Proverbs 20 - Introduction
_A.M. 3004. B.C. 1000._... [ Continue Reading ]
_A.M. 3004. B.C. 1000._... [ Continue Reading ]
_Wine is a mocker_ Wine immoderately drank makes men mockers or scoffers at God and men: see Hosea 7:5. Or, is a mocker to the sinner himself, makes a mock of him, deprives him of his understanding, and causes him to speak and act like a fool, and thereby renders him ridiculous, and exposes him to s... [ Continue Reading ]
_The fear of a king_, &c. See on Proverbs 16:14; Proverbs 19:12. _It is an honour to a man to cease from strife_ Either to prevent it, or, if it be begun, to put an end to it: which, although proud and profane persons esteem dishonourable to them, would indeed be their glory, because it would be an... [ Continue Reading ]
_The sluggard will not plough by reason of cold_ The cold of the ploughing season, being in the latter end of autumn, and toward winter, or early in the spring. He hates and avoids all laborious and difficult work, although his own necessity and interest oblige him to do it; _therefore shall he beg,... [ Continue Reading ]
_Counsel in the heart of man_ Either, 1st, Ability to give counsel; or, 2d, The design or purpose of doing something of importance; for the word עצה, here rendered _counsel_, is frequently used in both senses, but the latter seems most proper here; _it is like deep water_ Is there in great abundance... [ Continue Reading ]
_Most men will proclaim every one his own goodness_ “Most men are ready enough to claim to themselves a large share of piety and virtue;” _but a faithful man who can find?_ “Where is that man of true and undissembled virtue to be found, who studies rather to _be_, than to _seem_, good?” There are bu... [ Continue Reading ]
_A king that sitteth in the throne of judgment_ That makes it his great care and business to execute justice and judgment among his people, especially if he do this in his own person, as it was usual for kings to do in ancient times, and see things with his own eyes; _scattereth away all evil_ Effec... [ Continue Reading ]
_Who can say, I have made my heart clean?_ No man can say that he hath made his own heart clean: but God can _create in man a clean heart_, as David expresses himself, Psalms 51:10, (on which see the note,) _and can renew a right spirit within him; I am pure from my sin_ No man can render himself pu... [ Continue Reading ]
_A child is known by his doings_ Children discover their inclinations or dispositions by their childish speeches and carriages, as not having yet learned the art of dissembling: _whether his work be_, or rather, _will be, pure_ That is, the future disposition and conduct of a man may be very probabl... [ Continue Reading ]
_Love not sleep_ That is, immoderate sleep, nor sloth, or idleness. Take sleep because necessity requires it, not from any love to it; _lest thou come to poverty_ Lest thou reduce thyself to beggary. Persons that indulge themselves in sleep to excess, not only lose the time which they spend therein,... [ Continue Reading ]
_It is naught, it is naught._ The commodity is but of little worth; _saith the buyer_ Namely, to the seller; he discommends it, that he may bring down the price of it; _but when he is gone his way_ Having purchased the article upon his own terms; _then he boasteth_ That by his subtlety he hath overr... [ Continue Reading ]
_There is gold_, &c. Namely, in the world, in divers persons' hands, by whom it is much prized; _but the lips of knowledge_ Wise speeches, proceeding from a well-informed and upright mind, _are a precious jewel_ Are of far greater worth, both to him that utters them, and to those that receive and im... [ Continue Reading ]
_Take his garment_, &c. Namely, as a pledge, without which he ought not to be trusted, because, by the action referred to, he shows himself to be foolish, and takes the ready way to make himself a beggar; _that is surety for a stranger_ A person unknown to him; _and a pledge of him_ who is surety _f... [ Continue Reading ]
_Bread of deceit_ Gain or pleasure procured by unrighteous courses; _is sweet to a man_ And the more sweet, because it is unlawfully obtained; such pleasure doth the carnal mind take in the success of its wicked projects! Observe, reader, all the pleasures and profits of sin are _bread of deceit;_ t... [ Continue Reading ]
_Every purpose is established by counsel_ “Rashness spoils the best designs, which must be carried on prudently, and with good advice, if we would have them to prove successful.” _And with good advice make war _ Warlike expeditions are not to be undertaken without great deliberation. It should be ma... [ Continue Reading ]
_An inheritance may be gotten hastily_ An estate is sometimes soon gained, even in the very beginning of a man's labours for it: in which case, it may be presumed that some indirect and unrighteous means have been used for the getting of it, because riches are very seldom given by God, or gotten by... [ Continue Reading ]
_Say not thou, I will recompense evil_ While we live in the world, we must expect to have injuries done us, affronts given, and much trouble wrongfully created to us. But we must not revenge ourselves; no, not so much as design or think of any such thing. We must not say, no, not in our hearts, I wi... [ Continue Reading ]
_Man's goings are of the Lord_ All men's purposes and actions are so entirely subject to the control of God's overruling providence, and so liable to be frustrated or changed, as he shall see good, and to be directed to ends so far distant from those they thought of and intended, that it is impossib... [ Continue Reading ]
_It is a snare to the man who devoureth that which is holy_ He is insnared in a crime, who takes away, and applies to his own use, any thing consecrated to God, and intended to be used in support of his worship and service; or who alienates any holy thing, and employs it to a secular purpose, which... [ Continue Reading ]
_A wise king_ Who seriously minds his duty, and his true interest; _scattereth the wicked_ Breaks their companies and confederacies, and forces them to flee several ways for their own safety; or drives them from his presence, and from the society of good men, as the chaff is separated from the corn,... [ Continue Reading ]
_The spirit of a man_ That is, the rational soul; _is the candle,_ &c. Is a clear and glorious light, set up in man for his information and direction. It is said to be the candle _of the Lord_, because it comes from God in a more immediate manner than the body, Ecclesiastes 12:7; and because it is i... [ Continue Reading ]
_Mercy_ Clemency to offenders, and bounty to worthy indigent persons; _and truth_ Faithfulness in keeping his word and promises inviolably; _preserve the king_ Because they engage God to guard him, and gain him the reverence and affections of his people, which is, under God, a king's greatest safety... [ Continue Reading ]
_The glory of young men_ That wherein they glory as their privilege above old men; _is their strength_ Namely, of body, and vigour and courage of mind; their fitness for action, their ability to go through business, and overcome difficulties which the aged and weak cannot grapple with. Their strengt... [ Continue Reading ]
_The blueness of a wound cleanseth away evil_ Grievous wounds which make men black and blue, or severe punishments, are the means which are frequently most effectual to reclaim a wicked man, and to purge out his corruptions; _so do stripes_ Hebrew, ומכות, _and stripes_, which answer to _wounds_ in t... [ Continue Reading ]