Discovery BoxProverbs 23:5 
Context23:5 When you gaze upon riches, 1 they are gone,
for they surely make wings for themselves,
and fly off into the sky like an eagle! 2
Proverbs 25:7
Context25:7 for it is better for him 3 to say to you, “Come up here,” 4
than to put you lower 5 before a prince,
whom your eyes have seen. 6
1 tc The Kethib is הֲתָעוּף (hata’uf), “do your eyes fly [light] on it?” The Qere is the Hiphil, הֲתָעִיף (hata’if) “do you cause your eyes to fly on it?” But the line is difficult. The question may be indirect: If you cast your eyes on it, it is gone – when you think you are close, it slips away.
tn The term “riches” is not in the Hebrew text, but is supplied in the translation based on the previous verse.
2 sn This seventh saying warns people not to expend all their energy trying to get rich because riches are fleeting (cf. Instruction of Amememope, chap. 7, 9:10-11 which says, “they have made themselves wings like geese and have flown away to heaven”). In the ancient world the symbol of birds flying away signified fleeting wealth.
3 tn The phrase “for him” is supplied in the translation for clarity.
4 sn This proverb, covering the two verses, is teaching that it is wiser to be promoted than to risk demotion by self-promotion. The point is clear: Trying to promote oneself could bring on public humiliation; but it would be an honor to have everyone in court hear the promotion by the king.
5 tn The two infinitives construct form the contrast in this “better” sayings; each serves as the subject of its respective clause.
6 tc Most modern commentators either omit this last line or attach it to the next verse. But it is in the text of the MT as well as the LXX, Syriac, Vulgate, and most modern English versions (although some of them do connect it to the following verse, e.g., NAB, NIV, NRSV, NLT).
