Proverbs 23:23

23:23 Acquire ¹  truth and do not sell it –

wisdom, and discipline, and understanding.

Isaiah 55:1

The Lord Gives an Invitation

55:1 “Hey, ²  all who are thirsty, come to the water!

You who have no money, come!

Buy and eat!

Come! Buy wine and milk

without money and without cost! ³ 

Matthew 13:44

Parables on the Kingdom of Heaven

13:44 “The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure, hidden in a field, that a person found and hid. Then because of joy he went and sold all that he had and bought that field.

Matthew 25:9

25:9 ‘No,’ they replied. ⁴  ‘There won’t be enough for you and for us. Go instead to those who sell oil and buy some for yourselves.’

[23:23]  ¹ tn Heb “buy” (so KJV, NASB, NIV, NLT); CEV “Invest in truth.”

[55:1]  ² tn The Hebrew term הוֹי (hoy, “woe, ah”) was used in funeral laments and is often prefixed to judgment oracles for rhetorical effect. But here it appears to be a simple interjection, designed to grab the audience’s attention. Perhaps there is a note of sorrow or pity. See BDB 223 s.v.

[55:1]  ³ sn The statement is an oxymoron. Its ironic quality adds to its rhetorical impact. The statement reminds one of the norm (one must normally buy commodities) as it expresses the astounding offer. One might paraphrase the statement: “Come and take freely what you normally have to pay for.”

[25:9]  ⁴ tn Grk “The wise answered, saying, ‘No.’”