CHAPTER XIII _Various moral sentences; the wise child; continence of speech;_ _of the poor rich man and the rich poor man; ill-gotten wealth;_ _delay of what is hoped for; the bad consequences of refusing_ _instruction; providing for one's children; the necessity of_ _correcting them, c._ NOTE... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Proverbs 13:3. _HE THAT KEEPETH HIS MOUTH KEEPETH HIS LIFE_] How often have the foolish, headstrong, and wicked, forfeited their lives by the _treasonable_ or _blasphemous_ words they have spoken! The _government of the tongue_ is a _rare_ but useful talent. BUT _HE THAT OPENETH WIDE HIS LIPS... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Proverbs 13:4. _THE SOUL OF THE SLUGGARD DESIRETH, AND_ HATH _NOTHING_] We often hear many religious people expressing a _desire to have more_ _of the Divine life_, and yet never get _forward_ in it. How is this? The reason is, they _desire_, but do not _stir themselves up_ to lay hold upon th... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Proverbs 13:7. _THERE IS THAT MAKETH HIMSELF RICH_] That labours hard to acquire money, _yet hath nothing_; his excessive _covetousness_ not being satisfied with what he possesses, nor permitting him to enjoy _with comfort_ what he has acquired. The fable of _the dog in_ _the manger_ will illu... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Proverbs 13:8. _THE RANSOM OF A MAN'S LIFE_] Those who have riches have often much trouble with them; as they had much trouble to _get_ them, so they have much trouble to _keep_ them. In despotic countries, a rich man is often accused of some capital crime, and to save his life, though he may... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Proverbs 13:9. _THE LIGHT OF THE RIGHTEOUS REJOICETH_] They shall have that measure of prosperity which shall be best for them; but the wicked, howsoever prosperous for a time, shall be brought into desolation. _Light_ and _lamp_ in both cases may signify _posterity_. The righteous shall have... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Proverbs 13:10. _BY PRIDE COMETH CONTENTION_] Perhaps there is not a _quarrel_ among _individuals_ in private life, nor a _war_ among nations, that does not proceed from _pride_ and _ambition_. Neither _man_ nor _nation_ will be content to be _less_ than another; and to acquire the wished-for... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Proverbs 13:11. _WEALTH_ GOTTEN _BY VANITY_] Wealth that is not the result of _honest industry_ and _hard labour_ is seldom permanent. All fortunes acquired by speculation, lucky hits, and ministering to the pride or luxury of others, c., soon become dissipated. They are not gotten in the way... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Proverbs 13:12. _HOPE DEFERRED MAKETH THE HEART SICK_] When once a _good_ is discovered, _want_ of it felt, _strong desire_ for the possession excited, and the promise of attainment made on grounds unsuspected, so that the _reality_ of the _thing_ and the _certainty_ of the _promise_ are mani... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Proverbs 13:13. _WHOSO DESPISETH THE WORD_] The revelation which God has in his mercy given to man - _shall be destroyed_; for there is no other way of salvation but that which it points out. _BUT HE THAT FEARETH THE COMMANDMENT_] That respects it so as to obey it, walking as this revelation... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Proverbs 13:14. _THE LAW OF THE WISE_ IS _A FOUNTAIN OF LIFE_] Perhaps it would be better to translate, "The law is to the wise man a fountain of life." It is the same to him as the "vein of lives," מקור חיים _mekor chaiyim_, the great _aorta_ which transmits the blood from the heart to every... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Proverbs 13:15. _THE WAY OF TRANSGRESSORS IS HARD._] Never was a truer saying; most sinners have _more pain_ and _difficulty_ to get their souls damned, than the righteous have, with all their cross-bearings, to get to the kingdom of heaven.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Proverbs 13:17. _A WICKED MESSENGER_] The _Septuagint_: βασιλευς θρασυες, _a bold king_; instead of מלאך _malach_, a _messenger_, they had read מלך _melech_, a _king_: but they are singular in this rendering; none of the other versions have it so. He that betrays the counsels of his government... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Proverbs 13:19. _THE DESIRE ACCOMPLISHED_] See on Proverbs 13:12.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Proverbs 13:20. _HE THAT WALKETH WITH WISE_ MEN _SHALL BE WISE_] To _walk_ with a person implies _love_ and _attachment_; and it is impossible not _to imitate those we love_. So we say, "Show me his company, and I'll tell you the man." Let me know the company he keeps, and I shall easily guess... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Proverbs 13:22. _A GOOD_ MAN _LEAVETH AN INHERITANCE_] He files many a _prayer_ in heaven in their behalf, and his good _example_ and _advices_ are remembered and quoted from generation to generation. Besides, whatever property he left was _honestly_ acquired, and _well-gotten goods are perman... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Proverbs 13:23. THAT IS _DESTROYED FOR WANT OF JUDGMENT._] O, how much of the _poverty_ of the _poor_ arises from their own want of management! They have little or no economy, and no foresight. When they get any thing, they speedily spend it; and a _feast_ and a _famine_ make the chief _variet... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Proverbs 13:24. _HE THAT SPARETH HIS ROD HATETH HIS SON_] That is, if he _hated_ him, he could not do him a greater disservice than not to correct him when his _obstinacy_ or _disobedience_ requires it. We have met with this subject already, and it is a favourite with Solomon. See the places r... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Proverbs 13:25. _TO THE SATISFYING OF HIS SOUL_] His desires are all moderate; he is contented with his circumstances, and is pleased with the lot which God is pleased to send. The wicked, though he use all _shifts_ and _expedients_ to acquire earthly good, not sticking even at _rapine_ and _w... [ Continue Reading ]