A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger. A SOFT ANSWER - like oil soothing the pain of a wound (; ). BUT GRIEVOUS WORDS STIR UP ANGER - lit, 'make it to ascend,' like a flame fanned by bellows; the indication of anger rises up to the countenance.... [ Continue Reading ]
The tongue of the wise useth knowledge aright: but the mouth of fools poureth out foolishness. THE TONGUE OF THE WISE USETH KNOWLEDGE ARIGHT - in the seasonable time, and proper place, and with due regard to the character of the hearers; all being adjusted to the balance of the sanctuary. BUT... [ Continue Reading ]
The eyes of the LORD are in every place, beholding the evil and the good. THE EYES OF THE LORD ARE IN EVERY PLACE BEHOLDING THE EVIL AND THE GOOD. He mentions "the evil" first, because they avowedly, or else practically, deny God's providence ().... [ Continue Reading ]
A wholesome tongue is a tree of life: but perverseness therein is a breach in the spirit. A WHOLESOME TONGUE - sound in itself and healthful to others, by its knowledge, prudence, sincerity: speech framed according to the laws of the heavenly pharmacopoeia, with the various Scripture ingredients... [ Continue Reading ]
A fool despiseth his father's instruction: but he that regardeth reproof is prudent. A FOOL DESPISETH HIS FATHER'S INSTRUCTION - whether through carelessness, sloth, or love of pleasure or gain. A father is instanced as representative of monitors of every kind, on account of his special authorit... [ Continue Reading ]
In the house of the righteous is much treasure: but in the revenues of the wicked is trouble. IN THE HOUSE OF THE RIGHTEOUS (IS) MUCH TREASURE - (Hebrew, chosen,) literally, strength, wealth: being regarded by men as their strength. Here it is wealth secured permanently to the righteous, in cont... [ Continue Reading ]
The lips of the wise disperse knowledge: but the heart of the foolish doeth not so. THE LIPS OF THE WISE DISPERSE KNOWLEDGE - like good seed, wheresoever they can, assiduously and watchfully availing themselves of every opportunity to lead others to know the Lord. BUT THE HEART OF THE FOOLISH ... [ Continue Reading ]
The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the LORD: but the prayer of the upright is his delight. THE SACRIFICE OF THE WICKED IS AN ABOMINATION TO THE LORD: BUT THE PRAYER OF THE UPRIGHT IS HIS DELIGHT. However costly and solemn be the outward show of the wicked man's "sacrifice," it not... [ Continue Reading ]
The way of the wicked is an abomination unto the LORD: but he loveth him that followeth after righteousness. THE WAY OF THE WICKED IS AN ABOMINATION UNTO THE LORD - not only his "sacrifice," or worship toward God (), is an abomination to the Lord, but his "way," or conduct in relation to his fel... [ Continue Reading ]
Correction is grievous unto him that forsaketh the way: and he that hateth reproof shall die. CORRECTION IS GRIEVOUS UNTO HIM THAT FORSAKETH THE WAY - as it was to Ahab (; ; ); and to Jehoiakim (). But better is "correction," though "grievous," than 'death' eternal, which is the end of him who,... [ Continue Reading ]
Hell and destruction are before the LORD: how much more then the hearts of the children of men? HELL AND DESTRUCTION (HEBREW, SHEOL AND ABADDON) (ARE) BEFORE THE LORD. "Destruction" - i:e., the place of destruction or damnation; Gehenna, as distinguished from Sheol or Hades the unseen world of d... [ Continue Reading ]
A scorner loveth not one that reproveth him: neither will he go unto the wise. A SCORNER LOVETH NOT ONE THAT REPROVETH HIM NEITHER WILL HE GO UNTO THE WISE - lest they should reprove him. He is wise who waits not for the wise to come to him, but goes to them. To shun faithful reprovers is to pre... [ Continue Reading ]
A merry heart maketh a cheerful countenance: but by sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken. A MERRY HEART MAKETH A CHEERFUL COUNTENANCE. There is a sympathy between the body and the mind, so that a happy mind is reflected in the happy expression of countenance. BUT BY SORROW OF THE HEART THE... [ Continue Reading ]
The heart of him that hath understanding seeketh knowledge: but the mouth of fools feedeth on foolishness. THE HEART OF HIM THAT HATH UNDERSTANDING SEEKETH KNOWLEDGE. "The heart," because such a one seeks it not perfunctorily and casually, but with all the heart. BUT THE MOUTH OF FOOLS FEEDETH... [ Continue Reading ]
All the days of the afflicted are evil: but he that is of a merry heart hath a continual feast. ALL THE DAYS OF THE AFFLICTED ARE EVIL. Of those whose affliction causes them to lose a hopeful "heart," as the opposite clause requires, cf. . BUT HE THAT IS OF A MERRY HEART (HATH) A CONTINUAL FEA... [ Continue Reading ]
Better is little with the fear of the LORD than great treasure and trouble therewith. BETTER (IS) LITTLE WITH FEAR OF THE LORD, THAN GREAT TREASURE, AND TROUBLE THEREWITH - the usual accompaniment of "great treasure" (cf. ; ). Where the "fear of the Lord" is, there is quiet; where it is not, the... [ Continue Reading ]
Better is a dinner of herbs where love is, than a stalled ox and hatred therewith. BETTER (IS) A DINNER (HEBREW, 'ªruchat (H737 ) - A TRAVELER'S DINNER; FOOD FOR A JOURNEY) OF HERBS WHERE LOVE IS, THAN A STALLED OX AND HATRED THEREWITH. After the "fear of the Lord," in Proverbs 15:16, follows "l... [ Continue Reading ]
A wrathful man stirreth up strife: but he that is slow to anger appeaseth strife. A WRATHFUL MAN STIRRETH UP STRIFE - even where there was perfect harmony. He gives occasion to, and takes up hastily any occasion given for strife. "Stirreth up" (Hebrew, geerah) - literally, mixes, implying the re... [ Continue Reading ]
The way of the slothful man is as an hedge of thorns: but the way of the righteous is made plain. THE WAY OF THE SLOTHFUL (MAN IS) AS AN HEDGE OF THORNS. It seems to him as if a hedge of thorns was in his way, if he has any work to do; especially so when he is urged to enter upon the way of the... [ Continue Reading ]
A wise son maketh a glad father: but a foolish man despiseth his mother. A WISE SON MAKETH A GLAD FATHER (SINCE HE HONOURS HIS FATHER): BUT A FOOLISH MAN DESPISETH HIS MOTHER - and so makes her sad (the opposite of 'maketh glad'): this is supplied in Proverbs 10:1 - "A wise son maketh a glad fath... [ Continue Reading ]
Folly is joy to him that is destitute of wisdom: but a man of understanding walketh uprightly. FOLLY (IS) JOY TO (HIM THAT IS) DESTITUTE OF WISDOM - (.) "Folly," i:e., sin. BUT A MAN OF UNDERSTANDING WALKETH UPRIGHTLY - conformably to the will of God, the true standard of right. The wicked bei... [ Continue Reading ]
Without counsel purposes are disappointed: but in the multitude of counsellors they are established. WITHOUT COUNSEL (HEBREW, SOD-LITERALLY, SECRET COUNSEL) PURPOSES ARE DISAPPOINTED: BUT IN THE MULTITUDE OF (GOOD) COUNSELORS THEY ARE (EACH) ESTABLISHED. This is the force of the plural noun with... [ Continue Reading ]
A man hath joy by the answer of his mouth: and a word spoken in due season, how good is it! A MAN HATH JOY BY THE ANSWER OF HIS MOUTH - by every wise and seasonable speech that he utters in conversation, as the parallel clause requires. AND A WORD (SPOKEN) IN DUE SEASON, HOW GOOD (IS IT)! It i... [ Continue Reading ]
The way of life is above to the wise, that he may depart from hell beneath. THE WAY OF LIFE (IS) ABOVE TO THE WISE, THAT HE MAY DEPART FROM HELL BENEATH. The way of the wise tends upwards toward the heavenly life of the angels (cf. ; ). His aspirations and desires are heavenwards. 'In proportion... [ Continue Reading ]
The LORD will destroy the house of the proud: but he will establish the border of the widow. THE LORD WILL DESTROY THE HOUSE OF THE PROUD: BUT HE WILL ESTABLISH THE BORDER OF THE WIDOW - whom "the proud" had driven from the border of her possession. The moving of the landmark is specially forbidd... [ Continue Reading ]
The thoughts of the wicked are an abomination to the LORD: but the words of the pure are pleasant words. THE THOUGHTS OF THE WICKED ARE AN ABOMINATION TO THE LORD: BUT (THE WORDS) OF THE PURE (ARE) PLEASANT WORDS - Hebrew, 'words of pleasantness.' Each clause is to be supplied from the other. "The... [ Continue Reading ]
He that is greedy of gain troubleth his own house; but he that hateth gifts shall live. HE THAT IS GREEDY OF GAIN TROUBLETH HIS OWN HOUSE (BY TAKING GIFTS AS A JUDGE, , AND THEREFORE SHALL DIE): BUT HE THAT HATETH GIFTS SHALL LIVE - and in the meantime troubleth not his house-namely, by introduci... [ Continue Reading ]
The heart of the righteous studieth to answer: but the mouth of the wicked poureth out evil things. THE HEART OF THE RIGHTEOUS STUDIETH TO ANSWER (SPEAKETH NOTHING WITHOUT DUE PREMEDITATION: DOTH NOT RASHLY 'POUR OUT' WHATEVER COMES UPPERMOST): BUT THE MOUTH OF THE WICKED POURETH OUT EVIL THINGS... [ Continue Reading ]
The LORD is far from the wicked: but he heareth the prayer of the righteous. THE LORD IS FAR FROM THE WICKED (I:E., FAR FROM 'HEARING THEIR PRAYER'): BUT HE HEARETH THE PRAYER OF THE THE LORD IS FAR FROM THE WICKED (I:E., FAR FROM 'HEARING THEIR PRAYER'): BUT HE HEARETH THE PRAYER OF THE RIGHTEO... [ Continue Reading ]
The light of the eyes rejoiceth the heart: and a good report maketh the bones fat. THE LIGHT OF THE EYES (THE EYES OF A GREAT MAN REGARDING ONE WITH FAVOUR, ; ESPECIALLY THE "LIGHT OF GOD'S COUNTENANCE" LIFTED UP UPON ONE, ; ) REJOICETH THE HEART: (AND) A GOOD REPORT MAKETH THE BONES FAT - as it... [ Continue Reading ]
The ear that heareth the reproof of life abideth among the wise. THE EAR THAT HEARETH THE REPROOF OF LIFE (THE REPROOF THAT LEADS TO LIFE IN THE HIGHEST SENSE) ABIDETH AMONG THE WISE - literally, 'passeth the night' [ taaliyn (H3885)] - i:e., abides continually: not even at night doth such a one... [ Continue Reading ]
He that refuseth instruction despiseth his own soul: but he that heareth reproof getteth understanding. HE THAT REFUSETH INSTRUCTION (LITERALLY, DISCIPLINE) DESPISETH HIS OWN SOUL - (.) It is himself that he slights while he slights disciplinary instruction. UNDERSTANDING - literally, heart.... [ Continue Reading ]
The fear of the LORD is the instruction of wisdom; and before honour is humility. THE FEAR OF THE LORD (IS) THE INSTRUCTION (HEBREW, THE DISCIPLINE) OF WISDOM - `the discipline' whereby "wisdom" is acquired (). "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom" (cf. ). Here the same sentiment occ... [ Continue Reading ]