Proverbs 23:1-16: a reflection

1When you sit to eat with a ruler, consider diligently what is before you; 2put a knife to your throat if you are a man given to appetite. 3Don’t be desirous of his dainties, since they are deceitful food. 4Don’t weary yourself to be rich. In your wisdom, show restraint. 5Why do you set your eyes on that which is not? For it certainly sprouts wings like an eagle and flies in the sky. 6Don’t eat the food of him who has a stingy eye, and don’t crave his delicacies, 7for as he thinks about the cost, so he is. “Eat and drink!” he says to you, but his heart is not with you. 8You will vomit up the morsel which you have eaten and waste your pleasant words. 9Don’t speak in the ears of a fool, for he will despise the wisdom of your words. 10Don’t move the ancient boundary stone. Don’t encroach on the fields of the fatherless, 11for their Defender is strong. He will plead their case against you. 12Apply your heart to instruction, and your ears to the words of knowledge. 13Don’t withhold correction from a child. If you punish him with the rod, he will not die. 14Punish him with the rod, and save his soul from Sheol. 15My son, if your heart is wise, then my heart will be glad, even mine. 16Yes, my heart will rejoice when your lips speak what is right.

Among these proverbs is a warning against exploiting the defenseless: Do not move the ancient boundary stone, or encroach on the fields of the fatherless, for their Defender is strong; he will plead their case against you. The orphan, the defenseless, might seem easy to exploit, with no one to protect them; but the proverb warns that they have a Defender, and a strong one: God himself, who will take up their cause against any who wrong them.

Notice why the proverb warns against exploiting the defenseless: because their Defender is strong. The fatherless, the defenseless, might seem to have no protector, easy prey for those who would encroach on their fields, exploit their weakness. But they have a Defender, and no weak one: God himself takes up their cause, and will plead it against any who wrong them. The defenseless are not truly defenseless; God is their strong advocate, who watches how they are treated and will act on their behalf.

That is worth taking to heart, for we can be tempted to exploit the defenseless, those who seem to have no one to protect them. Those with little power or standing, the vulnerable, the defenseless, can seem easy to take advantage of, with no recourse against us. But the proverb warns: their Defender is strong. God takes up the cause of the defenseless, and will plead it against those who wrong them; they are not without protection, for God himself is their advocate. Do not exploit the defenseless, imagining they have no protector; God is their strong Defender, and will take up their cause against you. Treat the vulnerable and defenseless justly, remembering that they have a strong Defender in God, who watches how they are treated and will plead their case against any who wrong them. The defenseless are not truly defenseless; God defends them. Do not take advantage of the weak, thinking they have no recourse; their strong Defender is God, who will plead their case against any who exploit them, as this proverb warns.

Lord, among these proverbs is a warning against exploiting the defenseless: do not encroach on the fields of the fatherless, for their Defender is strong; he will plead their case against you. The orphan, the defenseless, might seem easy to exploit, with no one to protect them; but the proverb warns that they have a Defender, and a strong one: you yourself, who will take up their cause. Show me why the proverb warns against exploiting the defenseless: because their Defender is strong. The defenseless might seem to have no protector, easy prey; but they have a Defender, and no weak one: you take up their cause, and will plead it against any who wrong them. The defenseless are not truly defenseless; you are their strong advocate. Take that to my heart, for I can be tempted to exploit the defenseless, those who seem to have no one to protect them. Those with little power or standing can seem easy to take advantage of, with no recourse against me. But the proverb warns: their Defender is strong. You take up the cause of the defenseless, and will plead it against those who wrong them. Keep me from exploiting the defenseless, imagining they have no protector; you are their strong Defender. Help me treat the vulnerable and defenseless justly, Lord, remembering that they have a strong Defender in you, who watches how they are treated. Keep me from taking advantage of the weak, thinking they have no recourse; their strong Defender is you.