THROUGH DESIRE A MAN HAVING SEPARATED HIMSELF, SEEKETH,.... Or, "a separated man seeketh desire" g; his own desire, will, and pleasure. This is either to be understood in a good sense, of one that has a real and hearty desire after sound wisdom and knowledge, and seeks in the use of all proper means... [ Continue Reading ]
A FOOL HATH NO DELIGHT IN UNDERSTANDING,.... In natural understanding, and in the improvement of his mind in it; he delights not in books, nor in the conversation of men of learning and sense: or in spiritual understanding, in the understanding of spiritual things; these are foolishness to a natural... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEN THE WICKED COMETH, [THEN] COMETH ALSO CONTEMPT,.... When he comes into the world, as Aben Ezra; as soon as he is born, he is liable to contempt, being born in sin; but this is true of all: rather, as the Vulgate Latin, and with which the Septuagint, Syriac, and Arabic versions agree, when he co... [ Continue Reading ]
THE WORDS OF A MAN'S MOUTH [ARE AS] DEEP WATERS,.... The words of a great and mighty man; of an excellent and valuable man, as Jarchi; or of a wise man, as Aben Ezra. The doctrines which such a man has imbibed, and his heart is full of and his mouth utters, are like to "waters", pure, purifying, and... [ Continue Reading ]
[IT IS] NOT GOOD TO ACCEPT THE PERSON OF THE WICKED,.... For a judge to have respect to a wicked man in a cause before him, and to favour him, because he is a rich man, or a relation, or he has received some kindness from him; none of these things should have any influence upon him TO OVERTHROW THE... [ Continue Reading ]
A FOOL'S LIPS ENTER INTO CONTENTION,.... That is, between others, when he has nothing to do with it; but he must be meddling, and make himself a party in the contention, which is an argument of his folly; he says things which occasion disputes, raise contentions among men, and provoke to wrath and a... [ Continue Reading ]
A FOOL'S MOUTH [IS] HIS DESTRUCTION,.... The cause of it; for his contentions, and quarrels, and evil speaking, lawsuits are commenced against him, which bring ruin upon himself and his family now; as well as for his idle and wicked words he will be condemned hereafter, Matthew 12:35; there is a wor... [ Continue Reading ]
THE WORDS OF A TALEBEARER [ARE] AS WOUNDS,.... Or rather they are wounds; they wound the credit and reputation of the person of whom the tale is told; they wound the person to whom it is told, and destroy his love and affection to his friend; and in the issue they wound, hurt, and ruin the talebeare... [ Continue Reading ]
HE ALSO THAT IS SLOTHFUL IN HIS WORK,.... Remiss in it; hangs down his hands, and does not care to make use of them, but neglects his business: IS BROTHER TO HIM THAT IS A GREAT WASTER: a prodigal man, who spends his substance in riotous living: the sluggard and the prodigal are brethren in iniquit... [ Continue Reading ]
THE NAME OF THE LORD [IS] A STRONG TOWER,.... By "the name of the Lord" may be meant, either the attributes and perfections of God, by which he is made known, and which are the strength and security of his people; his goodness, grace, and mercy, are their defence; his favour encompasses them about,... [ Continue Reading ]
THE RICH MAN'S WEALTH [IS] HIS STRONG CITY,.... In which he dwells, over which he presides; in which he places his trust and confidence, and thinks himself safe from every enemy and from all trouble: as one s observes, "the abundance of a rich man's wealth he conceives to be as it were the abundanc... [ Continue Reading ]
BEFORE DESTRUCTION THE HEART OF MAN IS HAUGHTY,.... Lifted up with his riches. Rich men are apt to be highminded, and therefore are to be charged and cautioned against it; they are apt to look above their poor neighbours, and with contempt upon them; and very often this haughtiness of theirs is a pr... [ Continue Reading ]
HE THAT ANSWERETH A MATTER BEFORE HE HEARETH [IT],.... Who is impatient, and cannot wait to hear it out, but breaks in upon the speaker before he has finished what he has to say; or is rash and precipitate, and returns an answer at once, without weighing and considering, and thoroughly understanding... [ Continue Reading ]
THE SPIRIT OF A MAN WILL SUSTAIN HIS INFIRMITY,.... The spirit of a mighty man, as Jarchi; a man of spirit, that has a spirit of fortitude, even of natural fortitude, and especially of Christian fortitude; that has a spirit of might upon him, of power, and sound mind; a man of a Christian spirit, th... [ Continue Reading ]
THE HEART OF THE PRUDENT GETTETH KNOWLEDGE,.... More knowledge; for he must have some, and a considerable share, to be denominated "prudent", whether in things natural, civil, or spiritual: and such will be heartily desirous of more, and make use of all means to attain it, by which they do come at a... [ Continue Reading ]
A MAN'S GIFT MAKETH ROOM FOR HIM,.... Or "enlarges him" y; brings him out of prison, or, or out of straits and difficulties with which he, has, been pressed; or it makes way for him to a judge, and for a favourable hearing of his cause; or it enlarges his acquaintance, and gains him respect among me... [ Continue Reading ]
HE THAT IS FIRST IN HIS OWN CAUSE [SEEMETH] JUST,.... As perhaps Tertullus did, before Paul made his defence; and as Ziba, Mephibosheth's servant, before his master detected him: this often appears true in telling a tale, in private conversation, in lawsuits before a judge and a court of judicature,... [ Continue Reading ]
THE LOT CAUSETH CONTENTIONS TO CEASE,.... When a case cannot be determined among parties at variance in a private way, nor in a court of judicature, the lot is cast, and that puts an end to all strife, and makes each party easy; they submit to it, and acquiesce in it; AND PARTETH BETWEEN THE MIGHTY... [ Continue Reading ]
A BROTHER OFFENDED [IS HARDER TO BE WON] THAN A STRONG CITY,.... A fortified city may sooner be taken by an enemy, than one brother offended can be reconciled to another; their resentments against each other are keener than against another person that has offended them; and their love being turned i... [ Continue Reading ]
A MAN'S BELLY SHALL BE SATISFIED WITH THE FRUIT OF HIS MOUTH,.... With his own words and discourses, when they are prudent, pious, and savoury; when they are with grace, and minister it; they are satisfying to himself, to his own mind and conscience, and to his family; to all within his house, which... [ Continue Reading ]
DEATH AND LIFE [ARE] IN THE POWER OF THE TONGUE,.... Of witnesses, according to the testimony they bear; of judges, according to the sentence they pass; of teachers, according to the doctrine they preach; of all men, who, by their well or ill speaking, bring death or life to themselves and others. S... [ Continue Reading ]
[WHOSO] FINDETH A WIFE,.... A good one; so the Septuagint, Vulgate Latin, Syriac, and Arabic versions, supply it; and so the Targum, though it leaves out the word good in the last clause; and no other can be meant, even a good natured one, wise, prudent, careful, and industrious; a proper helpmeet,... [ Continue Reading ]
THE POOR USETH ENTREATIES,.... Or "supplications" a; he is an humble supplicant to others for favours he asks in a submissive and lowly manner; he does not demand anything, nor prescribe what shall be done for him, but modestly tells his case, and submits it; so such who are poor in spirit are humbl... [ Continue Reading ]
A MAN [THAT HATH] FRIENDS MUST SHOW HIMSELF FRIENDLY,.... Friendship ought to be mutual and reciprocal, as between David and Jonathan; a man that receives friendship ought to return it, or otherwise he is guilty of great ingratitude. This may be spiritually applied; a believer is "a man of friends... [ Continue Reading ]