PROVERBS CHAPTER 10 From this chapter to the five and twentieth, are sundry observations of moral virtues, and their contrary vices, with excellent rules for the government of our conversation. THE PROVERBS OF SOLOMON, properly so called; for the foregoing Chapter s, though they had this title in th... [ Continue Reading ]
TREASURES OF WICKEDNESS: either, 1. All worldly treasures and riches, which are called the mammon of unrighteousness, LUKE 16:9, of which see the reasons there; to which righteousness or holiness, which are spiritual and heavenly riches, may be fitly opposed. Or, 2. Such treasures as are got by an... [ Continue Reading ]
WILL NOT SUFFER THE SOUL OF THE RIGHTEOUS TO FAMISH; will preserve them from famine, according to his promises, PSALMS 34:10, and elsewhere, which, as other temporal promises, is not to be understood simply and universally, but with this limitation, except this be necessary for God's glory, which in... [ Continue Reading ]
WITH A SLACK HAND; negligently and slothfully, as appears from the diligence opposed to it in the next branch, and from the use of this word in this sense, PROVERBS 12:24,27 PROVERBS 19:15 JEREMIAH 48:10. Heb. _with a deceitful hand_; so called, partly because it seems and pretends to do something,... [ Continue Reading ]
HE THAT GATHERETH the fruits of his field in summer; in harvest, as it follows, which is a part of summer. He that watcheth for and improveth the proper seasons and opportunities of doing good to himself, and to others. THAT CAUSETH SHAME; both to himself for his folly, and that poverty and misery c... [ Continue Reading ]
BLESSINGS ARE UPON THE HEAD OF THE JUST; all sorts of blessings are wished to them by men, and conferred upon them by God. He saith, _upon_ their _head_, either to show that these blessings come from above; and that openly, in the sight of the world, so that he can confidently speak of them to God's... [ Continue Reading ]
IS BLESSED, i.e. honourable and acceptable to those who mention them. Compare JOB 31:20 PSALMS 62:5. SHALL ROT; shall perish, and be cursed and detestable amongst men, shall stink above ground.... [ Continue Reading ]
WILL RECEIVE COMMANDMENTS; is ready to hear and obey the counsels and precepts of God, and of men, by which means he shall stand fast and live. A PRATING FOOL; one who is slow to hear and swift to speak, who, instead of receiving good admonitions, cavils and disputes against them. In the Hebrew he i... [ Continue Reading ]
HE THAT WALKETH UPRIGHTLY; who is sincere, and just, and faithful in his dealings with God and with men. SURELY; or, _securely_, or _confidently_, as the word properly signifies, and is here rendered by all the ancient interpreters, and by most of the others; quietly resting upon God's favour and gr... [ Continue Reading ]
THAT WINKETH WITH THE EYE; that secretly and cunningly designs mischiefs against others, as this phrase is used, PSALMS 35:19 PROVERBS 6:13. CAUSETH SORROW to others, and afterwards to himself. BUT; or, _and_, as it is in the Hebrew; for vice is not here opposed to virtue, as it is in many other pro... [ Continue Reading ]
A WELL OF LIFE; continually sending forth waters of life, or such good and wholesome words as are very refreshing and useful, both to themselves and others, for the preserving of their natural life, and for the promoting of their spiritual and eternal life. We have the same phrase PSALMS 36:9. Viole... [ Continue Reading ]
HATRED STIRRETH UP STRIFES upon every slight occasion, by filling men with suspicions and surmises, whereby they imagine faults where there are none, and aggravate every small offence. LOVE COVERETH ALL SINS; either doth not severely observe, or doth willingly forget and forgive, the offences or inj... [ Continue Reading ]
WISDOM IS FOUND; his wisdom showeth itself in his prudent speeches, by which he escapeth that rod which tools meet with, and gaineth that reputation and advantage to himself which fools lose. A ROD IS FOR THE BACK OF HIM, he may expect rebukes and punishments from God and men, that is void of unders... [ Continue Reading ]
WISE MEN LAY UP, to wit, in their minds and memories, to be brought forth thence upon fit occasions, KNOWLEDGE; whereby they may be enabled to speak both what and when it is seasonable, for their own or others good. THE MOUTH OF THE FOOLISH IS NEAR DESTRUCTION; fools are more forward to lay out than... [ Continue Reading ]
IS HIS STRONG CITY; either, 1. Really, as _money is_ called _a defence_, ECCLESIASTES 7:12, because it ofttimes redeems a man from dangers and calamities. Or, 2. _In his own conceit_, as it is explained, and fully expressed, PROVERBS 18:11. It makes him secure and confident. THE DESTRUCTION; it is... [ Continue Reading ]
THE LABOUR OF THE RIGHTEOUS TENDETH TO LIFE: either, 1. The design of his labour is only this, that he may have wherewith to live honestly, without sinful shifts. Or, 2. The fruit or effect of his labour or industry (as this word _labour_ is most commonly understood, and this best answers to the f... [ Continue Reading ]
THE WAY OF LIFE; which leadeth to life and blessedness. That keepeth instruction; that observeth and obeyeth the wholesome counsels of God, and of good men. ERRETH, to wit, from the way of life, or into the ways of sin, and so of death; Heb. _leadeth into error_, or _seduceth_, to wit, himself, as a... [ Continue Reading ]
WITH LYING LIPS; with flattering words and false pretences of friendship. AND HE, Heb. _he_, i. e both of them, one no less than the other. So he condemneth two opposite vices, secret hatred and manifest slander. IS A FOOL, because a sinner, and because the mischief of these things will fall upon hi... [ Continue Reading ]
Men that love and commonly use much talking, do frequently run into many miscarriages, because such persons, for the most part, want wisdom to order their words aright, ECCLESIASTES 5:3, and speak hastily, without care and consideration. THAT REFRAINETH HIS LIPS; that forbeareth to utter what cometh... [ Continue Reading ]
AS CHOICE SILVER; of great worth and use, bringing credit to himself, and much benefit to others. THE HEART, and consequently the tongue, which speaketh _out of the abundance of the heart_, MATTHEW 12:34.... [ Continue Reading ]
FEED MANY, by their wise and pious discourses, counsels, and comforts, which are so many evidences of their wisdom. DIE FOR WANT OF WISDOM; they have not wisdom to feed or preserve themselves, much less to feed others.... [ Continue Reading ]
Riches are not got by wisdom or diligence, but only by God's favour and blessing. HE ADDETH NO SORROW WITH IT, i.e. with that blessing which gives riches, but gives them content and comfort in their riches, which is a singular gift and blessing of God, of which see ECCLESIASTES 2:24,26 ECCLESIASTES... [ Continue Reading ]
AS SPORT; he doth it with ease and delight, and without any shame, or remorse, or fear. TO DO MISCHIEF or, as others, _to work wickedness_; yea, great and premeditated wickedness, as the Hebrew word properly signifies. HATH WISDOM; whereby he is kept from committing wickedness, and especially from s... [ Continue Reading ]
THE FEAR; the evils which he feareth, or hath cause to fear, as fear is oft taken. SHALL BE GRANTED; God will not only prevent the mischiefs which they fear, but grant them the good things which they desire.... [ Continue Reading ]
AS THE WHIRLWIND PASSETH; which is suddenly gone, though with great noise and violence. SO IS THE WICKED NO MORE; his power and felicity is lost in an instant. IS AN EVERLASTING FOUNDATION; or, hath _an everlasting_, &c. His hope and happiness is built upon a sure and unmovable foundation.... [ Continue Reading ]
AS VINEGAR TO THE TEETH; Which by its cold and sharpness it offends. SO IS THE SLUGGARD; unserviceable and vexatious.... [ Continue Reading ]
PROLONGETH DAYS; partly because it gives them a title to the promise of long life, as well as to other promises; partly because it gladdeth the heart, which doth good like a medicine, PROVERBS 17:22, and preserves a man from those wicked practices which tend to the shortening of the days.... [ Continue Reading ]
SHALL BE GLADNESS; though at present it be mixed with doubts, and fears, and disappointments, yet at last it shall be accomplished, and turned into enjoyment. SHALL PERISH; shall be utterly frustrated, and so end in sorrow.... [ Continue Reading ]
THE WAY OF THE LORD; either, 1. The way or course of God's providence in the government of the world. Or rather, 2. The way of God's precepts, as God's way or ways are most commonly understood in Scripture, or walking in God's ways; for this is opposed to working iniquity in the next clause. IS ST... [ Continue Reading ]
THE RIGHTEOUS SHALL NEVER BE REMOVED; they shall live long and happily here, when this is most expedient for them, and eternally in heaven. THE WICKED SHALL NOT INHABIT THE EARTH; they shall not have so much as a long and quite abode upon earth, unless where this is a curse and mischief to them, and... [ Continue Reading ]
BRINGETH FORTH, freely, and abundantly, and constantly, as the earth or a tree bring forth their proper fruit, as the word properly signifies. WISDOM; wise counsels, by which he directeth and secureth himself and others. SHALL BE CUT OUT, because it bringeth forth not wisdom, but folly and wickednes... [ Continue Reading ]
KNOW, to wit, practically, so as to consider and speak. Knowledge is here ascribed to the _lips_, as it is to the hands PSALMS 78:72, because they are conducted by knowledge and wisdom. WHAT IS ACCEPTABLE to God and good men, or what is truly worthy of acceptation; for this is opposed to what is _fr... [ Continue Reading ]