Proverbs 23:19

Old Testament Wisdom/Poetry ASV (1901)

What does Proverbs 23:19 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “Hear thou, my son, and be wise, And guide thy heart in the way.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

Hear thou, my son, and be wise, And guide thy heart in the way.
Proverbs 23:19 — American Standard Version

Context — Proverbs 23

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
19Hear thou, my son, and be wise, And guide thy heart in the way.

What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“Hear thou, my son, and be wise, etc.] Hear the instruction of a father, of the word of Wisdom, of the ministers of the Gospel, which is the way to be wise unto salvation; faith comes by hearing; spiritual wisdom, and an increase of it; the Spirit of God, and his gifts and graces; and guide thine heart in the way; in the way of the Lord, in the way of wisdom and understanding, in the way of truth and faith, in the way of religious worship, in the way of the commandments and ordinances of the Lord; in all which the heart should be guided and directed, or otherwise it will be of no avail.”
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Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“guide . . . way--or direct thy thoughts to a right course of conduct (compare Pro 4:4; Pro 9:6).”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“Another continuous exhortation rather than a collection of maxims. Proverbs 23:16 The teacher rejoices when the disciple’s heart Proverbs 23:15 receives wisdom, and yet more when his lips can utter it. Reins - See Job 19:27 note. Proverbs 23:17 Envy sinners - Compare in Psalms 37:1; Psalms 73:3; the feeling which looks half-longingly at the prosperity of evil doers. Some connect the verb “envy” with the second clause, “envy not sinners, but envy, emulate, the fear of the Lord.” Proverbs 23:18 Or, For if there is an end (hereafter), thine expectations shall not be cut off. There is an implied confidence in immortality. Proverbs 23:20 Riotous eaters of flesh - The word is the same as “glutton”…”
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Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · 18th-century historical commentary
“Guide - Order the whole course of thine affections and actions. In the way - In God's way. Proverbs 23:23”
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Tyndale Open Study Notes
Tyndale House Publishers · Tyndale Open Study Notes · Modern study notes
“23:19-21 Saying 15: Discipline is necessary for living a wise and balanced life. Overindulgence in drink (drunkards, see also 23:29-35), food (gluttons, see also 23:1-3), or sleep (see also 10:5; 19:15) results in poverty.”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“and guide: Pro 23:12, Pro 23:26, Pro 4:10-23 in the way: That is "in the right way. Proverbs 23:20”
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Keil & Delitzsch
C. F. Keil & F. Delitzsch · Commentary on the Old Testament · 19th-century historical commentary
“Among the virtues which flow from the fear of God, temperance is made prominent, and the warning against excess is introduced by the general exhortation to wisdom: 19 Hear thou, my son, and become wise, And direct thy heart straight forward on the way. 20 And be not among wine-drinkers, And among those who devour flesh; 21 For the drunkard and glutton become poor, And sleepiness clotheth in rags. The אתּה, connected with שׁמע, imports that the speaker has to do with the hearer altogether by himself, and that the latter may make an exception to the many who do not hear (cf. Job 33:33; Jer 2:31). Regarding אשּׁר, to make to go straight out, vid., at Pro 4:14; the Kal, Pro 9:6, and also the…”
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Related study paths

Sources and verification