PROVERBS CHAPTER 14 He speaks of the woman not to exclude the man, of whom this is no less true, but because the women, especially in those times, were very industrious in managing their husbands estates; of which see PR 31. BUILDETH HER HOUSE; maintaineth and improveth her family and estate, as thi... [ Continue Reading ]
THAT WALKETH IN HIS UPRIGHTNESS; whose conversation is sincerely pious and righteous. The design of this proverb and verse is to show that God doth, and men may, judge of men's outward professions and inward dispositions by the common course of their lives. DESPISETH HIM; plainly declares that he do... [ Continue Reading ]
A ROD OF PRIDE: their proud and insolent speeches, as they are like a rod, offensive and injurious to others, so they make a rod for their own hacks, by provoking God and man against them; which sense seems most probable, both from the opposite clause, and by comparing this place with PROVERBS 10:13... [ Continue Reading ]
THE CRIB IS CLEAN; the barn or stable is empty of food for cattle, and much more for man, whose food is more scarce and dear. In the same sense _cleanness of teeth_ is put for famine, AMOS 4:6. BY THE STRENGTH OF THE OX; by their labours, or by diligence in husbandry, which then was principally mana... [ Continue Reading ]
WILL NOT LIE, to wit, in common discourse and conversation, whereby he showeth his love to truth, and giveth assurance that when he is called to be a witness, he will be true and faithful. BUT A FALSE WITNESS WILL UTTER LIES; or, as the words lie in the Hebrew, _and_ or _but_ he that WILL UTTER LIES... [ Continue Reading ]
A SCORNER; a proud, self-conceited, and profane person. FINDETH IT NOT, because he doth not seek it aright, to wit, sincerely, and earnestly, and seasonably, and in a constant and diligent use of all the means which God hath appointed to that end, and with an honest intention of employing his knowle... [ Continue Reading ]
Avoid the company and conversation of ungodly men, when they break forth into foolish or wicked discourses, lest thou either be infected by them, or seem to approve of them.... [ Continue Reading ]
THE WISDOM OF THE PRUDENT IS TO UNDERSTAND HIS WAY; it consists not in vain speculations, nor in a curious prying into other men's matters, nor in cunning arts of deceiving others; but in a diligent study of his own duty, and of the way to true and eternal happiness. THE FOLLY OF FOOLS IS DECEIT; th... [ Continue Reading ]
FOOLS, wicked men, as appears from their opposition to the righteous in the next clause, MAKE A MOCK AT SIN; please and support themselves with their own and other men's sins, which is a high offence and provocation to God and men. Or, as others render it, _excuse_ or _cover sin_; sin against God or... [ Continue Reading ]
The sense of the verse is this, The inward griefs and joys of men's hearts, though sometimes they may be guessed at by outward signs, yet are not certainly known to any but a man's self. Compare 1 CORINTHIANS 2:11. The scope of the parable may be to keep men from murmuring under their own troubles,... [ Continue Reading ]
THE HOUSE; their dwelling and family. THE TABERNACLE; which is a weak, and poor, and unstable thing, soon reared up, and soon taken down, and is here opposed to the large, and strong, and magnificent house of wicked men.... [ Continue Reading ]
There are some evil actions or courses which men may think to be lawful and good, either through gross and affected ignorance, or through partiality or self-flattery, or through want of necessary diligence in examining them by the rule of God's will or word; all which are culpable causes of the mist... [ Continue Reading ]
The outward signs of joy are commonly mixed with or end in real and hearty sorrow. The design of the proverb is to declare the vanity of all worldly joys and comforts, and to teach men moderation in them, and to persuade us to seek for more solid and durable joys.... [ Continue Reading ]
THE BACKSLIDER IN HEART; he who departeth from God and from the way of his precepts with all his heart, which implies the doing it upon deliberation, with free choice, and full purpose, and customary practice, as ungodly men commonly do, and is opposed to the slips of human frailty; for otherwise ev... [ Continue Reading ]
THE SIMPLE, either the harmless man, or rather a foolish man, because he is opposed to the prudent, _believeth every word_; is easily deceived with the smooth words and fair pretences of false and deceitful men. TO HIS GOING; either, 1. To his own going, as this is generally understood; he ordereth... [ Continue Reading ]
FEARETH; trembleth at God's judgments, when they are either inflicted or threatened. FROM EVIL; from sin, which is the procuring cause of all calamities. RAGETH; fretteth against God, or is enraged against his messengers who bring the threatening, or disquieteth himself in vain or, _transgresseth_,... [ Continue Reading ]
DEALETH FOOLISHLY; his passion hurries him into many rash and foolish speeches and actions. A MAN OF WICKED DEVICES, one who suppresseth his passion, but designeth and meditateth revenge, watching for the fittest methods and opportunities of executing it, IS HATED, both by God and men, as being most... [ Continue Reading ]
INHERIT FOLLY; they possess it as their inheritance or portion, holding it fast, improving it, delighting and glorying in it. In like manner David took God's TESTIMONIES for his heritage, PSALMS 119:111, where the word is the same; withal he may imply that folly is natural and hereditary to them. AR... [ Continue Reading ]
BOW BEFORE THE GOOD; giving honour to them, and supplicating their favour and help, either for supply of their wants, as being brought low for their sins, or for counsel or comfort, or for their prayers to God for them. AT THE GATES; as clients, and petitioners, and beggars use to wait at the doors... [ Continue Reading ]
IS HATED, i.e. despised and abandoned, as hateful persons and things are. HIS OWN NEIGHBOUR; strictly so called, who is nearest to him, either by habitation or by relation, and therefore most obliged to love and help him.... [ Continue Reading ]
THAT DESPISETH HIS NEIGHBOUR; that doth not pity and relieve the poor, as this is explained in the next clause; the word _neighbour_ being here generally taken for any man, as it is most commonly used in Scripture; which not relieving him proceeds from a contempt of his person. SINNETH; and therefor... [ Continue Reading ]
DO THEY NOT ERR? they do certainly err from the right way, and mistake their mark, and shall miss of that advantage and felicity which they promise to themselves by such practices. THAT DEVISE; that do not only commit it, but make it their design, and study, and business; that are artists or masters... [ Continue Reading ]
Diligent labour is the ready way to riches, but idle talking, wherein too many spend most of their precious thee, will bring a man to poverty.... [ Continue Reading ]
THE CROWN OF THE WISE IS THEIR RICHES; they are a singular advantage and ornament to them, partly as they make their wisdom more regarded, when the poor man's wisdom is despised, ECCLESIASTES 9:16; and partly as they give a man great opportunity to discover and exercise his wisdom or virtue by layin... [ Continue Reading ]
DELIVERETH SOULS, i.e. persons, to wit, such as are innocent, from the mischief of false accusations, by declaring the truth, which is sufficient for their vindication. _Speaketh lies_, to the injury and destruction of the innocent; which is easily understood out of the former clause, and from the p... [ Continue Reading ]
STRONG CONFIDENCE; a sure ground of confidence; or a strong refuge, as the next clause explains it. HIS CHILDREN; either, 1. God's children. Or, 2. The children of them that fear God, who are sufficiently understood out of the former clause.... [ Continue Reading ]
To preserve men from deadly and destructive courses.... [ Continue Reading ]
IS THE KING'S HONOUR, because it is an evidence of his wise and good government. Under _honour_ he here comprehends also strength and safety, (as appears from the opposite clause,) which depend much upon a prince's reputation. And _honour_ may be here put for strength, as strength is put for honour... [ Continue Reading ]
IS OF GREAT UNDERSTANDING; showeth great and true wisdom in conquering his sinful and shameful passions. EXALTETH, Heb. _lifteth up_, like a banner; makes it known and visible to all men.... [ Continue Reading ]
A SOUND HEART; free from envy and such-like inordinate passions, which are commonly called the diseases of the soul, not only in sacred, but even in heathen writers. Or, as others render it, _a healing heart_; mild, and merciful, and kind to others, which is opposed to envy. IS THE LIFE OF THE FLESH... [ Continue Reading ]
HE THAT OPPRESSETH THE POOR; that useth him hardly, as the Syriac renders it; that withholdeth from him that which is his due, either by the rules of strict justice, or by the great law of charity, of which see PROVERBS 3:27, and so it is opposed to having mercy in the next clause. REPROACHETH HIS M... [ Continue Reading ]
DRIVEN AWAY, to wit, in his death, as is gathered from the opposite clause; driven away from God's favour and presence, and from the society of the just, and from all his hopes of happiness, both in this life and in the next. This expression notes that this is done suddenly, violently, and irresisti... [ Continue Reading ]
RESTETH; is laid up and hid there, and not vainly nor rashly uttered by him, but only upon necessary or fit occasions. IN THE MIDST, i.e. in the heart, which is expressed by this very word, PSALMS 64:6, and elsewhere. That folly which is there instead of wisdom; or, that small degree of wisdom or kn... [ Continue Reading ]
EXALTETH A NATION; maketh it honourable in the eyes of God, and of all other nations, as it did the ancient Romans. A REPROACH TO ANY PEOPLE; brings contempt and ruin upon them by provoking both God and men against them.... [ Continue Reading ]
Both to himself, by his foolish management of the king's affairs committed to him; and to the king, who made so foolish a choice of a servant.... [ Continue Reading ]