Proverbs 10:1
See the Introduction.... [ Continue Reading ]
See the Introduction.... [ Continue Reading ]
RIGHTEOUSNESS - Including, perhaps, the idea of benevolence. Compare the use of δικαιοσύνη _dikaiosunē_, in Matthew 6:1 (the older reading), and 2 Corinthians 9:9.... [ Continue Reading ]
CASTETH AWAY ... - Better, “overturns, disappoints the strong desire of the wicked.” Tantalus-like, they never get the enjoyment they thirst after.... [ Continue Reading ]
SLACK - The word is elsewhere translated as “deceitful” Job 13:7; Psalms 120:2; Hosea 7:16; Jeremiah 48:10. The two thoughts run easily into each other.... [ Continue Reading ]
The son is called upon to enter upon the labors of others, and reap where they have sown. To sleep when the plenteous harvest lies ready for the sickle is the most extreme laziness.... [ Continue Reading ]
COVERETH ... - The meaning is perhaps, the violence which the wicked has done is as a bandage over his mouth, reducing him to a silence and shame, like that of the leper Leviticus 13:45; Micah 3:7 or the condemned criminal Esther 7:8, whose “face is covered.”... [ Continue Reading ]
A PRATING ... FALL - Better, as in the margin. Inward self-contained wisdom is contrasted with self-exposed folly.... [ Continue Reading ]
SHALL BE KNOWN - literally, “shall be made to know” (see Jeremiah 31:19; Judges 8:16 margin) in the sense of exposed.... [ Continue Reading ]
In Proverbs 10:8 the relation between the two clauses was one of contrast, here of resemblance. Cunning, reticence, and deceit (Proverbs 6:12 note) bring sorrow no less than garrulity.... [ Continue Reading ]
Compare Proverbs 10:6. Streams of living water (like the “fountain of living waters” of Jeremiah 2:13; Jeremiah 17:13, and the “living water” of John 4:10), flow from the mouth of the righteous, but that of the wicked is “covered,” i. e., stopped and put to silence by their own violence.... [ Continue Reading ]
LOVE COVERETH ALL SINS - i. e., First hides, does not expose, and then forgives and forgets all sins.... [ Continue Reading ]
i. e., The wisdom of the wise is seen in the words that issue from his lips; the folly of the fool is not only seen in his speech, but brings upon him the chastisement which he well deserves.... [ Continue Reading ]
LAY UP - The point of the maxim is that the wise man reserves what he has to say for the right time, place, and persons (compare Matthew 7:6), as contrasted with the foolish, ever giving immediate utterance to what destroys himself and others.... [ Continue Reading ]
DESTRUCTION - That which crushes, throws into ruins. Wealth secures its possessors against many dangers; poverty exposes men to worse evils than itself, meanness, servility, and cowardice. Below the surface there lies, it may be, a grave irony against the rich; see Proverbs 18:11.... [ Continue Reading ]
A warning against the conclusion to seek wealth first of all, which men of lower natures might draw from Proverbs 10:15. “_Quaerenda pecunia primum est;_ _Virtus post nummos_?” _Horace, _Ephesians 1_. i. 53._ Such an inference is met by the experience, that while wealth gotten by honest industry... [ Continue Reading ]
literally, A way of life is he that keepeth instruction. The verb “erreth” is better rendered in the margin. The influence for good or evil spreads beyond the man himself.... [ Continue Reading ]
Better, He who hideth hatred is of lying lips. He who cherishes hatred, is either a knave, or a fool - a knave if he hides, a fool if he utters it.... [ Continue Reading ]
THERE WANTETH NOT SIN - Some render this, “Sin shall not cease,” etc., i. e., many words do not mend a fault. Silence on the part both of the reprover and the offender is often better. The King James Version is, however, preferable.... [ Continue Reading ]
The tongue, the instrument of the mind is contrasted with the heart or mind itself, the just with the wicked, the choice silver with the worthless “little,” the Hebrew word being possibly taken in its primary sense as a “filing” or “scraping” of dross or worthless metal. If the tongue is precious, h... [ Continue Reading ]
FEED - The Hebrew word, like ποιμαίνειν _poimainein_, includes the idea of guiding as well as nourishing; doing a shepherd’s work in both. FOR WANT OF WISDOM - Some prefer, through him who wanteth understanding, referring to a person. The wise guides others to safety; the fool, empty-headed, and e... [ Continue Reading ]
As the fool finds his sport in doing mischief, so the man of understanding finds in wisdom his truest refreshment and delight.... [ Continue Reading ]
THE FEAR - i. e., The thing feared (compare the marginal reference). SHALL BE GRANTED - Or, He (Yahweh) giveth the desire of the righteous.... [ Continue Reading ]
Or, when the whirlwind is passing, then the wicked is no more. Compare Matthew 7:24. THE RIGHTEOUS ... - In the later rabbinic interpretation this was applied to the Messiah as being the Just One, the Everlasting Foundation, on whom the world was established.... [ Continue Reading ]
The teeth set on edge by the sour wine used by peasants Ruth 2:14; Psalms 69:21, the eye irritated by wood-smoke, these shadow the annoyance of having a messenger who will loiter on the way.... [ Continue Reading ]
Transpose “hope” and “expectation.” The expectant waiting of the righteous is joyful at the time, and ends in joy: the eager hope of the wicked comes to nought.... [ Continue Reading ]
Omit “shall be.” The meaning is: “The Way of Yahweh,” i. e., the Divine Order of the world, has its two sides. It is “strength to the upright, destruction to the workers of iniquity.”... [ Continue Reading ]
THE WICKED SHALL ROT INHABIT - The other and higher side of the same law of the divine government appears in Matthew 5:5.... [ Continue Reading ]
BRINGETH FORTH ... - As a tree full of life and sap brings forth its fruit. So the “froward tongue” is like a tree that brings forth evil and not good fruit; it “shall be cut down.” The abuse of God’s gift of speech will lead ultimately to its forfeiture. There shall, at last, be the silence of sham... [ Continue Reading ]
KNOW - i. e., “Know, and therefore utter.” So, in like manner, the “mouth of the wicked” knows, and therefore speaks frowardness, and that only.... [ Continue Reading ]