Verses often taken out of context or misused: Proverbs 23:7

Proverbs 23:7 [7] for he is like one who is inwardly calculating. “Eat and drink!” he says to you, but his heart is not with you. (ESV)

This is an interesting one as it is a verse that the “word of faith” movement uses to teach their false teachings that a Christian can speak things into existence. They have to use a particular translation to validate what they want to get across and chop up the complete thought from the immediate context. It is the KJV:

Proverbs 23:7 [7] For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he: Eat and drink, saith he to thee; but his heart is not with thee. (KJV)

They claim the first part “For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he”.

Here is the KJV immediate context:

Proverbs 23:6–7 [6] Eat thou not the bread of him that hath an evil eye, neither desire thou his dainty meats: [7] For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he: Eat and drink, saith he to thee; but his heart is not with thee. (KJV)

Here is the ESV immediate context:

Proverbs 23:6–7 [6] Do not eat the bread of a man who is stingy; do not desire his delicacies, [7] for he is like one who is inwardly calculating. “Eat and drink!” he says to you, but his heart is not with you. (ESV)

Proverbs 23 advises on how to react in certain situations. This passage along with verse 6 is giving advice about when being hosted by another (which was a common cultural thing to do): That even though the host may invite you to enjoy his hospitality if he is begrudging in his heart, he is not really hospitable, and you would do well to be wary.