The proverbs of Solomon. A wise son maketh a glad father: but a foolish son [is] the heaviness of his mother. Ver. 1. _The Proverbs._] Properly so called. See Proverbs 1:1. For the nine former Chapter s are a kind of common places, or continued discourses premised as a preface to these ensuing wise... [ Continue Reading ]
_Treasures of wickedness profit nothing: but righteousness delivereth from death._ Ver. 2. _Treasures of wickedness._] Our Saviour calls it "Mammon of iniquity," Luk 16:9 that next odious name to the devil. Most men's care is how to grasp and get wealth for their children - _rem rem, quocunque modo... [ Continue Reading ]
The LORD will not suffer the soul of the righteous to famish: but he casteth away the substance of the wicked. Ver. 3. _The Lord will not suffer the soul of the righteous._] That refuseth to enrich himself by evil arts, and to rise by wicked principles. For it might be objected, If I strain not my... [ Continue Reading ]
He becometh poor that dealeth [with] a slack hand: but the hand of the diligent maketh rich. Ver. 4. _He becometh poor._] Lest any should say, If God do all, we need do the less. Doing you must be, saith the wise man, or else the beggar will catch you by the back. Labour also you must with your han... [ Continue Reading ]
He that gathereth in summer [is] a wise son: [but] he that sleepeth in harvest [is] a son that causeth shame. Ver. 5. _He that gathereth in summer._] A well chosen season is the greatest advantage of any action, which, as it is seldom found in haste, so it is too often lost in delay. The men of Iss... [ Continue Reading ]
Blessings [are] upon the head of the just: but violence covereth the mouth of the wicked. Ver. 6. _Blessings are upon the head._] Plentifully and conspicuously; they shall abound with blessings. Pro 28:20 As the fear of the Lord is not only in them, but upon them, 2Ch 19:7 so blessings of all sorts... [ Continue Reading ]
The memory of the just [is] blessed: but the name of the wicked shall rot. Ver. 7. _The memory of the just is blessed._] "Demetrius had a good report of the truth." 3Jn 1:12 In the Hebrew tongue the same word signifieth "a good name," and "a blessing." This is one of those blessings mentioned in Pr... [ Continue Reading ]
The wise in heart will receive commandments: but a prating fool shall fall. Ver. 8. _The wise in heart shall receive commandment,_] _i.e., _ Submit to God's holy word without replies and cavils. This is check to the brave gallants of our age, which exercise their ripe heads and fresh wits in wrestl... [ Continue Reading ]
_He that walketh uprightly walketh surely: but he that perverteth his ways shall be known._ Ver. 9. _He that walketh uprightly, walketh surely._] Because, keeping within God's precincts, he keeps under his protection: as the king undertakes to secure him that travels the highway, and between sun an... [ Continue Reading ]
He that winketh with the eye causeth sorrow: but a prating fool shall fall. Ver. 10. _He that winketh with the eye._] That is, Loath to stand to those truths that shall bring him to suffering. Or, He that winketh wiles; for all winking is not condemned. See John 13:34 . _ Causeth sorrow,_] _scil.,... [ Continue Reading ]
The mouth of a righteous [man is] a well of life: but violence covereth the mouth of the wicked. Ver. 11. _The mouth of a righteous man is a well of life._] _Vena vitae os iusti._ A fountain runs after it hath run, so doth a good man's mouth incessantly utter the "words of truth and soberness," Act... [ Continue Reading ]
Hatred stirreth up strifes: but love covereth all sins. Ver. 12. _Hatred stirreth up strifes._] Especially when hatred is grown from a passion to a habit, which is, when the heart is so settled in an alienation and estrangement from the person hated, that it grows to wish, and desire, and seek his... [ Continue Reading ]
In the lips of him that hath understanding wisdom is found: but a rod [is] for the back of him that is void of understanding. Ver. 13. _In the lips of him, &c._] "Grace is poured into his lips," Psa 45:2 and he pours it out as fast for the good of others, who do therefore admire him, as they did ou... [ Continue Reading ]
Wise [men] lay up knowledge: but the mouth of the foolish [is] near destruction. Ver. 14. _Wise men lay up knowledge._] To know when to speak, and when to be silent. It is a great skill to be able "to time a word," Isa 50:4 to set it upon the wheels. Pro 25:11 "How forcible are right words!" Job 6:... [ Continue Reading ]
The rich man's wealth [is] his strong city: the destruction of the poor [is] their poverty. Ver. 15. The rich man's wealth, &c.] Wealthy worldlings think themselves simply the better and the safer for their hoards and heaps of riches. The best of us are more ready to "trust in uncertain riches than... [ Continue Reading ]
The labour of the righteous [tendeth] to life: the fruit of the wicked to sin. Ver. 16. _The labour of the righteous, &c._] If the righteous man may but sweat out a poor living, get enough to bear his charges home to heaven, have enough to serve his turn here, be it but "food and raiment, he is con... [ Continue Reading ]
He [is in] the way of life that keepeth instruction: but he that refuseth reproof erreth. Ver. 17. _He is in the way of life._] Rich fools refuse reproof; hold themselves above admonition, _Tange montes et fumigabunt,_ and are therefore, by the just judgment of God, led through a fool's paradise in... [ Continue Reading ]
He that hideth hatred [with] lying lips, and he that uttereth a slander, [is] a fool. Ver. 18. _He that hideth hatred, &c._] These are dangerous creatures that thus lie at the catch, and wait advantages to do a man mischief, as Cain dealt by Abel, Absalom by Amnon, Joab by Amasa, Judas by Jesus. _T... [ Continue Reading ]
In the multitude of words there wanteth not sin: but he that refraineth his lips [is] wise. Ver. 19. _In the multitude of words._] _In multiloquio stultiloquium._ Many words are hardly well managed. _Non est eiusdera,_ saith one. It is seldom seen that a man of many words miscarries not. _ But he... [ Continue Reading ]
The tongue of the just [is as] choice silver: the heart of the wicked [is] little worth. Ver. 20. _The tongue of the just is as choice silver._] He scattereth "pearls," Mat 7:6 he throws abroad "treasure," Mat 12:35 even "apples of gold in shrines of silver." Pro 25:11 "I will turn to the people a... [ Continue Reading ]
_The lips of the righteous feed many: but fools die for want of wisdom._ Ver. 21. _The lips of the righteous feed many._] A great housekeeper he is, hath his doors ever open, and, though himself be poor, yet he "maketh many rich." 2Co 6:10 He well knows that to this end God put "honey and milk unde... [ Continue Reading ]
The blessing of the LORD, it maketh rich, and he addeth no sorrow with it. Ver. 22. _The blessing of the Lord it maketh rich._] As is to be seen in the examples of the patriarchs, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and others. Whereas there is a curse upon unlawful practices, though men be industrious, as in J... [ Continue Reading ]
Proverbs 10:23 [It is] as sport to a fool to do mischief: but a man of understanding hath wisdom. Ver. 23. _It is a sport to a fool to do mischief._] He is then merriest when he hath the devil for his playfellow. He danceth to hell in his bolts, and as passing well apaid for his woeful bondage. Was... [ Continue Reading ]
The fear of the wicked, it shall come upon him: but the desire of the righteous shall be granted. Ver. 24. _The fear of the wicked shall come upon him._] "A sound of fear is in his ears: in prosperity the destroyer shall come upon him." Job 15:21 _Pessimus in dubiis Augur Timor._ _a_ Thus it befell... [ Continue Reading ]
As the whirlwind passeth, so [is] the wicked no [more]: but the righteous [is] an everlasting foundation. Ver. 25. _As the whirlwind passeth away._] The whirlwind is terrible for the time, but not durable. Lo, such is the rage of tyrants and persecutors. _Nubecula est, cito transibit,_ said Athanas... [ Continue Reading ]
As vinegar to the teeth, and as smoke to the eyes, so [is] the sluggard to them that send him. Ver. 26. _So is the sluggard to them that send him._] _Habent aulae suum cito, cito._ What thou doest, do quickly, said our Saviour to the traitor. He cannot away with dulness and oscitancy in any of his,... [ Continue Reading ]
The fear of the LORD prolongeth days: but the years of the wicked shall be shortened. Ver. 27. _The fear of the Lord prolongeth days._] Heb., Addeth days, viz., beyond expectation or likelihood in a course of nature. "The days of mourning for my father are at hand," said bloody Esau, "and then will... [ Continue Reading ]
The hope of the righteous [shall be] gladness: but the expectation of the wicked shall perish. Ver. 28. _The hope of the righteous shall be gladness._] The righteous doth not so fear God, Proverbs 10:2 _; _ Pro 10:7 but that he hopes in him also; - see Psalms 130:4,5 : - and that with such a hope a... [ Continue Reading ]
The way of the LORD [is] strength to the upright: but destruction [shall be] to the workers of iniquity. Ver. 29. _The way of the Lord is strength._] "The joy of the Lord," that joy of hope, spoken of in the preceding verse, "is their strength." Neh 8:10 The peace of God within them, and the power... [ Continue Reading ]
The righteous shall never be removed: but the wicked shall not inhabit the earth. Ver. 30. _The righteous shall never be removed._] Or, They shall not be removed for ever, though for a while they may seem to be so. _ But the wicked shall not inhabit the earth._] God sits upon the circle of the ear... [ Continue Reading ]
The mouth of the just bringeth forth wisdom: but the froward tongue shall be cut out. Ver. 31. _The mouth of the just, &c._] Heb., Buddeth forth, as a fruit tree, to which the tongue is fitly and finely here resembled. Hence speech is called the "fruit of the lips." _ But the froward tongue shall b... [ Continue Reading ]
The lips of the righteous know what is acceptable: but the mouth of the wicked [speaketh] frowardness. Ver. 32. _The lips of the righteous._] He carries, as it were, a pair of balances between his lips, and weighs his words before he utters them. _Et prodesse volens et delectare_ - willing to speak... [ Continue Reading ]