CHAPTER X _It is impossible to give summaries of such chapters as these,_ _where almost every verse contains a separate subject. Our_ _common version not being able to exhibit the contents as usual,_ _simply says, "From this chapter to the five and twentieth are_ _sundry observations upon moral... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Proverbs 10:2. _TREASURES OF WICKEDNESS_] Property gained by wicked means. _DELIVERED FROM DEATH_] Treasures gained by robbery often bring their possessors to an untimely death; but those gained by righteous dealing bring with them no such consequences.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Proverbs 10:3. _BUT HE CASTETH AWAY THE SUBSTANCE OF THE WICKED._] But instead of רשעים _reshaim, the wicked_, בוגדים bogedim, _hypocrites_, or _perfidious_ persons, is the reading of _twelve_ or _fourteen_ of _Kennicott's_ and _De Rossi's_ MSS., and some _editions;_ but it is not acknowledged... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Proverbs 10:4. _HE BECOMETH POOR_] God has ordered, in the course of his providence, that he who will not _work_ shall not _eat_. And he always blesses the work of the _industrious_ man.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Proverbs 10:5. _HE THAT GATHERETH IN SUMMER_] All the work of the field should be done in the _season suitable to it_. If _summer_ and _harvest_ be neglected, in vain does a man expect the fruits of _autumn_.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Proverbs 10:6. _VIOLENCE COVERETH THE MOUTH OF THE WICKED._] As _blessings shall be on the head of the just_, so the _violence of_ _the wicked shall cover their face_ with shame and confusion. Their own violent dealings shall be visited upon them. _The mouth forsoth_ _of unpitious men wickidne... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Proverbs 10:7. _THE MEMORY OF THE JUST_ IS _BLESSED_] Or, _is a blessing_. _BUT THE NAME OF THE WICKED SHALL ROT._] This is another antithesis; but there are only two antithetic terms, for _memory_ and _name_ are synonymous.-_Lowth_. The very name of the wicked is as offensive as putrid carri... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Proverbs 10:8. _A PRATING FOOL SHALL FALL._] This clause is repeated in the _tenth_ verse. The _wise man will receive the commandment: but_ _the shallow blabbing fool shall be cast down_. See Proverbs 10:10.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Proverbs 10:9. _HE THAT WALKETH UPRIGHTLY_] The upright man is always _safe_; he has not _two characters_ to support; he goes straight forward, and is never afraid of _detection_, because he has never been influenced by _hypocrisy_ or _deceit_.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Proverbs 10:10. _HE THAT WINKETH WITH THE EYE_] Instead of the latter clause, on which see Proverbs 10:8, the _Septuagint_ has, ὁ δε ελεγχων μετα παῥρησιας ειρηνοποιει· "but he that reproveth with freedom, maketh peace." This is also the reading of the _Syriac_ and _Arabic_. A faithful open... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Proverbs 10:11. _THE MOUTH OF A RIGHTEOUS_ MAN IS _A WELL OF LIFE_] מקור חיים _mekor chaiyim_, is the _vein of lives_; an allusion to the _great aorta_, which conveys the blood from the heart to every part of the body. The latter clause of this verse is the same with that of Proverbs 10:6.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Proverbs 10:12. _HATRED STIRRETH UP STRIFES_] It seeks for occasions to provoke enmity. It delights in broils. On the contrary, love conciliates; removes aggravations; puts the best construction on every thing; and pours _water_, not _oil_, upon the _flame_.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Proverbs 10:13. _A ROD_ IS _FOR THE BACK OF HIM_] He that _can learn_, and _will not learn_, should be _made to learn_. The rod is a most powerful instrument of knowledge. Judiciously applied, there is a lesson of profound wisdom in every _twig_.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Proverbs 10:14. _WISE_ MEN _LAY UP KNOWLEDGE_] They keep secret every thing that has a tendency to disturb domestic or public peace; but the foolish man blabs all out, and produces much mischief. Think much, speak little, and always think before you speak. This will promote your own peace and... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Proverbs 10:15. _THE RICH MAN'S WEALTH_ IS _HIS STRONG CITY_] Behold a mystery in providence; there is not a _rich man_ on earth but becomes such by means of the _poor_! Property comes from the _labour_ of the _poor_, and _the king himself is served of the field_. How unjust, diabolically so,... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Proverbs 10:16. _THE LABOUR OF THE RIGHTEOUS_] The good man labours that he may be able to _support life_; this is his _first_ object: and then to have _something to divide with the poor_; this is his _next_ object. _THE FRUIT OF THE WICKED TO SIN._] This man lives to eat and drink, and his p... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Proverbs 10:17. _HE_ IS IN _THE WAY OF LIFE_] The truly religious man accumulates knowledge that he may the better know how to live to God, and do most good among men.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Proverbs 10:18. _HE THAT HIDETH_] This is a common case. How many, when full of resentment, and deadly hatred, meditating revenge and cruelty, and sometimes even murder, have pretended that they _thought nothing of the injury they had sustained_; had _passed by_ _the insult_, c.! Thus _lying l... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Proverbs 10:19. _IN THE MULTITUDE OF WORDS_] It is impossible to speak much, and yet speak nothing but truth; and injure no man's character in the mean while.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Proverbs 10:20. _THE HEART OF THE WICKED_ IS _LITTLE WORTH_] כמעט _kimat,_ is like little or nothing; or is _like dross_, while the tongue of the just is like _silver_. A sinner's heart is worth nothing, and is good for nothing; and yet because it is his most _hidden part_, he vaunts of its _h... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Proverbs 10:22. _THE BLESSING OF THE LORD, IT MAKETH RICH_] Whatever we receive in the way of providence, has God's blessing in it, and will do us good. Cares, troubles, and difficulties come with all property not acquired in this way; but God's blessing gives simple enjoyment, and levies no t... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Proverbs 10:23. IT IS _A SPORT TO A FOOL TO DO MISCHIEF_] What a millstone weight of iniquity hangs about the necks of most of the _jesters, facetious_ and _witty_ people! "How many lies do they tell in jest, to go to the devil in earnest!... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Proverbs 10:24. _THE FEAR OF THE WICKED_] The wicked is full of fears and alarms; and all that he has dreaded and more than he has dreaded, shall come upon him. The righteous is always _desiring_ more of the salvation of God, and God will exceed even his utmost desires.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Proverbs 10:25. _AS THE WHIRLWIND PASSETH_] As tornadoes that sweep every thing away before them; so shall the wrath of God sweep away the wicked; it shall leave him neither branch nor root. But the righteous, being built on the _eternal foundation_, יסוד עולם yesod _olam_, shall never be shak... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Proverbs 10:26. _AS VINEGAR TO THE TEETH_] The _acid_ softening and dissolving the _alkali_ of the bone, so as to impair their texture, and render them incapable of _masticating_; and as _smoke_ affects the eyes, irritating their tender vessels, so as to give pain and prevent distinct vision;... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Proverbs 10:28. _THE EXPECTATION OF THE WICKED SHALL PERISH._] A wicked man is always imposing on himself by the _hope of God's mercy_ and _final happiness_; and he continues _hoping_, till he dies without receiving that _mercy_ which alone would entitle him to that _glory_.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Proverbs 10:29. _THE WAY OF THE LORD_ IS _STRENGTH_] In the path of _obedience_ the upright man ever finds his _strength renewed_; the more he _labours_ the _stronger_ he grows. The same sentiment as that in Isaiah 40:31.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Proverbs 10:30. _THE RIGHTEOUS SHALL NEVER BE REMOVED_] Because he is built on the _eternal foundation_. See on Proverbs 10:25.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Proverbs 10:31. _THE FROWARD TONGUE SHALL BE CUT OUT._] This probably alludes to the punishment of _cutting out the tongue for blasphemy,_ _treasonable speeches, profane swearing_, or such like. _The tunge of_ _schrewis schal perishen. _- Old MS. Bible. Were the tongue of every _shrew_ or _sco... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Proverbs 10:32. _THE LIPS OF THE RIGHTEOUS KNOW WHAT IS ACCEPTABLE_] And what they believe to be most pleasing and most profitable, that they speak, but the wicked man knows as well what is _perverse_, and that he speaketh forth. As the love of God is not in his heart, so the law of kindness i... [ Continue Reading ]