PROVERBS CHAPTER 1 The use of the proverbs, PROVERBS 1:1 . An exhortation to fear God, and believe his word, PROVERBS 1:7 . The glory of those children that obey the instruction of their parents, PROVERBS 1:8,9. A caution against yielding to enticing sinners, PROVERBS 1:10 . The contrivance, PROVERB... [ Continue Reading ]
TO KNOW; written to help men to know thoroughly and practically. WISDOM; both human wisdom, to conduct our affairs in this life, which divers of the following proverbs do; and especially Divine wisdom, which Solomon chiefly designed; or to make men wise to know their duty, and to save their souls. I... [ Continue Reading ]
TO RECEIVE THE INSTRUCTION; willingly to receive the counsels of others, which is a good step to wisdom, and a part of it. OF WISDOM; such as is wise, and tends to make men wise and prudent. This is opposed to _the instruction of fools_ and _folly_, of which PROVERBS 16:22, PROVERBS 19:27. For folly... [ Continue Reading ]
SUBTILTY; or rather, PRUDENCE, as this word is used, PROVERBS 3:21, PROVERBS 5:2 8:5,12, which elsewhere is taken in an evil sense for _craft_ or _subtilty_. THE SIMPLE; such as want wisdom, and are easily deceived by others, and therefore most need this blessing. THE YOUNG MAN, which wants both exp... [ Continue Reading ]
WILL HEAR; is not self-conceited, as fools are, but willing to learn from others; and therefore will attend to the following instructions. WILL INCREASE LEARNING; and thereby will gain this great benefit, to grow in knowledge and wisdom. This he adds to show that this book is useful and necessary, n... [ Continue Reading ]
THE INTERPRETATION, i.e. the interpretation of a proverb, by a figure called _hendiaduo_, or the meaning and use of the wise sayings of God, or of men; to know this practically, and for his direction and benefit; for practice is the great design of this book. Dark savings; such as are hard to be und... [ Continue Reading ]
THE FEAR OF THE LORD; reverence and obedience to God, or his worship and service, as this word is commonly used. THE BEGINNING; either the foundation, or the top, and perfection, or chief point, without which all other knowledge is vain and useless. FOOLS; wicked men, called _fools_ through this who... [ Continue Reading ]
MY SON; he speaks to his scholars with paternal authority and affection, to make them more attentive and obedient. Teachers among the Hebrews and others were commonly called FATHERS, and their scholars their sons. The instruction of thy father; his good and wholesome counsels, but not such as are co... [ Continue Reading ]
This will make thee amiable and honourable in the sight of God and of men; whereas the forsaking of those good counsels will make thee contemptible.... [ Continue Reading ]
SINNERS; eminently so called, as GENESIS 13:13 PSALMS 1:1, PSALMS 26:9; such as sell themselves to work all manner of wickedness; particularly thieves, and robbers, and murderers, as appears from the next verses, as also oppressors and cheaters, by comparing this with PROVERBS 1:19.... [ Continue Reading ]
COME WITH US; we are numerous, and strong, and sociable. LET US LAY WAIT FOR BLOOD; to shed blood. He expresseth not their words, which would rather affright than inveigle a young novice; but the true nature and consequence of the action, and what lies at the bottom of their specious pretences. LURK... [ Continue Reading ]
AS THE GRAVE; which speedily covers and consumes dead bodies. See PSALMS 55:15, PSALMS 124:3. We shall do our work quickly, easily, and without fear of discovery. INTO THE PIT; into some deep pit, into which a traveller falls unawares, and is utterly lost, and never discovered.... [ Continue Reading ]
As our danger is little, so our profit will be great.... [ Continue Reading ]
CAST IN THY LOT AMONG US, i.e. put in thy money into our stock. Or rather, THOU SHALT CAST THY LOT AMONGST US, i.e. thou shalt have a share with us, and that equally and by lot, although thou art but a novice, and we veterans. This agrees best with their design, which was to allure him by the promis... [ Continue Reading ]
WALK NOT THOU IN THE WAY WITH THEM; avoid their courses and their conversation, and company. REFRAIN THY FOOT FROM THEIR PATH; when thou hast any thought, or inclination, or temptation to follow their counsels or examples, suppress it, and restrain thyself as it were by force and violence, as the wo... [ Continue Reading ]
THEIR FEET RUN; they make haste, as it follows, without considering what they are doing. TO EVIL; to do evil to others, as was expressed PROVERBS 1:11,12, which also will bring evil upon themselves. TO SHED BLOOD; to shed innocent blood; which is an inhuman and dangerous practice.... [ Continue Reading ]
The design of these words is to set forth the folly of these men by the similitude of a bird, which yet is very variously applied and understood by divers interpreters. But I shall not confound the reader with the rehearsal of them. This clause, in vain, upon the understanding whereof the whole depe... [ Continue Reading ]
AND, or _but_, or _yet_, or _so_; for all these ways this particle is used; which is more fully expressed in the next verse. THEY LAY WAIT FOR THEIR OWN BLOOD; the destruction which they design to others falls upon themselves. Their blood answers to their feet, PROVERBS 1:16, and belongs to the same... [ Continue Reading ]
SO, as is expressed both in the foregoing and following words, ARE THE WAYS; the actions and courses, which are so in the tendency and event of them. THAT IS GREEDY OF PAIN; that seeks gain by unrighteous and wicked practices. _Which_; either _which greediness_; or rather, _which gain_, by comparing... [ Continue Reading ]
Having expressed the counsels and invitations of folly and of wicked men, he now declareth the voice of wisdom. By the name of wisdom or wisdoms he seems to understand the wisdom or counsel of God revealed to the sons of men by his word. Which he calls _wisdoms_ here, as also PROVERBS 9:1, either to... [ Continue Reading ]
THE CHIEF PLACE OF CONCOURSE; where there is probability of most success. THE OPENING OF THE GATES; where magistrates sit in judgment, and people are assembled. So it crieth both to the wise and to the unwise, as Paul preached, ROMANS 1:14. IN THE CITY; not only in the gate, but in every part of the... [ Continue Reading ]
YE SIMPLE ONES; ye ignorant, and easy, and credulous persons, who are so soon cheated by the world and the devil, and do not understand your own interest. LOVE SIMPLICITY; being unwilling to part with it, or to be made wiser. _Scorners_; that scoff at all religion, and contemn the word and faithful... [ Continue Reading ]
TURN YE from your evil courses unto me. AT MY REPROOF; upon this admonition here given to you. _I will pour out_; if you will do so, I will freely and abundantly impart unto you. MY SPIRIT; either my mind, as spirit is taken, PSALMS 77:6 PROVERBS 29:11; or the gifts and graces of my Spirit, which he... [ Continue Reading ]
I HAVE CALLED, by my ministers, and by my judgments upon you or others, and by the motions of my Spirit and your own consciences. _Stretched out my hand_; offering grace and mercy to you, and earnestly inviting you to accept of it. Lest through your deafness or distance from me you should not hear,... [ Continue Reading ]
SET AT NOUGHT, or _despised_, or _made void_; resisted its power and authority. MY COUNSEL: either, 1. My design of doing sinners good, which you have made of none effect to yourselves. Or, 2. My commands and counsels, which suits better with the next clause.... [ Continue Reading ]
As you have scoffed at me and my ways, I ALSO WILL LAUGH AT YOUR CALAMITY, i.e. destroy you without pity, and take pleasure therein. Compare REVELATION 18:20. YOUR FEAR; the misery which you do or should fear. The act for the object, as ISAIAH 8:12, and elsewhere.... [ Continue Reading ]
AS DESOLATION; as some desolating sword or judgment, which quickly overruns a whole country. AS A WHIRLWIND; which instantly spreadeth itself from place to place with great and irresistible violence, and doing much mischief.... [ Continue Reading ]
EARLY; or, _in the morning_, as the word properly signifies, and is here rendered by others, as soon as their calamity comes; or rather, with great diligence and fervency, as this phrase commonly signifies. THEY SHALL NOT FIND ME, because they do not seek me by choice and with sincerity, but only by... [ Continue Reading ]
HATED KNOWLEDGE, to wit, the practical knowledge of God, and of their duty to him, as it is explained in the following clause. DID NOT CHOOSE; not heartily approve of it and love it, but only made some show of it.... [ Continue Reading ]
THEY WOULD NONE OF MY COUNSEL; they refused to be guided by my counsels or precepts.... [ Continue Reading ]
THEY SHALL EAT OF THE FRUIT OF THEIR OWN WAY; they shall receive punishments answerable to their sins. WITH THEIR OWN DEVICES; with the fruits or effects of their wicked devices. What was sweet in their mouths shall be bitter in their bellies, and that destruction which they have plotted against oth... [ Continue Reading ]
TURNING AWAY, to wit, from God, and from his counsels and reproofs; so this is opposed to _hearkening unto God_, PROVERBS 1:33. Or, as it is rendered in the margin, and by divers others, _the ease or rest_, the peace or tranquillity, as it seems to be explained in the next clause. SHALL DESTROY THEM... [ Continue Reading ]
SAFELY; or _securely_, or _confidently_; resting himself upon the conscience of his own integrity, and upon the promises and favour of God. FROM FEAR OF EVIL; from sinful and tormenting cares and fears. And as a wicked man's mind is oft full of anxiety in the midst of all his outward prosperity and... [ Continue Reading ]