We will revisit the concern about cynicism again and add to our answer, but right now we need to reconnect all that we have said in this section with the context of our passage, Proverbs 23:4-5.

Verse 5 says that riches are fleeting, that such things as wealth, status, and favor are unreliable. There are a number of ways that material success can disappear overnight, but we have focused on human fickleness and dishonesty, mainly because the surrounding verses emphasize how people can complicate situations by their deceit and ulterior motives (v. 1-3, 6-8).

What is asserted in verse 5 provides the explanation for verse 4, which says, "Do not wear yourself out to get rich; have the wisdom to show restraint." There are some translation issues with both parts of this verse, but especially the latter part.

All the common alternatives are taught in other parts of Scripture, and so in this sense there is no immediate doctrinal danger. For example, the latter part of the verse has been variously rendered, "cease from thine own wisdom" (KJV), "have the wisdom to show restraint" (NIV),¹² and "cease from your consideration of it" (NASB).¹³ The first option would mean that one should stop determining his priorities by human wisdom, or to cease striving after riches through human wisdom. The second option conveys the idea that it is foolish to pursue something as fleeting and unreliable as riches, and so one should have the good sense to stop, that is, to refrain from putting all of his strength into obtaining material success. The third one simply means to stop engaging the mind with how to get more riches – stop being obsessed with it.¹⁴

All three options are consistent with biblical teaching, and none does violence to the context, so the concern is not whether Scripture teaches any of these, but with what Scripture teaches here. Among others, I suggest Keil & Delitzsch and Bruce Waltke's commentary if you are interested in the grammatical considerations. I favor the second option, as represented by the NIV, ESV, and others.

As for the first part of the verse, translations other than the typical one had been suggested, but they were rather implausible. Precise considerations regarding the second part aside, the first part is clear and defines the intention of verses 4 and 5: "Do not wear yourself out to get rich."¹⁵

To review, let us paraphrase what we have learned so far (22:29-23:5): "If you are competent and efficient in your work, you will not remain among obscure men, but you will be taken into the presence of kings and rulers. Now, when you dine with one of these important individuals, you must restrain your appetite if you are prone to indulge. This is because the feast is probably not just a simple gesture of hospitality, but the host might have ulterior motive in mind. He is watching you, testing you, and you should take care lest you offend him, or do something to entrap yourself, or to incite his contempt. Nevertheless, no matter how careful or discreet you are, wealth is fleeting. Take a mere glance at it, and it flies away. And because wealth is so unreliable, do not overwork yourself to obtain it, but have the sense to stop."

Notes

¹² See also the ESV, REB, NRSV, NCV, and CCNT (Jay Adams).

¹³ See also the HCSB, and The New Jerusalem Bible.

¹⁴ There are other less serious contenders. See the GNT, NLT, and The Jerusalem Bible.

¹⁵ Since I have already addressed this elsewhere in detail, I will refrain from repeating everything here. Instead, please see "Kingdom First" in my Doctrine and Obedience and "Godliness with Contentment" in my Godliness with Contentment.

(to be continued)

 

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