Charles Ellicott Commentary Proverbs 21:17

"He that loveth pleasure shall be a poor man: He that loveth wine and oil shall not be rich." — Proverbs 21:17 (ASV)

Wine and oil.— The accompaniments of a feast. The oil, or precious ointments, were poured over the head . It was the excessive love and gratitude of the two Marys (Luke 7:38; John 12:3) which prompted them to anoint the Lord’s feet. These perfumes were sometimes of great value; the pound of ointment of spikenard (John 12:3) was worth more than three hundred pence (£10 12s. 6d.), the wages of a day laborer (Matthew 20:2) for nearly a year.