_a just weight_ Lit. A FULL, or PERFECT STONE, from the early use of stones as weights. So Eng. _stone_; Germ, _stein_. It is an enactment of the Mosaic Law here repeated and enforced: Deuteronomy 25:13; Deuteronomy 25:16; Leviticus 19:35-36. Comp. Proverbs 16:11; Proverbs 20:10; Proverbs 20:23. See... [ Continue Reading ]
_wisdom_ We should rather have expected _honour_, as a parallel to _shame_in the first clause. But wisdom is the root of honour. Comp. Proverbs 15:33; Proverbs 18:12.... [ Continue Reading ]
_perverseness_ Some would render _slipperiness_; as we say, "a slippery fellow." The noun occurs here only and in Proverbs 15:4, but the cognate verb is found several times in this Book (Proverbs 13:6; Proverbs 19:3; Proverbs 21:12). What is here meant is the trickiness and want of straightforwardne... [ Continue Reading ]
_in the day of wrath_ "While the words are true in their highest sense of the great -Dies iræ" of the future, they speak in the first instance, as do the like words in Zephaniah 1:15-18, of _any_-day of the Lord," any time of judgement, when men or nations receive the chastisement of their sins. At... [ Continue Reading ]
_direct_ Or, _make plain_, or _straight_; so that it leads to a prosperous issue. See Proverbs 3:6, note.... [ Continue Reading ]
_naughtiness mischief_, R.V., ἀπωλεία, LXX. But _desires_(as the same Heb. word is rendered in Proverbs 10:3, R.V.), or _aims_gives a good sense: "in insidiis suis capiuntur iniqui." Vulg.... [ Continue Reading ]
_unjust_men] _iniquity_, R.V. Comp. Hosea 9:4, where the expression "bread of mourners" (the same Heb. word) may be "the emblem of utter impurity," because everything connected with death involved ceremonial defilement. See note there in this Series. Others render, with R.V. marg., _strong_men, or... [ Continue Reading ]
_be delivered_ i.e. from the destruction wrought by the "mouth of the hypocrite, (or godless man R.V.)". His knowledge will enable him to see and avoid the snare (παγὶς, LXX.). Some, however, would render, "through the knowledge of the righteous shall they (i.e. the neighbour of the first clause, w... [ Continue Reading ]
_the blessing of the upright_ This may mean either the blessing enjoyed by them, their prosperity (as in Proverbs 11:10); or the blessing bestowed by them, by their prayers and presence (Genesis 18:26; Genesis 39:5).... [ Continue Reading ]
_despiseth_ i.e. shews his contempt openly, makes no effort to conceal it (μυκτηρίζει, LXX.), and so contrasts with the man of "wisdom" (heart, Heb.), who, whatever he thinks, keeps his thoughts to himself.... [ Continue Reading ]
_A talebearer_ Rather, HE THAT GOETH ABOUT AS A TALEBEARER. This, as indicated in A.V. marg. (_He that walketh being a talebearer_), is the literal and more forcible rendering. It also brings out the warning more clearly, q.d. Don't trust such a man.... [ Continue Reading ]
_counsel_ See Proverbs 1:5 note. The same Heb. word is there rendered _wise counsels_, A.V. and _sound counsels_, R.V. Here R.V. renders _wise guidance_, with reference perhaps to the root-meaning of the word, _steering a ship_, κυβέρνησις, LXX. Comp. Proverbs 15:22.... [ Continue Reading ]
_smart_for it] Both A.V. and R.V. add in the marg. "Heb. _shall be sore broken_." _suretiship_ Three entirely different Heb. words in this verse are rendered "surety," "suretiship," "sure." The first denotes exchanging with another, taking his place, becoming bail for him; the second, striking hand... [ Continue Reading ]
_retaineth_ i.e. acquires and keeps. Comp. Proverbs 29:23. In Genesis 48:17 we read: Joseph _held up_(same Heb. word), i.e. took and kept hold of, and so raised, his father's hand. _and_=as. We have a similar virtual comparison by juxtaposition of clauses in Proverbs 26:9; Proverbs 26:11. _strong_... [ Continue Reading ]
_deceitful wages_ Lit. _wages of falsehood_, i.e. _transitory_and _disappointing_, in contrast to _a sure reward_of the second clause, lit. _a reward of truth_, i.e. real and lasting. shall be] _he that soweth … hath_R.V. But there is no need to supply anything. The word _worketh_[_earneth_R.V.), g... [ Continue Reading ]
_As_ The Heb. word means _so_, but has also the sense of _firm, stedfast_, and is so used of character, Genesis 42:11; Genesis 42:19; Genesis 42:31; Genesis 42:33-34. Render: HE THAT IS STEDFAST IN RIGHTEOUSNESS _is so_ UNTO LIFE. AND HE THAT PURSUETH EVIL _doeth so_ UNTO HIS OWN DEATH. The re... [ Continue Reading ]
Though _hand_join _in hand_ Lit. HAND TO HAND. This obscure phrase may mean either, though men clasp one another's hands in strong confederacy (χειρὶ χεῖρας ἐμβαλὼν, LXX.); or, preserving more closely the parallel, from generation to generation, the idea being that of the Second Commandment, Exodus... [ Continue Reading ]
_jewel_ Rather, RING (R.V. marg.). The reference to the _nosering_, which Eastern women wore as an ornament, gives point to the proverb. See Genesis 24:47; Ezekiel 16:12, in both which places R.V. renders the same Heb. word, "a ring upon the nose." _discretion_ Lit. TASTE, which would seem to indica... [ Continue Reading ]
_wrath_ Strictly, _outpouring_, or _overflowing_, sc. of (God's) wrath. Comp. Hebrews 10:27; and rod τοῦ θυμοῦ τῆς ὀργῆς, Revelation 19:15. Stated in full the proverb would be: That which the righteous desires is good, and therefore his desire when accomplished brings good or prosperity to himself;... [ Continue Reading ]
_scattereth_ Comp. Psalms 112:9 (where the same Heb. word is rendered _dispersed_); 2 Corinthians 9:6. _yet increaseth_ Rather, INCREASETH YET MORE, R.V. εἰσὶν οἱ τὰ ἴδια σπείροντες πλείονα ποιοῦσιν, LXX.; Alii dividunt propria et ditiores fiunt, Vulg. _more than_ This, with A.V. and R.V. text, is... [ Continue Reading ]
_The liberal soul_ Lit. THE SOUL OF BLESSING (ψυχὴ εὐλογουμένη, LXX.); the soul that is ready to benefit and bless in will and deed. Comp. "a blessing" = "a gift," 2 Kings 5:15, and ὁ σπείρων ἐπʼ εὐλογίαις, 2 Corinthians 9:6.... [ Continue Reading ]
_withholdeth_ e.g. by keeping back his store in time of necessity to run up the price. See Amos 8:4-6, and comp. the legend of Bishop Hatto.... [ Continue Reading ]
_diligently seeketh … procureth … seeketh_ Three different Heb. words are used. The shades of meaning are given by R.V.: _diligently seeketh_(with A.V.) i.e. makes good his chief aim; _seeketh_, i.e. whether consciously or not, is really seeking "favour with God and man"; _searcheth after_, i.e. is... [ Continue Reading ]
_branch_ Rather LEAF, R.V. Comp. Genesis 3:7; Psalms 1:3.... [ Continue Reading ]
_troubleth_ by churlish and niggardly ways. Comp. the story of Nabal, 1 Samuel 25. _the wind_ Which shall drive away him and his possessions, Psalms 1:4; or _the wind_may here be used to denote that which is unsubstantial and vanishes away. Comp. Isaiah 41:29.... [ Continue Reading ]
_the fruit of the righteous_ We should rather perhaps have expected the proverb to run, "the righteous (himself) is a tree of life," in his beneficent influence upon others (Revelation 22:2); but the object of the proverb in both its clauses is to lay stress upon the attractive power of goodness, an... [ Continue Reading ]
_shall be recompensed_ This might mean, shall receive, in each case, the return due to him; the righteous shall be _rewarded_(as the same Heb. word is rendered in Proverbs 13:13) and the wicked _punished_(comp. _recompense evil_, the Heb. word being again the same, Jeremiah 18:20). But then it is di... [ Continue Reading ]