Proverbs 21:1

CHAPTER XXI

The king's heart is in the hand of God. We should practise

mercy and justice. The lying tongue. The quarrelsome woman.

The punishment of the wicked. The uncharitable. The private

gift. The happiness of the righteous. The wicked a ransom for

the righteous. The treasures of the wise. He who guards his

tongue. Desire of the sluggard. The false witness. Salvation

is of the Lord.

NOTES ON CHAP. XXI

Verse Proverbs 21:1. The king's heart is in the hand of the Lord] The Lord is the only ruler of princes. He alone can govern and direct their counsels. But there is an allusion here to the Eastern method of watering their lands. Several canals are dug from one stream; and by opening a particular sluice, the husbandman can direct a stream to whatever part he please: so the king's heart, wherever it turns; i.e., to whomsoever he is disposed to show favour. As the land is enriched with the streams employed in irrigation; so is the favourite of the king, by the royal bounty: and God can induce the king to give that bounty to whomsoever he will. See Harmer.