Through desire a man, having separated himself, seeketh and intermeddleth with all wisdom. THROUGH DESIRE (THROUGH SELF-WILLED AND SELF-SEEKING DESIRE OF WISDOM) A MAN, HAVING SEPARATED HIMSELF (FROM OTHER MEN), SEEKETH (AND) INTERMEDDLETH WITH ALL WISDOM - Hebrew, tuwshiyaah (H8454): literally,... [ Continue Reading ]
A fool hath no delight in understanding, but that his heart may discover itself. A FOOL HATH NO DELIGHT IN UNDERSTANDING (FOR ITS OWN SAKE), BUT THAT HIS HEART MAY DISCOVER ITSELF. Display of self is his aim.... [ Continue Reading ]
When the wicked cometh, then cometh also contempt, and with ignominy reproach. WHEN THE WICKED COMETH, THEN COMETH (ALSO) CONTEMPT. When the wicked cometh among wise men, he cometh not to learn but to throw contempt on all persons and all things, especially on the godly. AND WITH IGNOMINY REPR... [ Continue Reading ]
The words of a man's mouth are as deep waters, and the wellspring of wisdom as a flowing brook. THE WORDS OF A MAN'S MOUTH (ARE AS) DEEP WATERS - i:e., a wise man's words, as the parallel clause shows. The Hebrew is 'iysh (H376), a good man; not 'aadaam (H120), the general term for man. His word... [ Continue Reading ]
It is not good to accept the person of the wicked, to overthrow the righteous in judgment. IT IS NOT GOOD TO ACCEPT THE PERSON OF THE WICKED-TO SHOW PARTIALITY TO THEM, SO AS-TO OVERTHROW THE RIGHTEOUS IN JUDGMENT.... [ Continue Reading ]
A fool's lips enter into contention, and his mouth calleth for strokes. A FOOL'S LIPS ENTER INTO CONTENTION, AND HIS MOUTH CALLETH FOR STROKES - by his contentiousness of mouth he brings "strokes" on himself.... [ Continue Reading ]
A fool's mouth is his destruction, and his lips are the snare of his soul. A FOOL'S ... LIPS (ARE) THE SNARE OF HIS SOUL. He is ruined by his own recklessness and wantonness of speech.... [ Continue Reading ]
The words of a talebearer are as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly. THE WORDS OF A TALEBEARER ARE AS WOUNDS - `piercing' like a 'sword,' (Proverbs 12:18; cf. margin). [The participle in the Hebrew stands for a noun, from laaham (H3859), by metathesis for haalam, to w... [ Continue Reading ]
He also that is slothful in his work is brother to him that is a great waster. HE ALSO THAT IS SLOTHFUL (LITERALLY, REMISS) IN HIS WORK IS BROTHER TO HIM THAT IS A GREAT WASTER - literally, 'him HE ALSO THAT IS SLOTHFUL (LITERALLY, REMISS) IN HIS WORK IS BROTHER TO HIM THAT IS A GREAT WASTER - l... [ Continue Reading ]
The name of the LORD is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe. THE NAME OF THE LORD (I:E., THE LORD HIMSELF IN HIS MANIFESTED GOODNESS AND POWER) (IS) A STRONG TOWER (A TOWER OF STRENGTH): THE RIGHTEOUS RUNNETH INTO IT (WHEN CALAMITY, THREATENS), AND IS SAFE - literally, 'an... [ Continue Reading ]
The rich man's wealth is his strong city, and as an high wall in his own conceit. THE RICH MAN'S WEALTH (IS) HIS STRONG CITY ( ), AND AS AN HIGH WALL IN HIS OWN CONCEIT - in contrast to the righteous man's "strong tower," "the name of the Lord," in which he is "set on high" in safety (). It is i... [ Continue Reading ]
Before destruction the heart of man is haughty, and before honour is humility. BEFORE DESTRUCTION THE HEART OF MAN IS HAUGHTY ( ) AND BEFORE HONOUR IS HUMILITY (). Humility is the forerunner of honour. High climbers are apt to fall, and their fall is the heavier the higher they have climbed.... [ Continue Reading ]
He that answereth a matter before he heareth it, it is folly and shame unto him. HE THAT ANSWERETH A MATTER BEFORE HE HEARETH (IT) - i:e., before he understandeth what the other hath said. So 'hear' means understand, . IT (IS) FOLLY AND SHAME UNTO HIM - ( Sir 11:8 , 'Answer not before thou hast h... [ Continue Reading ]
The spirit of a man will sustain his infirmity; but a wounded spirit who can bear? THE SPIRIT OF A MAN WILL SUSTAIN HIS INFIRMITY (OF BODY): BUT A WOUNDED SPIRIT WHO CAN BEAR? It is the office of the spirit, or mind, to govern the body, but not that of the body to govern the mind: therefore, whe... [ Continue Reading ]
The heart of the prudent getteth knowledge; and the ear of the wise seeketh knowledge. THE HEART (THE UNDERSTANDING COMBINED WITH THE WILL) OF THE PRUDENT GETTETH KNOWLEDGE; AND THE EAR OF THE WISE SEEKETH KNOWLEDGE. The docile ear follows the docile heart. The ear is the sense which betokens di... [ Continue Reading ]
A man's gift maketh room for him, and bringeth him before great men. A MAN'S GIFT MAKETH ROOM FOR HIM - maketh a clear and wide way for him into the presence of those to whom he desires access. "A man's" (Hebrew, adam) - the gift of a man, however humble and low. This is the way of the world, no... [ Continue Reading ]
He that is first in his own cause seemeth just; but his neighbour cometh and searcheth him. (HE THAT IS) FIRST IN HIS OWN CAUSE (SEEMETH) JUST. The judge is pre-engaged by the gifts or else the earnestness of the first speaker. BUT HIS NEIGHBOUR (THE OTHER PARTY IN THE SUIT) COMETH AND SEARCHE... [ Continue Reading ]
The lot causeth contentions to cease, and parteth between the mighty. THE LOT CAUSETH CONTENTIONS TO CEASE, AND PARTETH BETWEEN THE MIGHTY. Many quarrel in lawsuits, not so much from the love of having, as from unwillingness of either to yield to the other. The lot was resorted to on solemn occa... [ Continue Reading ]
A brother offended is harder to be won than a strong city: and their contentions are like the bars of a castle. A BROTHER OFFENDED, [ nipshaa` (H6586 ) - OFFENDED BY THE DEFECTION OR TRANSGRESSION OF HIS BROTHER; OR ELSE, HAVING BEEN DESERTED BY HIS BROTHER] (IS HARDER TO BE WON THAN) A STRONG CI... [ Continue Reading ]
A man's belly shall be satisfied with the fruit of his mouth; and with the increase of his lips shall he be filled. A MAN'S BELLY SHALL BE SATISFIED WITH THE FRUIT OF HIS MOUTH. Each one gets the fruit, whether good or bad, of his words, according as these are good or bad. Other fruits it is opt... [ Continue Reading ]
Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof. DEATH AND LIFE (ARE) IN THE POWER OF THE TONGUE. "Death and life," both of body and soul; both of the speakers and the hearers. AND THEY THAT LOVE IT SHALL EAT THE FRUIT THEREOF. They who delight... [ Continue Reading ]
Whoso findeth a wife findeth a good thing, and obtaineth favour of the LORD. (WHOSO) FINDETH A WIFE (I:E., ONE TRULY REALIZING WHAT A WIFE OUGHT, TO BE) FINDETH A GOOD (THING). It was a "good" thing even in Paradise (), when man was in innocence: much more it is so now that man is prone to lust,... [ Continue Reading ]
The poor useth intreaties; but the rich answereth roughly. THE POOR USETH ENTREATIES; BUT THE RICH ANSWERETH ROUGHLY. Poverty generates a feeling of helplessness and humility: wealth generates self-sufficiency; so that the rich, thinking they need not the aid of the poor, give a rough answer to... [ Continue Reading ]
A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother. A MAN (THAT HATH) FRIENDS (ASSOCIATES) MUST SHOW HIMSELF FRIENDLY (SOCIAL): AND THERE IS A FRIEND, (A LOVING FRIEND) (THAT) STICKETH CLOSER THAN A BROTHER. Friendships must be cherished... [ Continue Reading ]