Proverbs 23:5

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 

biblegateway Pro 23:5

Cast but a glance at riches, and they are gone, for they will surely sprout wings and fly off to the sky like an eagle.

biblegateway Pro 23:5

When you set your eyes on it, it is gone. For wealth certainly makes itself wings Like an eagle that flies toward the heavens.

biblegateway Pro 23:5

For riches can disappear as though they had the wings of a bird!

biblegateway Pro 23:5

Riches disappear in the blink of an eye; wealth sprouts wings and flies off into the wild blue yonder.

SABDAweb Pro 23:5

Are your eyes lifted up to it? it is gone: for wealth takes to itself wings, like an eagle in flight up to heaven.

bibleoremus Pro 23:5

When your eyes light upon it, it is gone; for suddenly it takes wings to itself, flying like an eagle toward heaven.

biblegateway Pro 23:5

Will you set your eyes on that which is not? For riches certainly make themselves wings; They fly away like an eagle toward heaven.

biblegateway Pro 23:5

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 

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.

¹ 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.