This emphatic reproduction of the old rule of Deuteronomy 25:13 is perhaps a trace of the danger of dishonesty incidental to the growing commerce of the Israelites. The stress laid upon the same sin in Proverbs 16:11; Proverbs 20:10; bears witness to the desire of the teacher to educate the youth of... [ Continue Reading ]
A rabbinic paraphrase of the second clause is: “Lowly souls become full of wisdom as the low place becomes full of water.”... [ Continue Reading ]
THE DAY OF WRATH - Words true in their highest sense of the great “diesirae” of the future, but spoken in the first instance (compare Zephaniah 1:15) of any “day of the Lord,” any time of judgment, when men or nations receive the chastisement of their sins. At such a time “riches profit not.”... [ Continue Reading ]
Significant words, as showing the belief that when the righteous died, his “expectation” (i. e., his hope for the future) did not perish. The second clause is rendered by some, “the expectation that brings sorrow.”... [ Continue Reading ]
THROUGH KNOWLEDGE - Better, By the knowledge of the just, shall they (i. e., the neighbors) be delivered.... [ Continue Reading ]
THE BLESSING OF THE UPRIGHT - Probably the prayers which he offers for the good of the city in which he dwells, and which avail to preserve it from destruction (compare Genesis 18:23); or “the blessing which God gives the upright.”... [ Continue Reading ]
None but the man “void of wisdom” will show contempt for those about him. The wise man, if he cannot admire or praise, will at least know how to be silent.... [ Continue Reading ]
The man who comes to us with tales about others will reveal our secrets also. Faithfulness is shown, not only in doing what a man has been commissioned to do, but in doing it quietly and without garrulity.... [ Continue Reading ]
COUNSEL - See Proverbs 1:5 note. This precept may well be thought of as coming with special force at the time of the organization of the monarchy of Israel. Compare 1 Kings 12:6.... [ Continue Reading ]
See the marginal reference. The play upon “sure” and “suretiship” in the the King James Version (though each word is rightly rendered) has nothing corresponding to it in the Hebrew, and seems to have originated in a desire to give point to the proverb.... [ Continue Reading ]
Or, “The gracious woman wins and keeps honor, as (the conjunction may be so rendered) strong men win riches.”... [ Continue Reading ]
DECEITFUL WORK - Work which deceives and disappoints the worker; in contrast with the “sure reward” of the second clause. Omit “shall be” and render, “but he that soweth righteousness worketh a sure reward.”... [ Continue Reading ]
literally, “hand to hand.” The meaning of which is, “Hand may plight faith to hand, men may confederate for evil, yet punishment shall come at last;” or “From hand to hand, from one generation to another, punishment shall descend on the evil doers.”... [ Continue Reading ]
The most direct proverb, in the sense of “similitude,” which has as yet met us. JEWEL OF GOLD - Better, ring; i. e., the nose-ring Genesis 24:22, Genesis 24:47; Isaiah 3:21. WITHOUT DISCRETION - literally, “without taste,” void of the subtle tact and grace, without which mere outward beauty is as... [ Continue Reading ]
WITHHOLDETH MORE THAN IS MEET - i. e., Is sparing and niggardly where he ought to give. The contrast is stated in the form of a paradox, to which the two following verses supply the answer. Some render, “There is that withholdeth from what is due,” i. e., from a just debt, or from the generosity of... [ Continue Reading ]
LIBERAL SOUL - literally, “the soul that blesses,” i. e., gives freely and fully. The similitudes are both of them essentially Eastern. Fatness, the sleek, well filled look of health, becomes the figure of prosperity, as leanness of misfortune Proverbs 13:4; Proverbs 28:25; Psalms 22:29; Isaiah 10:1... [ Continue Reading ]
In the early stages of commerce there seems no way of making money rapidly so sure as that of buying up grain in time of famine, waiting until the dearth presses heavily, and then selling at famine prices. Men hate this selfishness, and pour blessings upon him who sells at a moderate profit.... [ Continue Reading ]
PROCURETH - Better, striveth after. He who desires good, absolutely, for its own sake, is also unconsciously striving after the favor which attends goodness.... [ Continue Reading ]
BRANCH - Better, leaf, as in Psalms 1:3; Isaiah 34:4.... [ Continue Reading ]
HE THAT TROUBLETH ... - The temper, nigardly and worrying, which leads a man to make those about him miserable, and proves but bad economy in the end.... [ Continue Reading ]
WINNETH SOULS - Better, a wise man winneth souls. He that is wise draws the souls of people to himself, just as the fruit of the righteous is to all around him a tree of life, bearing new fruits of healing evermore. The phrase is elsewhere translated by “taketh the life” 1 Kings 19:4; Psalms 31:13.... [ Continue Reading ]
The sense would appear to be, “The righteous is requited, i. e., is punished for his lesser sins, or as a discipline; much more the wicked, etc.” Compare 1 Peter 4:18.... [ Continue Reading ]