KJV King James Version
Buy the truth, and sell [it] not; [also] wisdom, and instruction, and understanding.
VERSE STUDY • KJV
Proverbs 23:23
Buy the truth, and sell [it] not; [also] wisdom, and instruction, and understanding.
Read it in 5 translations
BSB Berean Standard Bible
Invest in truth and never sell it—in wisdom and instruction and understanding.
WEB World English Bible
Buy the truth, and don’t sell it. Get wisdom, discipline, and understanding.
ASV American Standard Version
Buy the truth, and sell it not; Yea, wisdom, and instruction, and understanding.
YLT Young’s Literal Translation
Truth buy, and sell not, Wisdom, and instruction, and understanding,
Surrounding context — Proverbs 23
20 Be not among winebibbers; among riotous eaters of flesh:
21 For the drunkard and the glutton shall come to poverty: and drowsiness shall clothe [a man] with rags.
22 Hearken unto thy father that begat thee, and despise not thy mother when she is old.
23 Buy the truth, and sell [it] not; [also] wisdom, and instruction, and understanding.
24 The father of the righteous shall greatly rejoice: and he that begetteth a wise [child] shall have joy of him.
25 Thy father and thy mother shall be glad, and she that bare thee shall rejoice.
26 My son, give me thine heart, and let thine eyes observe my ways.
Topics connected to this verse
Original-language word links
These Hebrew/Greek tokens are linked by Strong's number. Click one for its lexicon definition and other occurrences.
Cross-references
Proverbs 18:15The heart of the prudent getteth knowledge; and the ear of the wise seeketh knowledge.Matthew 13:44Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field; the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field.Psalm 119:72The law of thy mouth [is] better unto me than thousands of gold and silver.Proverbs 16:16How much better [is it] to get wisdom than gold! and to get understanding rather to be chosen than silver!Philippians 3:7-8But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ.Isaiah 55:1Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.Hebrews 11:26Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward.Proverbs 10:1The proverbs of Solomon. A wise son maketh a glad father: but a foolish son [is] the heaviness of his mother.Psalm 119:127Therefore I love thy commandments above gold; yea, above fine gold.Matthew 16:26For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?Matthew 13:46Who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it.Revelation 3:18I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and [that] the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.Proverbs 4:5-7Get wisdom, get understanding: forget [it] not; neither decline from the words of my mouth.Job 28:12-19But where shall wisdom be found? and where [is] the place of understanding?Revelation 12:11And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.Proverbs 17:16Wherefore [is there] a price in the hand of a fool to get wisdom, seeing [he hath] no heart [to it]?Proverbs 2:2-4So that thou incline thine ear unto wisdom, [and] apply thine heart to understanding;Acts 20:23Save that the Holy Ghost witnesseth in every city, saying that bonds and afflictions abide me.
CLASSIC COMMENTARY & PREACHING
Spurgeon on Proverbs 23:23
Read Charles H. Spurgeon material whose primary Scripture is this verse or passage.
HISTORICAL INTERPRETATION
Compare classic commentaries on Proverbs 23:23
Put Matthew Henry, Adam Clarke, Calvin, Wesley, Barnes, Jamieson–Fausset–Brown, Aquinas’ Catena and other public-domain sources beside the passage.
Compare commentaries →