · Amazon Music

Quick Answer

Proverbs 23 is Solomon’s counsel on self-mastery - warning his son against the pull of a powerful man’s table, the empty promise of wealth, and the ruin of drunkenness, while calling him to wisdom, the fear of the LORD, and the truth that costs everything but is worth more than anything.

About Proverbs 23

Proverbs 23 belongs to the second Solomonic collection (chapters 10-24), compiled by scribes under Hezekiah around 715-686 BC from material composed in Solomon’s 10th-century BC court. It opens at a ruler’s table - not a place of honor but a test. The guest is counseled to consider carefully what is before him, with the striking hyperbole of verse 2 (“put a knife to your throat if you are given to gluttony”) signaling that the danger at a powerful man’s table is real, not ceremonial. Scholars note that Proverbs 22:17-24:22 contains structural parallels to the Egyptian Instruction of Amenemope, placing this chapter in a broader tradition of ancient Near Eastern wisdom literature.

The chapter’s middle section (vv. 15-25) is the father’s most direct address - five distinct appeals building toward the climactic command of verse 23: “Buy the truth, and do not sell it.” Truth here is not propositional but personal: wisdom, instruction, and understanding, acquired at whatever cost the student must bear. This is the chapter’s thesis, and everything else - the warnings against wealth’s wings, envy, drunkenness, and adultery - builds toward it.

Verse 17 is the chapter’s theological hinge: “Do not let your heart envy sinners, but always be zealous for the fear of the LORD.” Envy is not just an emotion; it is a substitute loyalty, a secret allegiance to what the sinner seems to enjoy. The fear of the LORD is its antidote - not a fearful cowering but the steady orientation of a life that measures everything against who God is.

The chapter closes (vv. 29-35) with one of the Bible’s most arresting portraits of drunkenness - a series of rhetorical questions followed by the drunkard’s own slurred testimony. The portrait is not moralistic but diagnostic: the drunk describes himself speaking from inside his stupor, unable to feel the blows, already planning his next drink. It is the voice of a son who did not listen - a cautionary echo of every “my son” address that preceded it.

Full Chapter Text

Proverbs 23 (Berean Standard Bible)

When you sit down to dine with a ruler, consider carefully 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.
Do not wear yourself out to get rich; do not trust your own understanding.
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.
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.
Do not speak to a fool, for he will scorn the wisdom of your words.
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.
Apply your heart to instruction and your ears to words of knowledge.
Do not withhold discipline from a child; if you punish them with the rod, they will not die.
Rescue them from death.
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.
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.
Listen, my son, and be wise, and set your heart on the right path:
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.
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 - wisdom, instruction and insight as well.
The father of a righteous child has great joy; a man who fathers a wise son rejoices in him.
May your father and mother rejoice; may she who gave you birth be glad!
My son, give me your heart and let your eyes delight in my ways,
for an adulterous woman 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.
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.
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 will imagine confusing things.
You will be like one sleeping on the high seas, lying on top of the rigging.
“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?”

Berean Standard Bible. Public domain.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the main message of Proverbs 23?

Self-mastery rooted in the fear of the LORD. The chapter warns against chasing wealth, flattering powerful hosts, and surrendering to drunkenness and gluttony. It calls the reader to honor parents, envy no one, and acquire truth at any cost - because what you pursue shapes who you become.

Who wrote Proverbs 23?

Attributed to Solomon, with material composed during his reign (970-930 BC) and compiled under Hezekiah’s scribes around 715-686 BC. Proverbs 22:17-24:22 contains notable structural parallels to the Egyptian Instruction of Amenemope, suggesting that Solomon’s court engaged with and transformed the wisdom traditions of the broader ancient Near East.

What does “buy the truth, and do not sell it” mean?

Truth in Proverbs 23:23 stands for wisdom, instruction, and understanding as an integrated whole. The marketplace metaphor is deliberate: genuine wisdom is worth any sacrifice to acquire and it is foolish to trade it away for short-term gain, comfort, or social approval. Once sold, it is not easily recovered.

What does “put a knife to your throat” mean in Proverbs 23:2?

This is intentional hyperbole signaling extreme danger. Dining with a ruler carries temptation - to flatter, to overindulge, to trade integrity for access. The knife image means: treat your appetite at that table as you would a physical threat, because the cost of losing self-control in powerful company is that serious.

What is the meaning of “as he thinks in his heart, so is he” in Proverbs 23?

Verse 7 (in older translations) refers specifically to the stingy host whose outward generosity hides inward calculation. In context it means: the stingy man is what his inner accounting reveals, not what his words suggest. The verse is frequently quoted out of context to support the idea that positive thinking shapes reality, but its Solomonic meaning is about the character gap between speech and motive.

How does Proverbs 23 connect to the New Testament?

Jesus echoes its urgency in Luke 21:34, warning against drunkenness and dissipation. The prodigal son’s ruin in Luke 15 mirrors this chapter’s portrait of the glutton who becomes poor. Verse 23’s call to buy truth resonates with Matthew 13:44-46 - the parables of the hidden treasure and the costly pearl. And the father-son address pattern anticipates the Sermon on the Mount’s repeated “you have heard… but I say.”

Why does Proverbs 23 include such a vivid portrait of drunkenness?

Verses 29-35 are the most extended anti-drunkenness passage in the Old Testament, and its method is unusually precise: it lets the drunkard speak for himself. The person inside the stupor cannot feel blows, cannot make sense of strange visions, and is already planning the next drink before waking. This is not a lecture from outside - it is the inside view, making it more diagnostic than moralistic.

What is the significance of the “future hope” in verse 18?

“There is surely a future hope for you, and your hope will not be cut off” is one of Proverbs’ clearest expressions of eschatological thinking - the idea that wisdom’s reward extends beyond present circumstances. It answers the existential pull of envy: why not follow the sinner if they prosper? Because your hope is in something the sinner’s path cannot reach.

Proverbs 3 - 50days.io/bible/proverbs/3 - “Trust in the LORD with all your heart” - the chapter’s call to buy wisdom at any cost echoes here
Proverbs 31 - 50days.io/bible/proverbs/31 - The noble woman as the embodiment of wisdom’s fruit, counterpoint to ch. 23’s warnings
Ecclesiastes 2 - 50days.io/bible/ecclesiastes/2 - Qohelet’s experiment with wine, pleasure, and wealth as vanity - parallel testimony from a different angle
Luke 15 - 50days.io/bible/luke/15 - The prodigal son, drunkenness, and the glutton who became poor
Luke 21 - 50days.io/bible/luke/21 - Jesus’ warning against drunkenness and dissipation echoing Proverbs 23

Reading Plans Featuring This Chapter

50 Days Through Wisdom Literature - the Proverbs section

Sources and Further Reading

Waltke, Bruce K. The Book of Proverbs: Chapters 15-31. NICOT. Eerdmans, 2005.
Fox, Michael V. Proverbs 10-31. Anchor Yale Bible. Yale University Press, 2009.
Walton, John H., Victor H. Matthews, and Mark W. Chavalas. The IVP Bible Background Commentary: Old Testament. IVP Academic, 2000. (Amenemope parallels)
Bible Project: Proverbs overview - bibleproject.com/explore/video/proverbs

About Psalm Selah

Psalm Selah is the cinematic indie-folk project of Psalmody Press, a male and female duo bringing Scripture into the sonic world of contemporary indie - fingerpicked acoustic guitar, cello-led strings, brushed drums, mandolin shimmer, and two voices used as a per-song lever (a raw male lead, an ethereal female lead, harmony, duo, or solo). The duo works in the tradition of Ed Sheeran’s “I See Fire,” Hozier, Bon Iver, Sleeping at Last, Sandra McCracken, and Andrew Peterson, with Hans Zimmer’s intimate-to-cinematic dynamic range. Their signature compositional move is build choreography - every song-structure transition is locked 1:1 to an instrumentation event, so the song’s shape is its instrumentation order. Their signature lyric move is the structural Selah - a held silence inside the song, sonic and lyrical, where the listener is asked to pause and consider what was just said. They are setting every chapter of the Bible to song, with particular attention to the wisdom literature, the parables of Jesus, the Sermon on the Mount, the apocalyptic books, and the chapters of Scripture where careful, lyrical attention rewards close listening.

More from Psalm Selah

Published: 2026-06-12 · Last updated: 2026-06-12 Written by: Reid Wender, Editorial Director, Psalmody Press

{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@graph": [
    {
      "@type": "Article",
      "@id": "https://50days.io/bible/proverbs/23#article",
      "headline": "Proverbs 23: Buy the Truth, and Do Not Sell It",
      "description": "Proverbs 23 sung by Psalm Selah. Solomon's counsel on self-mastery: the ruler's feast, wealth's wings, the fear of the LORD, and the truth worth any price.",
      "author": {
        "@type": "Person",
        "name": "Reid Wender",
        "url": "https://50days.io/about/reid-wender"
      },
      "publisher": {
        "@type": "Organization",
        "name": "Psalmody Press",
        "url": "https://50days.io",
        "logo": {
          "@type": "ImageObject",
          "url": "https://50days.io/logo.png"
        }
      },
      "datePublished": "2026-06-12",
      "dateModified": "2026-06-12",
      "mainEntityOfPage": "https://50days.io/bible/proverbs/23"
    },
    {
      "@type": "VideoObject",
      "@id": "https://50days.io/bible/proverbs/23#video",
      "name": "Proverbs 23 sung by Psalm Selah",
      "description": "Proverbs 23 is Solomon's counsel on self-mastery - warning his son against the pull of a powerful man's table, the empty promise of wealth, and the ruin of drunkenness, while calling him to wisdom, the fear of the LORD, and the truth that costs everything but is worth more than anything.",
      "thumbnailUrl": "https://i.ytimg.com/vi//maxresdefault.jpg",
      "uploadDate": "2026-06-12",
      "contentUrl": "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=",
      "embedUrl": "https://www.youtube.com/embed/"
    },
    {
      "@type": "FAQPage",
      "@id": "https://50days.io/bible/proverbs/23#faq",
      "mainEntity": [
        {
          "@type": "Question",
          "name": "What is the main message of Proverbs 23?",
          "acceptedAnswer": {
            "@type": "Answer",
            "text": "Self-mastery rooted in the fear of the LORD. The chapter warns against chasing wealth, flattering powerful hosts, and surrendering to drunkenness and gluttony. It calls the reader to honor parents, envy no one, and acquire truth at any cost - because what you pursue shapes who you become."
          }
        },
        {
          "@type": "Question",
          "name": "Who wrote Proverbs 23?",
          "acceptedAnswer": {
            "@type": "Answer",
            "text": "Attributed to Solomon, with material composed during his reign (970-930 BC) and compiled under Hezekiah's scribes around 715-686 BC. Proverbs 22:17-24:22 contains notable structural parallels to the Egyptian Instruction of Amenemope, suggesting that Solomon's court engaged with and transformed the wisdom traditions of the broader ancient Near East."
          }
        },
        {
          "@type": "Question",
          "name": "What does 'buy the truth, and do not sell it' mean in Proverbs 23:23?",
          "acceptedAnswer": {
            "@type": "Answer",
            "text": "Truth in Proverbs 23:23 stands for wisdom, instruction, and understanding as an integrated whole. The marketplace metaphor is deliberate: genuine wisdom is worth any sacrifice to acquire and it is foolish to trade it away for short-term gain, comfort, or social approval. Once sold, it is not easily recovered."
          }
        },
        {
          "@type": "Question",
          "name": "What does 'put a knife to your throat' mean in Proverbs 23:2?",
          "acceptedAnswer": {
            "@type": "Answer",
            "text": "This is intentional hyperbole signaling extreme danger. Dining with a ruler carries temptation - to flatter, to overindulge, to trade integrity for access. The knife image means: treat your appetite at that table as you would a physical threat, because the cost of losing self-control in powerful company is that serious."
          }
        },
        {
          "@type": "Question",
          "name": "How does Proverbs 23 connect to the New Testament?",
          "acceptedAnswer": {
            "@type": "Answer",
            "text": "Jesus echoes its urgency in Luke 21:34, warning against drunkenness and dissipation. The prodigal son's ruin in Luke 15 mirrors this chapter's portrait of the glutton who becomes poor. Verse 23's call to buy truth resonates with Matthew 13:44-46 - the parables of the hidden treasure and the costly pearl."
          }
        },
        {
          "@type": "Question",
          "name": "What is the significance of 'future hope' in Proverbs 23:18?",
          "acceptedAnswer": {
            "@type": "Answer",
            "text": "'There is surely a future hope for you, and your hope will not be cut off' is one of Proverbs' clearest expressions of eschatological thinking - the idea that wisdom's reward extends beyond present circumstances. It answers the existential pull of envy: why not follow the sinner if they prosper? Because your hope is in something the sinner's path cannot reach."
          }
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
      "itemListElement": [
        {
          "@type": "ListItem",
          "position": 1,
          "name": "Home",
          "item": "https://50days.io"
        },
        {
          "@type": "ListItem",
          "position": 2,
          "name": "Bible",
          "item": "https://50days.io/bible"
        },
        {
          "@type": "ListItem",
          "position": 3,
          "name": "Proverbs",
          "item": "https://50days.io/bible/proverbs"
        },
        {
          "@type": "ListItem",
          "position": 4,
          "name": "Chapter 23",
          "item": "https://50days.io/bible/proverbs/23"
        }
      ]
    }
  ]
}

Proverbs 23: Buy the Truth, and Do Not Sell It

Proverbs 23: Buy the Truth, and Do Not Sell It

Watch and Listen

Quick Answer

About Proverbs 23

Full Chapter Text

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the main message of Proverbs 23?

Who wrote Proverbs 23?

What does “buy the truth, and do not sell it” mean?

What does “put a knife to your throat” mean in Proverbs 23:2?

What is the meaning of “as he thinks in his heart, so is he” in Proverbs 23?

How does Proverbs 23 connect to the New Testament?

Why does Proverbs 23 include such a vivid portrait of drunkenness?

What is the significance of the “future hope” in verse 18?

Related Chapters

Reading Plans Featuring This Chapter

Sources and Further Reading

About Psalm Selah