[ 1 minutes to read ]

And put a knife to thy throat, if thou be a man given to appetite.
– Proverbs 23:2

[E]xercising self-control is a part of keeping your wits from the previous verse. The phrase, put a knife to thy throat, is a figurative expression for exercising extreme control over your appetite. Today, we might say, “Bite your tongue,” and by that mean you should exercise extreme control over your speech. The word appetite makes us think about gluttony. Proverbs warns against gluttony (Proverbs 23:21; 28:7), but the warning here is not as much about gluttony in general. Wisdom is teaching to be self-controlled, discerning, and sober minded. This is particularly so when we are in situations where we need to be on guard.

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