Proverbs 23:5
When thou lettest merely thy eyes fly over it, it is no more: for it will ever make itself wings: like an eagle will it fly toward heaven.
Leeser Tanakh
In The King James Version
In Context
4Fatigue thyself not to become rich; because thou hast understanding, forbear.
6Eat not the bread of a man with an evil eye, and do not long for his savory meats;
Cross References
Job 1:14That a messenger came unto Job, and said, The oxen were ploughing, and the she-asses were feeding beside them:
Psalms 39:6(39:7) As nothing but a shadowy image doth man walk about, yea, for vanity only do all make a noise: he heapeth up his gains, and knoweth not who shall gather them.
Proverbs 27:24For property endureth not for ever, nor doth the crown remain for all generations.
Ecclesiastes 5:13(5:12) There is a sore evil which I have seen under the sun, [namely,] riches reserved for their owner to his own hurt.
Isaiah 55:2Wherefore will ye spend money for what is not bread? and your labor for what satisfieth not? hearken then unto me, and eat what is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness.
Jeremiah 39:12Take him, and direct thy eyes to him, and do him not the least harm; but as he may speak unto thee, even so do thou with him.
Matthew Henry on Proverbs 23:5-6
4 Labour not to be rich: cease from thine own wisdom. 5 Wilt thou set thine eyes upon that which is not? for riches certainly make themselves wings; they fly away as an eagle toward heaven. As some are given to appetite ( v. 2 ) so others to covetousness, and those Solomon here takes to task. Men cheat themselves as much by setting their hearts on money (though it seems most substantial) as by setting them on dainties. Observe, I. How he dissuades the covetous man from toiling and tormenting himself ( v. 4 ). "Do… Read the whole commentary →