Wine [is] a mocker, strong drink [is] raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise. Ver. 1. _Wine is a mocker, &c._] For, first, it mocks _a_ the drunkard, and makes a fool of him, promising him pleasure, but paying him with the stinging of an adder, and biting of a cockatrice, Proverbs 23... [ Continue Reading ]
The fear of a king [is] as the roaring of a lion: [whoso] provoketh him to anger sinneth [against] his own soul. Ver. 2. _The fear of a king is as the roaring of a lion._] See Proverbs 16:14; Proverbs 19:12 .... [ Continue Reading ]
Proverbs 20:3 [It is] an honour for a man to cease from strife: but every fool will be meddling. Ver. 3. _It is an honour for a man to cease from strife._] To stint it rather than to stir it; to be first in promoting peace and seeking reconciliation, as Abraham did in the controversy with Lot. _Mem... [ Continue Reading ]
_The sluggard will not plow by reason of the cold; [therefore] shall he beg in harvest, and [have] nothing._ Ver. 4. _The sluggard will not plough by reason of the cold._] So the spiritual sluggard either dreams of a delicacy in the ways of God, which is a great vanity; or else, if heaven be not to... [ Continue Reading ]
Counsel in the heart of man [is like] deep water; but a man of understanding will draw it out. Ver. 5. _Counsel in the heart of man is like deep water._] See Proverbs 18:4. As the red rose, though outwardly not so fragrant, is inwardly far more cordial than the damask rose, being more thrifty of it... [ Continue Reading ]
Most men will proclaim every one his own goodness: but a faithful man who can find? Ver. 6. _Most men will proclaim every one his own goodness._] As the kings of Egypt would needs be called Eυεργεται, bountiful, or benefactors, Luk 22:25 many of the Popes _Pii_ and _Bonifacii_ &c. The Turks will ne... [ Continue Reading ]
_The just [man] walketh in his integrity: his children [are] blessed after him._ Ver. 7. _The just man walketh in his integrity._] Walketh constantly; _a_ not for a step or two only, when the good fit is upon him. _See Trapp on "_ Gen 17:1 _"_ His children are blessed after him.] Personal goodness... [ Continue Reading ]
A king that sitteth in the throne of judgment scattereth away all evil with his eyes. Ver. 8. _A king that sitteth in the throne of judgment, &c._] Kings in their own persons should sit and judge causes sometimes, to take knowledge, at least, what is done by their officers of justice: I have seen t... [ Continue Reading ]
Who can say, I have made my heart clean, I am pure from my sin? Ver. 9. _Who can say, I have made my heart clean?_] That can I, saith the proud Pharisee and the Popish justiciary. _Non habeo, Domine, quod mihi ignoscas:_ I have nothing, Lord, for thee to pardon, saith Isidore the monk. When St Paul... [ Continue Reading ]
Divers weights, [and] divers measures, both of them [are] alike abomination to the LORD. Ver. 10. _Divers weights, and divers measures, &c._] _See Trapp on "_ Pro 11:1 _"_ _See Trapp on "_ Pro 16:11 _"_ Now, if the very weights and measures are abomination, how much more the men that make use of th... [ Continue Reading ]
Even a child is known by his doings, whether his work [be] pure, and whether [it be] right. Ver. 11. _Even a child is known by his doings, &c._]. Either for the better, as we see in young Joseph, Samson, Samuel, Solomon, Timothy, Athanasius, Origen, &c. It is not a young saint, an old devil; but a... [ Continue Reading ]
The hearing ear, and the seeing eye, the LORD hath made even both of them. Ver. 12. _The hearing ear, and the seeing eye, &c._] There are those who have "ears to hear, and hear not; who have eyes to see, and see not: for they are a rebellious house." Eze 12:2 Now when God shall say to such, as in I... [ Continue Reading ]
Love not sleep, lest thou come to poverty; open thine eyes, [and] thou shalt be satisfied with bread. Ver. 13. _Love not sleep, lest thou come to poverty._] In sleep there is no use either of sight or hearing, or any other sense. And as little is there of the spiritual senses in the sleep of sin. I... [ Continue Reading ]
Proverbs 20:14 [It is] naught, [it is] naught, saith the buyer: but when he is gone his way, then he boasteth. Ver. 14. _It is naught, it is naught, saith the buyer._] Or, Saith the possessor, and so Melanchthon reads it: as taxing that common fault and folly of slighting present mercies, but desir... [ Continue Reading ]
There is gold, and a multitude of rubies: but the lips of knowledge [are] a precious jewel. Ver. 15. _There is gold and a multitude of rubies._] Quintilian defines an orator, _Vir bonus dicendi peritus:_ A good man, that can deliver himself in good language. Such a master of speech _a_ was St Paul,... [ Continue Reading ]
Take his garment that is surety [for] a stranger: and take a pledge of him for a strange woman. Ver. 16. _Take his garment._] And so provide for their own indemnity. _See Trapp on "_ Pro 6:1 _"_ _See Trapp on "_ Pro 6:2 _"_ _See Trapp on "_ Pro 6:3 _"_ _See Trapp on "_ Pro 6:4 _"_ _See Trapp on "_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Bread of deceit [is] sweet to a man; but afterwards his mouth shall be filled with gravel._ Ver. 17. _Bread of deceit is sweet to a man._] Sin's murdering morsels will deceive those that devour them. There is a deceitfulness in all sin, Heb 3:13 a lie in all vanity. Jer 2:8 The stolen waters of ad... [ Continue Reading ]
__ Proverbs 20:18 _[Every] purpose is established by counsel: and with good advice make war._ Ver. 18. _Every purpose is established by counsel._] That thy proceedings be not either unconstant or uncomfortable, deliberate long ere thou resolve on any enterprise. _a_ Advise with God especially, who... [ Continue Reading ]
He that goeth about [as] a talebearer revealeth secrets: therefore meddle not with him that flattereth with his lips. Ver. 9. _He that goeth about as a talebearer._] Therefore make not such of thy counsel: for if they can give counsel, yet they can keep none. _See Trapp on "_ Pro 11:13 _"_ Therefo... [ Continue Reading ]
Whoso curseth his father or his mother, his lamp shall be put out in obscure darkness. Ver. 20. _Whoso curseth his father, &c._] _See Trapp on "_ Exo 21:17 _"_ _See Trapp on "_ Mat 15:4 _"_ Parents usually give their children sweet and savoury counsel; but they, for want of grace, listen rather to... [ Continue Reading ]
_An inheritance [may be] gotten hastily at the beginning; but the end thereof shall not be blessed._ Ver. 21. _An inheritance may be gotten hastily, &c._] By wishing and working the death of parents, or by any other evil arts whatsoever. See an instance hereof in Achan, Ahab, Gehazi, Adonijah's lea... [ Continue Reading ]
Say not thou, I will recompense evil; [but] wait on the LORD, and he shall save thee. Ver. 22. _Say not thou, I will recompense evil._] Much less, swear it, as some miscreants do; to whom, _Est vindicta bonum, et vita dulcius ipsa._ In reason, tallying of injuries is but justice. It is the first of... [ Continue Reading ]
Divers weights [are] an abomination unto the LORD; and a false balance [is] not good. Ver. 23. _Divers weights are an abomination._] In righting and revenging themselves men are apt to weigh things in an uneven balance, to be overpartial in their own cause, and to judge that a heinous offence in an... [ Continue Reading ]
Man's goings [are] of the LORD; how can a man then understand his own way? Ver. 24. Man's goings are of the Lord.] _See Trapp on "_ Pro 16:1 _"_ _See Trapp on "_ Pro 16:9 _"_ God brought Paul to Rome by a way that he little dreamed of. Augustine once travelling lost his way, and fetching a compass... [ Continue Reading ]
Proverbs 20:25 [It is] a snare to the man [who] devoureth [that which is] holy, and after vows to make enquiry. Ver. 25. _It is a snare to a man who devoureth, &c._] He doeth as a fish that swallows the hook, as the eagle that stole the flesh from the altar with a coal sticking to it, that set the... [ Continue Reading ]
A wise king scattereth the wicked, and bringeth the wheel over them. Ver. 26. _A wise king scattereth the wicked._] Drains the country of them by his just severity, yet with due discretion, as appears by the latter words, "and bringeth the wheel over them," compared with Isaiah 28:27,28. The Turks'... [ Continue Reading ]
_The spirit of man [is] the candle of the LORD, searching all the inward parts of the belly._ Ver. 27. _The spirit of a man is the candle of the Lord._] Some read it, The breath of a man, that is, his life, is the candle of the Lord, and sense it thus: Look how men deal by their lights or lamps, so... [ Continue Reading ]
Mercy and truth preserve the king: and his throne is upholden by mercy. Ver. 28. _Mercy and truth preserve the king._] These are the best guard of his body, and supporters of his throne. Mildness and righteousness, lenity and fidelity, do more safe guard a prince than munitions of rocks, or any war... [ Continue Reading ]
The glory of young men [is] their strength: and the beauty of old men [is] the gray head. Ver. 29. _The glory of young men is their strength._] If well used in following their callings, and fighting for their countries, as those young men of the princes of the provinces did, 1Ki 20:20 and not in qu... [ Continue Reading ]
The blueness of a wound cleanseth away evil: so [do] stripes the inward parts of the belly. Ver. 30. _The blueness of the wound cleanseth._] Some must be beaten black and blue ere they will be better; neither is wit anything worth with them till they have paid well for it. - The Jews were ever best... [ Continue Reading ]