Proverbs 23:5

NET Bible® (New English Translation)

When you gaze upon riches, they are gone, for they surely make wings for themselves, and fly off into the sky like an eagle!

Additional Resources

Referenced Verses

  • Prov 27:24 : 24 for riches do not last forever, nor does a crown last from generation to generation.
  • 1 Tim 6:17 : 17 Command those who are rich in this world’s goods not to be haughty or to set their hope on riches, which are uncertain, but on God who richly provides us with all things for our enjoyment.
  • Jas 5:1-2 : 1 Warning to the Rich Come now, you rich! Weep and cry aloud over the miseries that are coming on you. 2 Your riches have rotted and your clothing has become moth-eaten.
  • 1 John 2:16 : 16 because all that is in the world(the desire of the flesh and the desire of the eyes and the arrogance produced by material possessions) is not from the Father, but is from the world.
  • Gen 42:36 : 36 Their father Jacob said to them,“You are making me childless! Joseph is gone. Simeon is gone. And now you want to take Benjamin! Everything is against me.”
  • Job 1:14-17 : 14 and a messenger came to Job, saying,“The oxen were plowing and the donkeys were grazing beside them, 15 and the Sabeans swooped down and carried them all away, and they killed the servants with the sword! And I– only I alone– escaped to tell you!” 16 While this one was still speaking, another messenger arrived and said,“The fire of God has fallen from heaven and has burned up the sheep and the servants– it has consumed them! And I– only I alone– escaped to tell you!” 17 While this one was still speaking another messenger arrived and said,“The Chaldeans formed three bands and made a raid on the camels and carried them all away, and they killed the servants with the sword! And I– only I alone– escaped to tell you!”
  • Ps 39:6 : 6 Surely people go through life as mere ghosts. Surely they accumulate worthless wealth without knowing who will eventually haul it away.”
  • Ps 119:36-37 : 36 Give me a desire for your rules, rather than for wealth gained unjustly. 37 Turn my eyes away from what is worthless! Revive me with your word!
  • Eccl 1:2 : 2 Introduction: Utter Futility“Futile! Futile!” laments the Teacher,“Absolutely futile! Everything is futile!”
  • Eccl 5:13-14 : 13 Materialism Thwarts Enjoyment of Life Here is a misfortune on earth that I have seen: Wealth hoarded by its owner to his own misery. 14 Then that wealth was lost through bad luck; although he fathered a son, he has nothing left to give him.
  • Eccl 12:8 : 8 Concluding Refrain: Qoheleth Restates His Thesis“Absolutely futile!” laments the Teacher,“All of these things are futile!”
  • Isa 55:2 : 2 Why pay money for something that will not nourish you? Why spend your hard-earned money on something that will not satisfy? Listen carefully to me and eat what is nourishing! Enjoy fine food!
  • Jer 22:17 : 17 But you are always thinking and looking for ways to increase your wealth by dishonest means. Your eyes and your heart are set on killing some innocent person and committing fraud and oppression.
  • Matt 6:19 : 19 Lasting Treasure“Do not accumulate for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and devouring insect destroy and where thieves break in and steal.
  • 1 Cor 7:29-31 : 29 And I say this, brothers and sisters: The time is short. So then those who have wives should be as those who have none, 30 those with tears like those not weeping, those who rejoice like those not rejoicing, those who buy like those without possessions, 31 those who use the world as though they were not using it to the full. For the present shape of this world is passing away.

Similar Verses (AI)

These verses are found using AI-powered semantic similarity based on meaning and context. Results may occasionally include unexpected connections.

  • Prov 23:3-4
    2 verses
    83%

    3Do not crave that ruler’s delicacies, for that food is deceptive.

    4Do not wear yourself out to become rich; be wise enough to restrain yourself.

  • Prov 28:22
    80%

    22The stingy person hastens after riches and does not know that poverty will overtake him.

  • Prov 23:6
    76%

    6Do not eat the food of a stingy person, do not crave his delicacies;

  • Jer 17:11
    76%

    11The person who gathers wealth by unjust means is like the partridge that broods over eggs but does not hatch them. Before his life is half over he will lose his ill-gotten gains. At the end of his life it will be clear he was a fool.”

  • Ps 62:10
    75%

    10Do not trust in what you can gain by oppression! Do not put false confidence in what you can gain by robbery! If wealth increases, do not become attached to it!

  • Prov 27:23-24
    2 verses
    73%

    23Pay careful attention to the condition of your flocks, set your mind on your herds,

    24for riches do not last forever, nor does a crown last from generation to generation.

  • Job 28:7
    73%

    7a hidden path no bird of prey knows– no falcon’s eye has spotted it.

  • Eccl 5:10-11
    2 verses
    73%

    10Covetousness The one who loves money will never be satisfied with money, he who loves wealth will never be satisfied with his income. This also is futile.

    11When someone’s prosperity increases, those who consume it also increase; so what does its owner gain, except that he gets to see it with his eyes?

  • Prov 13:7
    73%

    7There is one who pretends to be rich and yet has nothing; another pretends to be poor and yet possesses great wealth.

  • Hab 2:9
    72%

    9The one who builds his house by unjust gain is as good as dead. He does this so he can build his nest way up high and escape the clutches of disaster.

  • Job 36:19
    72%

    19Would your wealth sustain you, so that you would not be in distress, even all your mighty efforts?

  • 1 Tim 6:9
    72%

    9Those who long to be rich, however, stumble into temptation and a trap and many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction.

  • Prov 28:20
    72%

    20A faithful person will have an abundance of blessings, but the one who hastens to gain riches will not go unpunished.

  • Prov 11:28
    71%

    28The one who trusts in his riches will fall, but the righteous will flourish like a green leaf.

  • Jer 5:27
    71%

    27Like a cage filled with the birds that have been caught, their houses are filled with the gains of their fraud and deceit. That is how they have gotten so rich and powerful.

  • Eccl 5:13-14
    2 verses
    71%

    13Materialism Thwarts Enjoyment of Life Here is a misfortune on earth that I have seen: Wealth hoarded by its owner to his own misery.

    14Then that wealth was lost through bad luck; although he fathered a son, he has nothing left to give him.

  • Ps 49:6
    71%

    6They trust in their wealth and boast in their great riches.

  • Ps 39:6
    71%

    6Surely people go through life as mere ghosts. Surely they accumulate worthless wealth without knowing who will eventually haul it away.”

  • Luke 12:21
    71%

    21So it is with the one who stores up riches for himself, but is not rich toward God.”

  • Eccl 10:20
    71%

    20Do not curse a king even in your thoughts, and do not curse the rich while in your bedroom; for a bird might report what you are thinking, or some winged creature might repeat your words.

  • 1 Tim 6:17
    70%

    17Command those who are rich in this world’s goods not to be haughty or to set their hope on riches, which are uncertain, but on God who richly provides us with all things for our enjoyment.

  • Job 9:26
    70%

    26They glide by like reed boats, like an eagle that swoops down on its prey.

  • Prov 1:17
    70%

    17Surely it is futile to spread a net in plain sight of any bird,

  • Job 27:19
    70%

    19He goes to bed wealthy, but will do so no more. When he opens his eyes, it is all gone.

  • Matt 6:19
    70%

    19Lasting Treasure“Do not accumulate for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and devouring insect destroy and where thieves break in and steal.

  • Eccl 6:9
    70%

    9It is better to be content with what the eyes can see than for one’s heart always to crave more. This continual longing is futile– like chasing the wind.

  • Prov 5:10
    70%

    10lest strangers devour your strength, and your labor benefit another man’s house.

  • Prov 13:11
    70%

    11Wealth gained quickly will dwindle away, but the one who gathers it little by little will become rich.

  • Job 39:26-27
    2 verses
    70%

    26“Is it by your understanding that the hawk soars, and spreads its wings toward the south?

    27Is it at your command that the eagle soars, and builds its nest on high?

  • Ps 52:7
    70%

    7“Look, here is the man who would not make God his protector! He trusted in his great wealth and was confident about his plans to destroy others.”

  • Eccl 6:2
    70%

    2God gives a man riches, property, and wealth so that he lacks nothing that his heart desires, yet God does not enable him to enjoy the fruit of his labor– instead, someone else enjoys it! This is fruitless and a grave misfortune.

  • Prov 22:16
    69%

    16The one who oppresses the poor to increase his own gain and the one who gives to the rich– both end up only in poverty.

  • Jas 5:2
    69%

    2Your riches have rotted and your clothing has become moth-eaten.

  • Job 15:29
    69%

    29He will not grow rich, and his wealth will not endure, nor will his possessions spread over the land.

  • Luke 12:33
    69%

    33Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide yourselves purses that do not wear out– a treasure in heaven that never decreases, where no thief approaches and no moth destroys.

  • Jas 1:11
    69%

    11For the sun rises with its heat and dries up the meadow; the petal of the flower falls off and its beauty is lost forever. So also the rich person in the midst of his pursuits will wither away.

  • Obad 1:4
    69%

    4Even if you were to soar high like an eagle, even if you were to make your nest among the stars, I can bring you down even from there!” says the LORD.

  • Job 15:12
    69%

    12Why has your heart carried you away, and why do your eyes flash,

  • Prov 18:11
    68%

    11The wealth of a rich person is like a strong city, and it is like a high wall in his imagination.

  • Job 35:5
    68%

    5Gaze at the heavens and see; consider the clouds, which are higher than you!

  • Ezek 28:5
    68%

    5By your great skill in trade you have increased your wealth, and your heart is proud because of your wealth.

  • Job 39:13
    68%

    13“The wings of the ostrich flap with joy, but are they the pinions and plumage of a stork?

  • Prov 28:27
    68%

    27The one who gives to the poor will not lack, but whoever shuts his eyes to them will receive many curses.

  • Jer 9:23
    68%

    23The LORD says,“Wise people should not boast that they are wise. Powerful people should not boast that they are powerful. Rich people should not boast that they are rich.

  • Prov 11:4
    68%

    4Wealth does not profit in the day of wrath, but righteousness delivers from death.