_The preparations_&c. Rather: TO MAN BELONG THE PREPARATIONS (or PLANS) OF THE HEART; BUT FROM JEHOVAH IS THE ANSWER OF THE TONGUE. This cannot mean that wise thoughts are human, but wise words divine, that man unaided can plan well, but only by God's help can speak well; but rather that after... [ Continue Reading ]
See Proverbs 21:2, where this proverb recurs almost in the same words. Comp. 1 Corinthians 4:4.... [ Continue Reading ]
_Commit … unto_ Lit. ROLL … UPON. Comp. Psalms 22:8 [Hebrews 9], Psalms 37:5, and notes there in this Series. _thoughts_ or, _purposes_, R.V. marg. The precept is germane to that in Proverbs 16:1. Commit to Jehovah the execution in works (as in Proverbs 16:1, the explanation in words) of thy plans... [ Continue Reading ]
_for himself for his own purpose_, R.V. marg.; or, _for its own end_, R.V. text. The two meanings really run into one another, for he who makes a thing to serve _its own_purpose makes it to serve _his own_purpose in so making it. The second clause of the verse extends the application of this truth f... [ Continue Reading ]
Though _hand_join _in hand_ See Proverbs 11:21, note.... [ Continue Reading ]
_By mercy and truth iniquity is purged_ This is not a statement of the method and ground of atonement, though the Heb. word here rendered _purged_is the usual word in the O.T. for _covering_, or _atoning for_, sin. That is taught elsewhere both in the Old (Psalms 51:7), and in the New Testament (Rom... [ Continue Reading ]
_without right_ Rather, WITH INJUSTICE, R.V., as preserving better the parallelism. Comp. Proverbs 15:16.... [ Continue Reading ]
Comp. Proverbs 16:1 of this chapter.... [ Continue Reading ]
_A divine sentence_ Lit. DIVINATION, A.V. and R.V. marg. The word is generally used in a bad sense, "soothsaying." See Deuteronomy 18:10, where it is positively forbidden, and 1 Samuel 15:23, where it is called a "sin." Here, however, it has a good meaning: the true king in judgement, like the true... [ Continue Reading ]
_weight and balance_ Rather, BALANCE (or, STEELYARD) AND SCALES. See Proverbs 11:1, note.... [ Continue Reading ]
_messengers of death_ The reckless fury of the Eastern despot (1 Samuel 22:16-18; Esther 7:7-10; Daniel 2:5) is but the abuse of the awful justice of the Archetypal King (Matthew 22:7; Luke 19:27). _will pacify it_ See Psalms 2:10-12.... [ Continue Reading ]
_the latter rain_ i.e. the spring rain, which swelled and matured the corn for harvest, just as the "former" or autumn rain prepared the ground, after the drought of summer, for the sowing. Such a cloud was big with the double blessing of the fertilizing shower and the consequent harvest. Comp. the... [ Continue Reading ]
_rather to be chosen_ Better, IS RATHER &c. It is the _acquisition_of wisdom or understanding that is commended in both clauses of the verse, which are exactly parallel.... [ Continue Reading ]
The LXX. gives a fuller text here: "The paths of life depart from evil, And ways of righteousness are length of life. He that receiveth instruction shall prosper, And he that taketh heed to reproofs shall be made wise. He that taketh heed to his ways keepeth his soul, And he that loveth his li... [ Continue Reading ]
_the lowly_ Rather, POOR, R.V. Better humble and poor than proud and rich.... [ Continue Reading ]
_He that handleth a matter wisely_ This rendering is relegated to the margin in R.V., and instead of it _he that giveth heed unto the word_is adopted in the text, with a reference to Proverbs 13:13 (see note there), in support of it. _The word_will then mean the word of God. The A.V. however gives a... [ Continue Reading ]
"He who is wise will gain respect; but if he should also possess a pleasant manner of imparting his wisdom, he will be a more efficient teacher," _Rel. Tr. Soc. Commentary_.... [ Continue Reading ]
_unto him that hath it_. Elsewhere the thought is of the benefit conferred upon others: "The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life"; "The law (or teaching) of the wise is a fountain of life"; (Proverbs 10:11; Proverbs 13:14). Here it is of the benefit of wisdom to its possessor: the water... [ Continue Reading ]
_health_ i.e. healthy or wholesome. There is no necessary reference to any medicinal properties in honey. Comp. Proverbs 4:22; Proverbs 12:18; Proverbs 13:17; and Jonathan's experience, when he was exhausted with pursuing the enemy: "See, I pray you, how mine eyes have been enlightened, because I ta... [ Continue Reading ]
See Proverbs 14:12, where the same proverb occurs.... [ Continue Reading ]
_He that laboureth laboureth for himself_ Rather, THE DESIRE, or appetite (lit. SOUL, see A.V. marg.) OF HIM THAT LABOURETH, LABOURETH FOR HIM. The desire which craves satisfaction is the motive power, impelling to the labour by which it is satisfied. Couched, after the true manner of a parable, in... [ Continue Reading ]
_ungodly_ Rather, WORTHLESS, R.V. See Proverbs 6:12, note. _diggeth up_ This is the literal meaning of the word, but it is here used metaphorically of one who digs pits for his neighbour, as a hunter for his prey, Psalms 7:15 [Heb. 16], Psalms 57:6 [Hebrews 7]. We may therefore render, DEVISETH, wi... [ Continue Reading ]
_soweth_ Rather, SCATTERETH ABROAD, R.V. διαπέμπεται κακὰ, LXX. Comp. Proverbs 6:14. _separateth chief friends_ "Or, _alienateih his friend_," R.V. marg. See Proverbs 19:7.... [ Continue Reading ]
_enticeth_ Comp. Proverbs 1:10-19, where the same Heb. word for "entice" is used.... [ Continue Reading ]
_shutteth_ Or, _fixeth_, or _setteth firmly_, στηρίζων, LXX. He closes or fixes his eyes, as though in deep thought, and tightens his lips, as if to keep back words which he could utter. Comp. Proverbs 6:12-14 for a further description of the same character. It is better to regard this verse with R... [ Continue Reading ]
_if it be found_ Rather, IT SHALL BE FOUND, R.V. text. "Decus et ornamentum est senectus, senectus vero præmium virtutis," Maur. Comp. Proverbs 3:2; Proverbs 3:16.... [ Continue Reading ]
Of the many parallels to the sentiment of this proverb that are to be found in classical literature, none is closer than the familiar saying of Ovid (_Epist. ex Pont_. ii. 16:75): "Fortior est qui se, quam qui fortissima vincit Mœnia; nec virtus altius ire potest." Lange and others quote _Pirke A... [ Continue Reading ]
_the lap_ from the folds of which it was drawn or shaken out. _disposing_ Lit. JUDGEMENT. The decision, which when appealed to as arbiter it pronounces, is not its own but Jehovah's. The religion of the O.T. incorporated into itself the use of the lot as it did many other common customs (see Joshu... [ Continue Reading ]