Proverbs 29:1-9

CHAPTER 29
TEXT Proverbs 29:1-9

1.

He that being often reproved hardeneth his neck

Shall suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy.

2.

When the righteous are increased, the people rejoice;

But when a wicked man beareth rule, the people sigh.

3.

Whoso loveth wisdom rejoiceth his father;

But he that keepeth company with harlots wasteth his substance.

4.

The king by justice establisheth the land;

But he that exacteth gifts overthroweth it.

5.

A man that flattereth his neighbor

Spreadeth a net for his steps.

6.

In the transgression of an evil man there is a snare;

But the righteous doth sing and rejoice.

7.

The righteous taketh knowledge of the cause of the poor;

The wicked hath not understanding to know it.

8.

Scoffers set a city in a flame;

But wise men turn away wrath.

9.

If a wise man hath a controversy with a foolish man,

Whether he be angry or laugh, there will be no rest.

STUDY QUESTIONS OVER 29:1-9

1.

What strong warning does Proverbs 29:1 contain?

2.

What verses in Proverbs besides Proverbs 29:2 state similar truth?

3.

What character in a parable of Jesus fulfilled the last statement of Proverbs 29:3?

4.

Reword the last statement of Proverbs 29:4.

5.

A previous verse on flattery said, A flattering tongue ...................

6.

A snare to whom (Proverbs 29:6)?

7.

Does Proverbs 29:7 indicate that the righteous themselves are not always poor?

8.

How would scoffers set a city aflame (Proverbs 29:8)?

9.

Does whether he be angry or laugh go with wise man or foolish man (Proverbs 29:9)?

PARAPHRASE OF 29:1-9

1.

The man who is often reproved but refuses to accept criticism will suddenly be broken and never have another chance.

2.

With good men in authority, the people rejoice; but with the wicked in power, they groan.

3.

A wise son makes his father happy, but a lad who hangs around with prostitutes disgraces him.

4.

A just king gives stability to his nation, but one who demands bribes destroys it.

5, 6.

Flattery is a trap; evil men are caught in it, but good men stay away and sing for joy.

7.

The good man knows the poor man's rights; the godless don-'t care.

8.

Fools start fights everywhere while wise men try to keep peace.

9.

There's no use arguing with a fool. He only rages and scoffs, and tempers flare.

COMMENTS ON 29:1-9

Proverbs 29:1. Jehovah had tried to get Judah to do right, but they would not listen; therefore, He destroyed them without remedy: Jehovah...sent to them by his messengers, rising up early and sending...but they mocked the messengers of God, and despised his words, and scoffed at his prophets, until the wrath of Jehovah arose against his people, until there was no remedy (2 Chronicles 36:15; 2 Chronicles 36:17). When wisdom is thus despised, this is the result: Ye have set at naught all my counsel, and would none of my reproof...when your fear cometh as a storm, and your calamity cometh on as a whirlwind; when distress and anguish come upon you, then will they call upon me, but I will not answer (Proverbs 1:25-28).

Proverbs 29:2. The contrast is between a righteous and a wicked ruler and between the people's rejoicing under the righteous ruler and their sighing under the wicked. Previous contrasts involving the same in Proverbs: When it goeth well with the righteous, the city rejoiceth; And when the wicked perish, there is shouting (Proverbs 11:10); When the righteous triumph, there is great glory; But when the wicked rise, men hide themselves (Proverbs 28:12); When the wicked rise, men hide themselves; But when they perish, the righteous increase (Proverbs 28:28).

Proverbs 29:3. This verse talks of two altogether different kinds of sons and the consequences. Other passages showing a son's conduct's effect upon his parents: A wise son maketh a glad father; But a foolish son is the heaviness of his mother (Proverbs 10:1); A wise son maketh a glad father, But a foolish man despiseth his mother (Proverbs 15:20); My son, be wise, and make my heart glad (Proverbs 27:11), Yes, men have been made poor though their evil lusts: Lest strangers be filled with thy strength (Proverbs 5:10)margin says wealth instead of strength; On account of a harlot a man is brought to a piece of bread (Proverbs 6:26). The Prodigal Son wasted his substance with riotous living (Luke 15:13). According to his elder brother, he spent it on harlots (Luke 15:30).

Proverbs 29:4. A double contrast: by justice vs. exacteth gifts and establisheth the land vs. overthroweth it. When a king rules according to the laws of justice, things go well with both him and the land, for God blesses, and the people are happy. The bribe-taking king (he that exacteth gifts) overthrows it because such is not right, God is not pleased, and the people do not approve it.

Proverbs 29:5. Flattery is insincere compliments. This verse shows it is buttering a person in order to eat him. A flattering tongue worketh ruin (Proverbs 26:28). When some people speak fair, they should not be believed; their hearts may be filled with abominations (Proverbs 26:25), The flatteries of our verse are nothing more than something that will draw one's attentions away from the net that is being spread in one's way. Such operate on the idea expressed in Proverbs 1:17: In vain is the net spread in the sight of any bird.

Proverbs 29:6. The contrast within the verse shows that the snare ensnares the transgressor himself. This very language is used in several other passages, all relating to one's transgression: A fool's mouth is his destruction, And his lips are the snare of his soul (Proverbs 18:7); It is a snare to a man rashly to say, It is holy and vows to make inquiry (Proverbs 20:25); Lest thou learn his ways, and get a snare to thy soul (Proverbs 22:25). But righteousness does not ensnare one; it leads to singing and rejoicing.

Proverbs 29:7. The righteous give to the poor because they first of all take knowledge of their situation and then care. Because the wicked do not care, they do not bother themselves to take knowledge of their condition, and if they know about it, they dismiss it from their thoughts. Job is an example of one who investigated need: I was a father to the needy: And the cause of him that I knew not I searched out (Job 29:16). Psalms 41 :l says, Blessed is he that considereth the poor. This would not be the priest and the Levite of Jesus-' parable (Luke 10:31; Luke 10:33).

Proverbs 29:8. The setting of this verse is an attacked or besieged city. Men may scoff at the enemy that is able to overthrow the city. Conquerors often spared a city destruction if it surrendered, but if it resisted, it was conquered and then destroyed. Thus, it is overthrown by the mouth of the wicked (Proverbs 11:11). The wise men who turn away wrath would be those who, seeing that they were hopelessly outnumbered and defeated, asked for terms or conditions of peace.

Proverbs 29:9. When a foolish men is encountered in a controversy, he may get angry (realizing he is getting the worst end of it), or he may laugh (not sensing that he is being defeated). Such a controversy never comes to a suitable, satisfying point of conclusion as it should. Pulpit Commentary: After all has been said, the fool only falls into a passion or laughs at the matter, argument is wasted upon him, and the controversy is never settled. Wordsworth: The irreligious fool is won neither by the austere preaching of John the Baptist nor by the mild teaching of Christ, but rejects both (Matthew 11:16-19).

TEST QUESTIONS OVER 29:1-9

1.

What was cited as an example of Proverbs 29:1?

2.

Comment upon Proverbs 29:2.

3.

Tie Proverbs 29:3 in with Proverbs 6:32.

4.

Comment upon the truthfulness of Proverbs 29:4.

5.

Why does one seeking another's destruction employ flattery at times (Proverbs 29:5)?

6.

Where else is snare used in this sense (Proverbs 29:6)?

7.

Why do the righteous take knowledge of the poor (Proverbs 29:7)? Why don-'t the wicked?

8.

What is the setting of Proverbs 29:8?

9.

Comment upon Proverbs 29:9.