Buy the truth and do not sell it
Proverbs 23:23 - Wisdom, instruction, insight — all of these virtues depend on valuing truth above all else.
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“Buy the truth and do not sell it— wisdom, instruction and insight as well.”
Proverbs 23:23 NIV
The 23rd chapter of Proverbs contains numbers 7 through 19 of the “30 Sayings of the Wise”. Today’s verse is part of Saying 17, which in full appears like this:
“Listen to your father, who gave you life, and do not despise your mother when she is old. Buy the truth and do not sell it— wisdom, instruction and insight as well. The father of a righteous child has great joy; a man who fathers a wise son rejoices in him. May your father and mother rejoice; may she who gave you birth be joyful!”
There‘a pretty good wisdom being passed along in this saying, basically saying that you should honor your mother and father, and make them happy. In the midst of this we find today’s verse, which almost seems out of place in all of this familial bliss.
“Buying” truth means holding it at great cost to oneself, that a person should go all out to possess truth. Once you’ve acquired truth, you are to hold onto it. Charles H. Spurgeon said this about the proverb:
Buy the truth; that is, be willing at all risks to hold to the truth. Buy it as the martyrs did when they gave their bodies to be burned for it. Buy it as many have done when they have gone to prison for it.” 1
Truth should be valued as a foundational principle in our lives. The Bible associates truth with God’s Word and His commandments — God never speaks falsely. When I was growing up and being taught the Ten Commandments, I distinctly remember one of those being “Thou shalt not lie”… which upon research 60 years later is not one of those laws engraved on tablets of stone.
The commandment is actually “Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor”, which is different — it’s saying that one should never maliciously lie in court or give false testimony against another person. This has been more broadly interpreted in Roman Catholicism and the Eastern Orthodox churches to never tell a lie. I was brought up in the Catholic church, which explains why I learned the more strict version of the commandment.
However the commandment is interpreted, Scripture does offer numerous admonitions to be truthful to one another. In biblical days, deceit and falsehood often overshadowed truth, hence the many warnings about false prophets. Today truth is very hard to find, particularly in media. Getting back to the verse, buying truth is suggesting that we should value it so much that we seek and uphold God’s unchanging and eternal truth.
Once you have purchased truth, you are advised “do not sell it”. Truth is priceless, and selling the truth is abandoning or compromising it for personal gain. In the cultural context of ancient Israel where covenants and promises were highly valued, selling truth would be breaking a sacred covenant. Believers are being told in this proverb to hang onto their convictions and never trade them for worldly benefit.
The proverb then advises the reader to treat three other virtues — “wisdom, instruction, and insight” with the same care and respect as the truth.
The Bible sees wisdom as much more than just knowledge — it is applying knowledge in a manner that respects God. The Book of Proverbs is all about wisdom, which is seen as a gift from God leading to righteous living and the ability to make decisions that respect God’s precepts.
Image via Together We Served.
What about instruction? It is not only being taught by someone, but having the discipline necessary to grow in both understanding and character. The ancient Hebrew word used here is מוּסָר (mûsār), which is more correctly translated as “discipline, chastising, correction” in much the same way that a parent, teacher, or military drill instructor would shape the thoughts and actions of a child, student, or subordinate. Instruction — which we as Christians get through God’s Word — is necessary for discerning truth and aligning our lives with His will.
Finally, we get to insight. Insight and perception are key to understanding, going beyond just knowing something. Have you ever had an instructor or mentor tell you that you have an intuitive understanding of something, an understanding that goes well beyond memorization of facts?
This deeper, intuitive understanding and the pursuit of it is encouraged in the Bible as it leads to a more intimate relationship with God and His purposes. There’s a perfect example of this in the New Testament: In Ephesians 1:17-18, Paul prays:
“that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of Him. I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you will know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints,”
Wisdom, instruction, insight — all of these virtues depend on valuing truth above all else.
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Heaven On Wheels Daily Prayer:
Lord, grant me a heart that treasures Your truth above all else — that I would not barter it for comfort, approval, or gain. Give me wisdom to discern, instruction to guide, and insight to walk in Your ways. Keep me steadfast in the truth of Christ, and may my life reflect Your wisdom and grace. AMEN.
Scripture quotations taken from THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica US, Inc.®. Used by permission.
BibleHub was accessed on October 10, 2025 for commentary on Proverbs 23:23
“Proverbs 23 (NIV) - Buy the truth and do.” Blue Letter Bible. 10 Oct, 2025.
Spurgeon, Charles Haddon “The New Park Street Pulpit” Volumes 1-6 and “The Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit” Volumes 7-63 (Pasadena, Texas: Pilgrim Publications, 1990)