Proverbs 23:4 Made Simple

KJV ORIGINAL

Labour not to be rich: cease from thine own wisdom.

Close to the original. Clear modern English.

✦ MADE SIMPLE

Don't wear yourself out trying to get rich; have enough sense to stop chasing after wealth.

⚡ THE BOTTOM LINE

The writer is warning us not to exhaust ourselves pursuing riches, but to be wise enough to know when enough is enough.

📚 Historical Context

This proverb was written during a time when Solomon and other wise men were observing how the pursuit of wealth often led to moral compromise and personal destruction. In ancient Israel, as in many cultures, people would sacrifice relationships, health, and ethical standards in their relentless pursuit of riches, leading to spiritual and emotional emptiness.

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