_A.M. 3004. B.C. 1000._ Here properly begins the book of Proverbs, as the title of this chapter tells us; what hath been delivered hitherto being rather a preface, or introduction, to the work; to awaken attention, and, from sundry arguments, to recommend the wise instructions, which now follow, to... [ Continue Reading ]
_The Proverbs of Solomon_ Properly so called; for the foregoing Chapter s, although they had this title in the beginning of them, yet, in truth, were only a preparation to them, intended to stir up men's minds to the greater attention to all the precepts of wisdom, whereof some here follow; see the... [ Continue Reading ]
_Treasures of wickedness_ Such as are got by any sort of unjust or wicked practices; or worldly riches in general, termed by our Lord, _the mammon of unrighteousness, Luke 16:9_, because they are often used in an unrighteous manner, and made instruments of unrighteousness, and for other reasons ther... [ Continue Reading ]
_The Lord will not suffer the righteous to famish_ Will preserve them from famine, according to his promises, Psalms 34:10, (on which see the note,) and elsewhere; _but he casteth away the substance_ So הות, the word here used, sometimes signifies; or, the _wickedness_, that is, the wealth gotten by... [ Continue Reading ]
_He becometh poor_ Probably by slow degrees; _that dealeth with a slack hand_ Who is negligent and slothful in his business. Hebrew, כ Š רמיה, with a _deceitful hand_, so called, partly because it seems, or pretends to do something, when, in truth, it doth nothing; and partly because such persons us... [ Continue Reading ]
_He that gathereth_ The fruits of his field; _in summer_ In harvest, as it follows, which is a part of summer; _is a wise son_ Acts a prudent and proper part: he acts wisely for his parents, whom, if need be, he ought to maintain, and he gains reputation to himself, his family, and education. _But h... [ Continue Reading ]
_Blessings are upon the head of the just_ All sorts of blessings are wished to them by men, and conferred upon them by God. _But violence _ Either, 1st, The fruit or punishment of their own violence: or, 2d, The violent, injurious, and mischievous practices of others against them, deserved by their... [ Continue Reading ]
_The wise, &c., will receive commandments_ Is ready to hear and obey the precepts of God and men. _But a prating fool_ One who is slow to hear, and swift to speak, who, instead of receiving good admonitions, cavils and disputes against them; Hebrew, אויל שׂפתים, _a fool of lips_, one who discovers t... [ Continue Reading ]
_He that walketh uprightly_ Who is sincere, and just, and faithful in his dealings with God, and toward men; _walketh surely_ Hebrew, ילךְ בשׂח, _shall walk securely_, or _confidently_, as the word properly signifies; quietly resting upon God's favour and gracious providence for his protection, bein... [ Continue Reading ]
_He that winketh with his eye_ That secretly and cunningly designs mischiefs against others: see on Proverbs 6:13: _causeth sorrow _ To others, and afterward to himself; _but_ Or, _and_, as it is in the Hebrew; for vice is not here opposed to virtue, as it is in many other proverbs, but one vice is... [ Continue Reading ]
_The mouth of a righteous man is a well of life_ Continually sending forth waters of life, or such words as are refreshing and useful, both to himself and others, both for the preserving of natural life, the promoting of spiritual, and ensuring of eternal life; _but violence_, &c. See on Proverbs 10... [ Continue Reading ]
_Hatred stirreth up strife_ Upon every slight occasion, by filling men's minds with suspicions and surmises, whereby they imagine faults where there are none, and aggravate every small offence; _but love covereth all sins_ Either doth not severely observe, or willingly forgives and forgets the injur... [ Continue Reading ]
_In the lips, &c., wisdom is found_ His wisdom shows itself in his prudent speeches, by which he escapes that rod which fools meet with, and gains that reputation and advantage to himself which fools lose; _but a rod is for the back of him_ He may expect rebukes and punishments from God and men; _th... [ Continue Reading ]
_The rich man's wealth is his strong city_ It often redeems him from dangers and calamities: or it is such in his own imagination, as it is explained Proverbs 18:11. It makes him confident and secure. _The destruction of the poor_ The cause of their destruction; _is their poverty _ Which often rende... [ Continue Reading ]
_The labour of the righteous tendeth to life_ The design of his labour is only this, that he may have wherewith to live honestly, without making use of any sinful shifts. Or rather, the fruit or effect of his labour and industry is the preservation of this life, and the obtaining of eternal life, to... [ Continue Reading ]
_He is in the way of life_ The way which leadeth to life and blessedness; _that keepeth instruction_ That observeth the wholesome counsels of God and good men: _but he that refuseth reproof erreth_ Namely, from the way of life, or into the ways of sin, and so of death. Hebrew, מתעה, _causeth to err_... [ Continue Reading ]
_He that hideth hatred with lying lips_ With flattering words, and false pretences of friendship; _and he that uttereth slander_ That is, both of them, one no less than the other; _is a fool_ Because a sinner; and because the mischief of these things will fall upon himself. So he condemns two opposi... [ Continue Reading ]
_The tongue of the just is as choice silver_ Of great worth and use, bringing credit to himself, and great benefit to others; _the heart of the wicked is little worth_ And consequently his tongue, which speaketh _out of the abundance of the heart, Matthew 12:34_. _The lips of the righteous feed many... [ Continue Reading ]
_The blessing of the Lord maketh rich_ Riches are not gotten merely by wisdom or diligence, but also, and especially, by God's favour and blessing; _and addeth no sorrow with it_ Namely, with that blessing which gives riches, but adds content and comfort with them, which is a singular gift and bless... [ Continue Reading ]
_It is as sport to a fool to do mischief_ Or, as some render it, _to work wickedness;_ yea, great and premeditated wickedness, as the word here used, זמה, properly signifies: he doth it with ease and delight, and without any shame, or remorse, or fear. _But a man of understanding hath wisdom_ Whereb... [ Continue Reading ]
_The fear of the wicked_ The evil which he feared, or hath cause to fear; _it shall come upon him_ Notwithstanding his cunning contrivances, and various efforts to prevent it. Indeed “wicked men frequently draw upon themselves what they feared, by the very means whereby they studied to avoid it; a r... [ Continue Reading ]
_As vinegar to the teeth_ Which, by its coldness and sharpness, it offends; _and as smoke, &c., so is the sluggard_ Unserviceable and vexatious. “A negligent, dilatory servant vexes those who send him, just as keen vinegar gives pain to the teeth, and bitter smoke torments the eyes.” Schultens.... [ Continue Reading ]
_The fear of the Lord prolongeth days_ For it gives those who are influenced by it a title to the promise of long life, as well as to other promises; it gladdens their hearts, which does good like a medicine, Proverbs 17:22; and it preserves them from those wicked practices which tend to the shorten... [ Continue Reading ]
_The way of the Lord_ Either, 1st, The course of his providence in the government of the world: or rather, 2d, The way of God's precepts, commonly meant by that expression in the Scriptures; _is strength to the upright_ Gives them strength, support, and protection. _But destruction_ Hebrew, מחתה, _t... [ Continue Reading ]
_The mouth of the just bringeth forth wisdom_ It freely, abundantly, and constantly brings forth wise counsels, as the earth or a tree brings forth its proper fruit, as the word ינוב, here used, properly signifies; _but the froward tongue shall be cut off_ Because it brings forth, not wisdom, but fo... [ Continue Reading ]