PROVERBS CHAPTER 12 INSTRUCTION; admonition or reproof, as appears from the next clause, which is a singular means of getting true and sound knowledge. LOVETH KNOWLEDGE; showeth that he is a true lover of knowledge, because he is willing to purchase it upon such unwelcome terms, as reproofs are gene... [ Continue Reading ]
OBTAINETH FAVOUR; whereby he is and shall be acquitted and justified. A MAN OF WICKED DEVICES, who designeth and industriously committeth wickedness, will he condemn, when he standeth in judgment, howsoever he may for the present justify himself, and deceive others into a good opinion of him.... [ Continue Reading ]
BY WICKEDNESS; by any sinful courses by which he useth to secure or stablish himself; whereby he implies that he shall be rooted up. SHALL NOT BE MOVED, to wit, out of its place. He shall stand fast, and flourish, like a well-rooted tree.... [ Continue Reading ]
A CROWN; a singular ornament and matter of his glorying and joy. THAT MAKETH ASHAMED; that by her folly or wickedness bringeth shame to herself and to her husband. As rottenness in his bones; loathsome, and vexatious, and pernicious.... [ Continue Reading ]
THE THOUGHTS OF THE RIGHTEOUS ARE RIGHT; his constant purpose is to deal justly and truly with God and with men. THE COUNSELS OF THE WICKED ARE DECEIT; his great care and contrivance is to wrong and deceive others by fair pretences and cunning artifices.... [ Continue Reading ]
ARE TO LIE IN WAIT FOR BLOOD; are designed and ordered to entrap or deceive others, and to destroy them. SHALL DELIVER THEM, to wit, from those that lie in wait for them; which it doth, either, 1. By prayer to God for their deliverance; or, 2. By pacifying the wicked with soft and gentle answers,... [ Continue Reading ]
ARE NOT; both they and their families shall suddenly perish. The house; the family or posterity.... [ Continue Reading ]
A MAN SHALL BE COMMENDED, to wit, by wise and good men, according to his wisdom; more or less according to the degree of wisdom which his discourses and actions discover to be in him. HE THAT IS OF A PERVERSE HEART, which he showeth by his wicked words and conversation, shall be despised by God and... [ Continue Reading ]
THAT IS DESPISED; that liveth in a mean and obscure condition in the world, for such are commonly despised by men of a higher rank. HATH A SERVANT; hath but one servant. Or rather, _is servant to himself_; hath none to wait upon him or work for him but himself, that getteth bread by his own labours.... [ Continue Reading ]
REGARDETH THE LIFE OF HIS BEAST, which is employed in his service; he will not destroy it either by labours beyond its strength, or by denying to it necessary food or rest, or by any other way; and much more will he be pitiful to his own servants, and to poor men. THE TENDER MERCIES OF THE WICKED AR... [ Continue Reading ]
THAT TILLETH HIS LAND; that employeth his time and strength in an honest calling. THAT FOLLOWETH VAIN PERSONS; that useth their society and idle course of living. IS VOID OF UNDERSTANDING; shall through his own folly want bread.... [ Continue Reading ]
THE WICKED DESIRETH THE NET OF EVIL MEN; he approveth and useth those cunning and deceitful arts, which wicked men use like nets to insnare other men, and to take their goods to themselves. Or, _he desireth the fortress of wicked men_, or _of wickedness_, i.e. he seeks to fortify and stablish himsel... [ Continue Reading ]
THE WICKED IS SNARED, i.e. brought into trouble, BY THE TRANSGRESSION OF HIS LIPS, by his wicked speeches against God and men. The just shall come out of trouble, to wit, by his wise, and holy, and inoffensive speeches, whereby he pacifieth men, and gaineth God's favour and protection.... [ Continue Reading ]
BY THE FRUIT OF HIS MOUTH; by his pious and profitable discourses. OF A MAN'S HANDS, i.e. of his works and actions, of which the hand is the great instrument; whereby also may be implied that God will not regard nor recompense good works, unless they be accompanied with a good conversation. SHALL BE... [ Continue Reading ]
THE WAY OF A FOOL, the counsel and course which his own mind suggests to him in ordering of his affairs, IS RIGHT IN HIS OWN EYES; highly pleaseth him, so that he neglects and despiseth the opinions and advices of others. HE THAT HEARKENETH UNTO COUNSEL; that distrusteth his own judgment, and seeket... [ Continue Reading ]
IS PRESENTLY KNOWN, by his rash words and indecent actions, whereby he exposeth himself to shame. COVERETH SHAME; either, 1. The shame, or reproach, or injury done to him by others, which he concealeth and beareth with patience, and passeth by, as his duty and interest obligeth him to do. Or, 2. H... [ Continue Reading ]
HE THAT SPEAKETH TRUTH, Heb. HE THAT WILL SPEAK TRUTH, i.e. he who accustometh himself to speak truth in common conversation; for the future tense in the Hebrew tongue oft notes a continued act or habit. SHOWETH FORTH RIGHTEOUSNESS, to wit, as a witness in public judgment; he will speak nothing but... [ Continue Reading ]
SPEAKETH LIKE THE PIERCINGS OF A SWORD, hurtful and pernicious words, whereby they either corrupt men's minds and manners, or scandalize them, or injure them in their reputation, estate, or life, or otherwise. THE TONGUE OF THE WISE IS HEALTH; his speech, both in judgment and in common discourse, is... [ Continue Reading ]
The speaker of truth is constant, and always agreeable to himself, and his words, the more and longer they are tried, the more doth the truth of them appear; whereas liars, though they may make a fair show for a season, yet are easily and quickly convicted of falsehood.... [ Continue Reading ]
DECEIT; either, 1. Towards others, whom they design to deceive, and then to destroy, whilst good counsellors bring safety and joy to others. Or rather, 2. To themselves. So the sense of the verse is, They whose hearts devise mischief against others shall be deceived in their hopes, and bring that... [ Continue Reading ]
NO EVIL; either, 1. Of sin; or rather, 2. Of suffering or mischief, as the next clause explains this. No such evil shall befall them as doth commonly befall the wicked, who are filled, or overwhelmed, and utterly destroyed by it; whereas good men are supported under their troubles, and shall be de... [ Continue Reading ]
THAT DEAL TRULY; that speak and act sincerely and truly. He implies, that although lying lips alone are sufficient to purchase God's hatred, yet truth in a man's speech is not sufficient to procure God's favour, unless there be also truth and justice in his actions.... [ Continue Reading ]
CONCEALETH KNOWLEDGE; he doth not vain-gloriously and unseasonably utter what he knows, but keeps it in his breast till he hath a fit occasion to bring it forth for God's glory, and the good of others. PROCLAIMETH FOOLISHNESS; whilst he makes ostentation of his knowledge, he betrays his ignorance an... [ Continue Reading ]
SHALL BEAR RULE; shall procure wealth and power. THE SLOTHFUL, Heb. _the deceitful_. So he calls the slothful, because deceit and idleness are commonly companions, and such men seek to gain by fraud what they either cannot or will not get by honest labour. Compare PROVERBS 10:4.... [ Continue Reading ]
A compassionate or encouraging word from a friend or minister.... [ Continue Reading ]
MORE EXCELLENT; either, 1. In his temper and disposition, more just, and generous, and public-spirited, and merciful, &c. Or, 2. In his condition, more happy, notwithstanding all his sufferings and the contrary opinion of the world concerning them. THAN HIS NEIGHBOUR; than any other men. SEDUCETH... [ Continue Reading ]
THE SLOTHFUL MAN; or, the deceitful man, as PROVERBS 12:24, who seeks to enrich himself by fraudulent and unjust practices. ROASTETH NOT THAT WHICH HE TOOK IN HUNTING; doth not enjoy the fruit of his labours or devices, either because he doth not labour, and so hath nothing to waste or enjoy; or bec... [ Continue Reading ]
The practice of justice and godliness, though it expose a man to some dangers and inconveniences in the world, yet it will certainly lead him to life and happiness, whereas the end of all wicked courses is death and destruction.... [ Continue Reading ]