23:8

The parallel lines in this verse give two more reasons for not eating with a stingy person. These reasons have to do with the unfortunate results that such an experience would have on the guest.

8a You will vomit up what little you have eaten

8b and waste your pleasant words.

23:8a

You will vomit up what little you have eaten: This verse does not indicate when the guest will vomit. It may be during the meal or after the guest has left.

The verse also does not indicate what will cause the guest to vomit. It may be his reaction to the disgusting insincerity of his stingy host. It may also have some connection to the food. It is recommended that you not make the cause explicit.

English versions all translate this clause in a way that indicates literal vomiting. However, some scholars think that the “vomiting” may be a metaphor or hyperbole. In that case, it would indicate that the guest feels nauseated or disgusted enough to vomit. Some ways to translate this clause are:

• Keep the idea of literal vomiting. For example:

You will vomit the little bit you have eaten (God’s Word)
-or-
Each bite will come back up (Contemporary English Version)

• Focus on the nausea or disgust that the guest feels. For example:

You will feel like you want to vomit the small amount of food that you swallow
-or-
You be completely nauseated by the few pieces/bites of food that you have eaten

what little: In Hebrew, this phrase is literally “your morsel.” This phrase could have a general meaning, such as “whatever you have eaten” (New Jerusalem Bible). But probably it refers here to a small amount of food.

23:8b

and waste your pleasant words: This phrase is an additional reason for not eating with a stingy person. It is not a result of vomiting. It indicates that the kind words that the guest has spoken to thank his host or compliment him for the meal will accomplish nothing useful.

and all your kind words will be wasted (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
and waste your pleasant words (English Standard Version)

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