Proverbs 23:5

5 When your eyes light upon it, it is gone; for suddenly it takes to itself wings, flying like an eagle toward heaven.

Proverbs 23:5 Meaning and Commentary

Proverbs 23:5

Wilt thou set thine eyes upon that which is not?
&c.] The Vulgate Latin version is,

``do not lift up thine eyes to riches which thou canst not have;''

riches no doubt are intended, and which may be said to be "not"; they are not the true riches, have only the shadow and appearance of riches; they are not lasting and durable; in a little time they will not be; they are perishing things, they have no substance or solidity in them; they are not satisfying; they do not make them happy; they are rather nonentities than realities; and therefore the eyes of the mind and the affections of the heart should not be set on them: it may be rendered, "wilt thou cause thine eyes to fly upon that which is not?" ^F23 denoting the intenseness of the mind, and the eagerness of the affections, and with what rapidity and force they move towards them. The Targum is,

``if thou fixest thine eyes on him, he shall not appear to thee;''

meaning the rich man: and so the Septuagint, Syriac, and Arabic versions. Ben Melech makes mention of other senses very different; according to R. Judah, the word signifies darkness, "wilt thou make thine eyes dark?" two according to others, signifies light, "wilt thou make thine eyes to shine?" and, according to Jarchi, "wilt thou double?", or shut thine eyes? for [riches] certainly make themselves wings;
or, "it in making makes itself wings" ^F24; even that which is not, on which men cause their eyes to fly; no sooner are their eyes upon that, but that flies away from them like a bird with wings; see ( Hosea 9:11 ) . Either men are taken from that, or that from them, and sometimes very swiftly and suddenly; they fly away as an eagle towards heaven;
the eagle flies very swiftly, none more swiftly; it flies towards heaven, out of sight, and out of reach, and out of call; so riches flee away to God, the original giver of them, from whence they came, and who is the sole disposer of them; they own him as the proprietor and distributor of them; and they flee to heaven as it were for fresh orders where they should be, and into whose hands they should come next; they flee away, so as not to be seen any more, and be recovered by those who have formerly enjoyed them.

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FOOTNOTES:

F23 (Pyeth) "numquid involare facies", Michaelis; "ut involent", Junius & Tremellius; "ut volent", Piscator; "ad sineves volare", Cocceius.
F24 (hvey hve yk) "quis faciendo faciet", Montanus, Baynus.

Proverbs 23:5 In-Context

3 Do not desire his delicacies, for they are deceptive food.

4 Do not toil to acquire wealth; be wise enough to desist

5 When your eyes light upon it, it is gone; for suddenly it takes to itself wings, flying like an eagle toward heaven.

6 Do not eat the bread of a man who is stingy; do not desire his delicacies;

7 for he is like one who is inwardly reckoning. "Eat and drink!" he says to you; but his heart is not with you.