Proverbs 23:4
Translations
King James Version (KJV)
Labor not to be rich: cease from your own wisdom.
American King James Version (AKJV)
Labor not to be rich: cease from your own wisdom.
American Standard Version (ASV)
Weary not thyself to be rich; Cease from thine own wisdom.
Basic English Translation (BBE)
Take no care to get wealth; let there be an end to your desire for money.
Webster's Revision
Labor not to be rich: cease from thy own wisdom.
World English Bible
Don't weary yourself to be rich. In your wisdom, show restraint.
English Revised Version (ERV)
Weary not thyself to be rich; cease from thine own wisdom.
Clarke's Proverbs 23:4 Bible Commentary
Labour not to be rich - Let not this be thy object. Labour to provide things honest in the sight of God and all men; and if thou get wealth, do not forget the poor, else God's curse will be a canker even in thy gold.
Cease from thine own wisdom - בינתך binathecha, thy own understanding or prudence. The world says, "Get rich if thou canst, and how thou canst." Rem, si possis, recte; si non, quocunque modo rem; "Get a fortune honestly if thou canst; but if not, get one at all events." This is the devil's counsel, and well it is followed; but Solomon says, and God says, "Cease from thine own counsel." Thou hast an immortal soul, and shalt shortly appear before God. Lay up treasure for heaven, and be rich towards God.
Barnes's Proverbs 23:4 Bible Commentary
Cease from thine own wisdom - i. e., "Cease from the use of what is in itself most excellent, if it only serves to seek after wealth, and so ministers to evil." There is no special contrast between "thine own wisdom" and that given from above, though it is of course implied that in ceasing from his own prudence the man is on the way to attain a higher wisdom.
Wesley's Proverbs 23:4 Bible Commentary
23:4 Thine own wisdom - From worldly wisdom, which persuades men to use all possible means to get riches.