Proverbs 23:3
New International Version
Do not crave his delicacies, for that food is deceptive.

New Living Translation
don’t desire all the delicacies, for he might be trying to trick you.

English Standard Version
Do not desire his delicacies, for they are deceptive food.

Berean Standard Bible
Do not crave his delicacies, for that food is deceptive.

King James Bible
Be not desirous of his dainties: for they are deceitful meat.

New King James Version
Do not desire his delicacies, For they are deceptive food.

New American Standard Bible
Do not desire his delicacies, For it is deceptive food.

NASB 1995
Do not desire his delicacies, For it is deceptive food.

NASB 1977
Do not desire his delicacies, For it is deceptive food.

Legacy Standard Bible
Do not desire his delicacies, For it is bread of falsehood.

Amplified Bible
Do not desire his delicacies, For it is deceptive food [offered to you with questionable motives].

Christian Standard Bible
don’t desire his choice food, for that food is deceptive.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
don’t desire his choice food, for that food is deceptive.

American Standard Version
Be not desirous of his dainties; Seeing they are deceitful food.

Contemporary English Version
Don't be greedy for all of that fancy food! It may not be so tasty.

English Revised Version
Be not desirous of his dainties; seeing they are deceitful meat.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Do not crave his delicacies, because this is food that deceives you.

Good News Translation
Don't be greedy for the fine food he serves; he may be trying to trick you.

International Standard Version
Don't crave his delicacies, because the meal is deceptive.

Majority Standard Bible
Do not crave his delicacies, for that food is deceptive.

NET Bible
Do not crave that ruler's delicacies, for that food is deceptive.

New Heart English Bible
Do not be desirous of his dainties, seeing they are deceitful food.

Webster's Bible Translation
Be not desirous of his dainties: for they are deceitful food.

World English Bible
Don’t be desirous of his dainties, since they are deceitful food.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
Have no desire to his delicacies, seeing it [is] lying food.

Young's Literal Translation
Have no desire to his dainties, seeing it is lying food.

Smith's Literal Translation
Thou shalt not long for his dainties: and it is the bread of lies.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Be not desirous of his meats, in which is the bread of deceit.

Catholic Public Domain Version
Do not desire his foods, in which is the bread of deceit.

New American Bible
Do not desire his delicacies; it is food that deceives.

New Revised Standard Version
Do not desire the ruler’s delicacies, for they are deceptive food.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Be not desirous of his food; for his bread is bread of deceit.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And do not lust for his food because his bread is the bread of lies.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
Be not desirous of his dainties; Seeing they are deceitful food.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
desire not his provisions; for these belong to a false life.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
True Riches
2and put a knife to your throat if you possess a great appetite. 3Do not crave his delicacies, for that food is deceptive. 4Do not wear yourself out to get rich; be wise enough to restrain yourself.…

Cross References
Psalm 141:4
Do not let my heart be drawn to any evil thing or take part in works of wickedness with men who do iniquity; let me not feast on their delicacies.

Daniel 1:8
But Daniel made up his mind that he would not defile himself with the king’s food or wine. So he asked the chief official for permission not to defile himself.

1 Corinthians 10:21
You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons too; you cannot partake in the table of the Lord and the table of demons too.

1 Corinthians 10:31
So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all to the glory of God.

Romans 12:2
Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God.

1 John 2:15-17
Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. / For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh, the desires of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not from the Father but from the world. / The world is passing away, along with its desires; but whoever does the will of God remains forever.

Matthew 6:13
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.’

1 Timothy 6:9-10
Those who want to be rich, however, fall into temptation and become ensnared by many foolish and harmful desires that plunge them into ruin and destruction. / For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. By craving it, some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many sorrows.

James 1:14-15
But each one is tempted when by his own evil desires he is lured away and enticed. / Then after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.

1 Peter 2:11
Beloved, I urge you, as foreigners and exiles, to abstain from the desires of the flesh, which war against your soul.

Genesis 3:6
When the woman saw that the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eyes, and that it was desirable for obtaining wisdom, she took the fruit and ate it. She also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate it.

Numbers 11:4-6
Meanwhile, the rabble among them had a strong craving for other food, and again the Israelites wept and said, “Who will feed us meat? / We remember the fish we ate freely in Egypt, along with the cucumbers, melons, leeks, onions, and garlic. / But now our appetite is gone; there is nothing to see but this manna!”

Deuteronomy 8:3
He humbled you, and in your hunger He gave you manna to eat, which neither you nor your fathers had known, so that you might understand that man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of the LORD.

Psalm 119:37
Turn my eyes away from worthless things; revive me with Your word.

Isaiah 55:2
Why spend money on that which is not bread, and your labor on that which does not satisfy? Listen carefully to Me, and eat what is good, and your soul will delight in the richest of foods.


Treasury of Scripture

Be not desirous of his dainties: for they are deceitful meat.

Proverbs 23:6
Eat thou not the bread of him that hath an evil eye, neither desire thou his dainty meats:

Psalm 141:4
Incline not my heart to any evil thing, to practise wicked works with men that work iniquity: and let me not eat of their dainties.

Daniel 1:8
But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king's meat, nor with the wine which he drank: therefore he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself.

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Proverbs 23
1. Consider carefully what is before you














Do not crave
The Hebrew word for "crave" is "תִּתְאָו" (tith'av), which implies a deep longing or desire. In the context of Proverbs, this craving is not merely a physical hunger but a metaphor for the desires of the heart that can lead one astray. The wisdom literature often warns against unchecked desires, which can lead to moral and spiritual downfall. The admonition here is to exercise self-control and discernment, recognizing that not all that is desirable is beneficial.

his delicacies
The term "delicacies" refers to luxurious or sumptuous foods, often associated with wealth and opulence. In ancient Near Eastern cultures, sharing a meal was a sign of fellowship and trust. However, the delicacies of a ruler or a wealthy person could symbolize the enticements of power and materialism. The warning is against being seduced by the allure of wealth and status, which can distract from spiritual priorities and lead to compromise.

for that food
The phrase "that food" serves as a metaphor for the enticements and temptations that come with worldly pleasures. In the biblical context, food often symbolizes sustenance and provision from God. However, when it is associated with deception, it becomes a cautionary symbol of the temporary and potentially harmful nature of earthly indulgences. The wise are called to seek sustenance that nourishes the soul, rather than temporary satisfaction.

is deceptive
The Hebrew word "כָּזָב" (kazav) means false or deceitful. This highlights the underlying danger of the delicacies mentioned earlier. What appears to be a blessing or a source of pleasure can, in reality, be misleading and harmful. The deception lies in the false promise of fulfillment and happiness through material means. The verse serves as a reminder to seek truth and wisdom, which lead to genuine satisfaction and peace, rather than being misled by the fleeting and often deceptive allure of worldly pleasures.

(3) Deceitful meat.--Not offered out of friendship and love to thee; for an unguarded word spoken in the insecurity of the festive hour might bring ruin to thee.

Verse 3. - Be not desirous of his dainties. (For "dainties," see on ver. 6.) Be not too greedy of the bounties of the royal table, so as to forget discretion, and be led to say and do things which are inexpedient or unseemly. For they are deceitful meat. Oftentimes such entertainment is not offered for friendship's sake, but for some sinister purpose - to make a man expose himself, to get at a man's real character or secrets. Far from being a sign of favour and good will, the seeming honour is deceptive and dangerous. We all know Horace's lines, 'Ars Poet.,' 434, etc. -

"Reges dicuntur multi, urgere culullis
Et torquere mero, quem perspexisse laborant,
Au sit amicitia dignus."
Hitzig quotes the Eastern proverb, "He who eats of the sultan's soup burns his lips, even though it he after a length of time." We have too the Indian saying, "An epicure digs his grave with his teeth," which is true in more senses than one. "Keep thee far from the man that hath power to kill," says Siracides (Ecclus. 9:13); "so shalt thou not be troubled with fear of death: and if thou come unto him, commit no fault, lest he presently take away thy life; remember that thou goest in the midst of snares, and that thou walkest upon the battlements of the city." Then for the reasons which induce a ruler to ply a guest with wine, we have, "In vino veritas, quod est in corde sobrii, est in ore ebrii." Theognis writes -

Ἐν πυρὶ μὲν χρυσόν τε καὶ ἄργυρον ἴδριες ἄνδρες
Γιγνώσκους ἀνδρὸς δ οϊνος ἔδειξε νόον
Καὶ μάλα περ πινυτοῦ τὸν ὐπέρ μέτρον ἤρατο πίνων
Ωστε καταισχῦναι καὶ πρὶν ἐόντα σοφόν. The Septuagint combines the ending of ver. 2, "But if thou art more insatiable, desire not his victuals, for these appertain to (ἔχεται) a false life."

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Do not
אַל־ (’al-)
Adverb
Strong's 408: Not

crave
תִּ֭תְאָו‪‬‪‬ (tiṯ·’āw)
Verb - Hitpael - Imperfect Jussive - second person masculine singular
Strong's 183: To incline, desire

his delicacies,
לְמַטְעַמּוֹתָ֑יו (lə·maṭ·‘am·mō·w·ṯāw)
Preposition-l | Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 4303: Tasty or savory food, dainties

for that
וְ֝ה֗וּא (wə·hū)
Conjunctive waw | Pronoun - third person masculine singular
Strong's 1931: He, self, the same, this, that, as, are

food
לֶ֣חֶם (le·ḥem)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 3899: Food, bread, grain

is deceptive.
כְּזָבִֽים׃ (kə·zā·ḇîm)
Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 3577: A lie, falsehood, deceptive thing


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