Whoso loveth instruction loveth knowledge: but he that hateth reproof is brutish. WHOSO LOVETH INSTRUCTION (HEBREW, DISCIPLINARY INSTRUCTION) LOVETH KNOWLEDGE: BUT HE THAT HATETH REPROOF IS BRUTISH - (Proverbs 3:11; .) The believer 'loveth disciplinary chastening,' not for its own sake, but for t... [ Continue Reading ]
A good man obtaineth favour of the LORD: but a man of wicked devices will he condemn. A GOOD MAN OBTAINETH FAVOUR OF THE LORD - literally, 'draws forth good will.' On the verb cf. note, . BUT A MAN OF WICKED DEVICES WILL HE CONDEMN. Not only a man of wicked deeds and words, but also a man of w... [ Continue Reading ]
A man shall not be established by wickedness: but the root of the righteous shall not be moved. A MAN SHALL NOT BE ESTABLISHED BY WICKEDNESS. Though for a time here on earth he may, by fraud or by force, obtain and retain prosperity, yet it shall not be for long. Not only shall he "not be establ... [ Continue Reading ]
A virtuous woman is a crown to her husband: but she that maketh ashamed is as rottenness in his bones. A VIRTUOUS (LITERALLY, STRENUOUS [ chayil (H2428 )], AS RUTH IS CALLED, RUTH 3:11 ) WOMAN IS A CROWN TO HER HUSBAND - "a crown" i:e., his chief ornament. "Her husband" - literally, her lord (cf... [ Continue Reading ]
The thoughts of the righteous are right: but the counsels of the wicked are deceit. THE THOUGHTS OF THE RIGHTEOUS (ARE) RIGHT (HEBREW, JUDGMENT; I:E., CONSONANT TO JUSTICE): (BUT) THE COUNSELS OF THE WICKED (ARE) DECEIT. "The counsels," or 'the astute plans' (Hebrew, tachªbulowt (H8458)).... [ Continue Reading ]
The words of the wicked are to lie in wait for blood: but the mouth of the upright shall deliver them. THE WORDS OF THE WICKED ARE TO LIE IN WAIT FOR BLOOD - (; .) BUT THE MOUTH OF THE UPRIGHT SHALL DELIVER THEM - namely, the upright, from the lying in wait of the wicked (). Or, as suits the an... [ Continue Reading ]
The wicked are overthrown, and are not: but the house of the righteous shall stand. THE WICKED ARE OVERTHROWN (HEBREW, INFINITIVE FOR THE INDICATIVE PRESENT), AND ARE NOT - (.) BUT THE HOUSE OF THE RIGHTEOUS SHALL STAND. Even here on earth a blessing attends the family or "house" of the righte... [ Continue Reading ]
A man shall be commended according to his wisdom: but he that is of a perverse heart shall be despised. A MAN SHALL BE COMMENDED ACCORDING TO (LITERALLY, ACCORDING TO THE MOUTH OF: A HEBREW IDIOM FOR IN PROPORTION TO) HIS WISDOM. God and His faithful people judge a man not according to the appar... [ Continue Reading ]
He that is despised, and hath a servant, is better than he that honoureth himself, and lacketh bread. (HE THAT IS) DESPISED, AND HATH A SERVANT, IS BETTER THAN HE THAT HONOURETH HIMSELF, AND LACKETH BREAD. He who is low in pretensions, through lowliness of disposition, and through avoiding ostent... [ Continue Reading ]
A righteous man regardeth the life of his beast: but the tender mercies of the wicked are cruel. A RIGHTEOUS MAN REGARDETH THE LIFE OF HIS BEAST. God commands tender care even for brutes (; ). We are to give rest, refreshment, and medicine to the beast, according as it requires it; and are not t... [ Continue Reading ]
He that tilleth his land shall be satisfied with bread: but he that followeth vain persons is void of understanding. HE THAT TILLETH HIS LAND SHALL BE SATISFIED WITH BREAD. The occupation must be an honest one, such as agriculture, and one must labour diligently at it. One must not put his sickl... [ Continue Reading ]
The wicked desireth the net of evil men: but the root of the righteous yieldeth fruit. THE WICKED DESIRETH THE NET OF EVIL (MEN): BUT THE ROOT OF THE RIGHTEOUS YIELDETH (FRUIT). The wicked man (Hebrew, raashaa` (H7563), the restlessly wicked, the godless) desireth to have the net of evil men (rang,... [ Continue Reading ]
The wicked is snared by the transgression of his lips: but the just shall come out of trouble. THE WICKED IS SNARED BY THE TRANSGRESSION OF (HIS) LIPS. The wicked thought to injure others by his transgression of God's law with his lips-namely, by false witness, calumnis, and lies; but it is orde... [ Continue Reading ]
A man shall be satisfied with good by the fruit of his mouth: and the recompence of a man's hands shall be rendered unto him. A MAN SHALL BE SATISFIED WITH GOOD BY THE FRUIT OF HIS MOUTH - (cf. , end.) The good man himself derives the most ample fruit from the good and kindly and pious words of... [ Continue Reading ]
The way of a fool is right in his own eyes: but he that hearkeneth unto counsel is wise. THE WAY OF A FOOL IS RIGHT IN HIS OWN EYES - ( ; ; ; .) BUT HE THAT HEARKENETH UNTO COUNSEL IS WISE. None is so wise as not to need good counsel, especially in the concerns of the soul We have one Great "Coun... [ Continue Reading ]
A fool's wrath is presently known: but a prudent man covereth shame. A FOOL'S WRATH IS PRESENTLY (HEBREW, IN THAT VERY DAY; ) KNOWN: BUT A PRUDENT MAN COVERETH SHAME - namely, the shame or insult put upon him by others. "Covereth," with the mantle of patience and charity, instead of exasperating... [ Continue Reading ]
He that speaketh truth sheweth forth righteousness: but a false witness deceit. (HE THAT) SPEAKETH (LITERALLY, BREATHETH; HEBREW, YAPHIACH) TRUTH SHOWETH FORTH RIGHTEOUSNESS: BUT A FALSE WITNESS DECEIT. He who, with full breath, speaketh out the whole truth without reserve, and without injustice... [ Continue Reading ]
There is that speaketh like the piercings of a sword: but the tongue of the wise is health. THERE IS THAT SPEAKETH [HEBREW, BABBLETH, bowTeh (H981 )] LIKE THE PIERCINGS OF A SWORD (PSALMS 57:4 ) BUT THE TONGUE OF THE WISE IS HEALTH. Compare with the first clause the last clause of Proverbs 12:17... [ Continue Reading ]
The lip of truth shall be established for ever: but a lying tongue is but for a moment. THE LIP OF TRUTH SHALL BE ESTABLISHED FOREVER. He whose lips speak truth shall be established forever in the favour of God and of man. BUT A LYING TONGUE IS BUT FOR A MOMENT - literally, 'is while I give a... [ Continue Reading ]
Deceit is in the heart of them that imagine evil: but to the counsellors of peace is joy. DECEIT IS IN THE HEART OF THEM THAT IMAGINE EVIL. "Deceit," producing sorrow, is in the heart of them that devise "evil," and therefore strife (the opposite of "peace"). The opposite follows: BUT TO THE C... [ Continue Reading ]
There shall no evil happen to the just: but the wicked shall be filled with mischief. THERE SHALL NO EVIL HAPPEN TO THE JUST: BUT THE WICKED SHALL BE FILLED WITH MISCHIEF. "No evil" (literally, iniquity; Hebrew, aven) whether of guilt or of its punishment, 'shall happen,' so as lastingly to hurt "t... [ Continue Reading ]
Lying lips are abomination to the LORD: but they that deal truly are his delight. LYING LIPS ARE ABOMINATION TO THE LORD: BUT THEY THAT DEAL TRULY ARE HIS DELIGHT. Not merely they that speak truly, but "they that deal truly" are God's "delight." Deeds of true dealing must confirm words of fair s... [ Continue Reading ]
A prudent man concealeth knowledge: but the heart of fools proclaimeth foolishness. A PRUDENT MAN CONCEALETH KNOWLEDGE - not that he grudges to impart his knowledge to others, but he does not obtrude it, nor make a display of it, nor babble out all he knows, in order that he maybe counted wise.... [ Continue Reading ]
The hand of the diligent shall bear rule: but the slothful shall be under tribute. THE HAND OF THE DILIGENT SHALL BEAR RULE: BUT THE SLOTHFUL SHALL BE UNDER TRIBUTE. Diligence shall secure the rule over others; but slothfulness (literally, fraud; cf. , margin. For they who are slothful often use... [ Continue Reading ]
Heaviness in the heart of man maketh it stoop: but a good word maketh it glad. HEAVINESS IN THE HEART OF MAN MAKETH IT STOOP (THE IT IS FEMININE, THOUGH HEART IS MASCULINE): BUT A GOOD WORD MAKETH IT GLAD. Messiah especially spake such 'good words' (; Isaiah 61:1: so also His servants, ).... [ Continue Reading ]
The righteous is more excellent than his neighbour: but the way of the wicked seduceth them. THE RIGHTEOUS IS MORE EXCELLENT [HEBREW, MORE RICHLY ABUNDANT; yaateer (H8446 ): AKIN TO THE GREEK OUTHAR] THAN HIS NEIGHBOUR - though the world, judging by outward circumstances thinks differently. Even... [ Continue Reading ]
The slothful man roasteth not that which he took in hunting: but the substance of a diligent man is precious. THE SLOTHFUL (MAN) ROASTETH NOT THAT WHICH HE TOOK IN HUNTING. The Hebrew for "roasteth" [ chaarak (H2760)] does not occur in this sense elsewhere. In the Chaldee, in which Daniel 3:27 is... [ Continue Reading ]
In the way of righteousness is life; and in the pathway thereof there is no death. IN THE WAY OF RIGHTEOUSNESS (IS) LIFE; AND (IN) THE PATHWAY (THEREOF THERE IS) NO DEATH. "The pathway:" two Hebrew nouns, as in the English version, derek (H1870) nªtiybaah (H5410); the path way. A narrow way trodd... [ Continue Reading ]