_ A.M. 3004. B.C. 1000. In this chapter we have the title of the book, showing the general design of it, Proverbs 1:1. The first principles of it recommended, Proverbs 1:7. A caution against bad company, Proverbs 1:10. Wisdom's reasonings with the sons of men, and the certain ruin of those who will... [ Continue Reading ]
_The proverbs of Solomon_ “Solomon is the first of the sacred writers whose name appears at the head of his works. The name alone of so wise and so great a prince is a sufficient recommendation to engage men to hear and to read. For we naturally love to see and to listen to persons of illustrious na... [ Continue Reading ]
_To know wisdom_ Written to help men to know, thoroughly and practically, both human wisdom, to conduct their affairs properly in this life, and especially divine wisdom, showing them their duty to God and man, and making them wise unto salvation; _and instruction_ The instructions delivered, either... [ Continue Reading ]
_A wise man will hear_ Is not self-conceited, as fools are, but willing to learn from others, and, therefore, will attend to the following instructions; _and will increase learning_ Thereby he will gain this great benefit, he will increase in knowledge and wisdom. This he adds, to show that this boo... [ Continue Reading ]
_The fear of the Lord_ That is, reverence for and obedience to God; _is the beginning of knowledge_ The foundation and source of it; without which all other knowledge is vain and useless. Mark well this sentence, reader: all wisdom, which is not founded in religion, in the true and genuine fear of G... [ Continue Reading ]
_My son_, &c. He speaks to his scholars with paternal authority and affection, to render them more attentive and obedient. Teachers among the Hebrews were commonly called _fathers_, and their scholars their _sons. Hear the instruction of thy father_ His good and wholesome counsels; _and forsake not... [ Continue Reading ]
_My son, if sinners_ Sinners of any description; _entice thee _ To sin, to commit any known iniquity, or to omit any known duty; _consent thou not_ Yield not in any degree to their advice, persuasions, or solicitations, for why shouldest thou destroy thyself to gratify them? _If they say, Come with... [ Continue Reading ]
_Walk not thou in the way with them_ Avoid their courses, their conversation, and company. _Refrain thy foot from their path_ If thou shouldst have any thought, inclination, or temptation to hearken to their counsels, or to follow their examples, suppress it, and restrain thyself, as it were, by for... [ Continue Reading ]
_Surely in vain the net is spread_, &c. Even the silly birds will not suffer themselves to be taken if the net be spread in their sight; therefore, be at least as wise as they, and shun that which, by repeated experience, is always known to end in ruin. Thus understood, the sentence connects with th... [ Continue Reading ]
_And they lay wait_, &c. Assure thyself, such men are working their own ruin, and, as it were, lying in wait for themselves, when they lie in wait to take away the lives of others; for, in the end, they shall not escape the hand of justice, but be overtaken and suffer, either by a special vengeance... [ Continue Reading ]
_Wisdom crieth_, &c. Having shown the counsels and invitations of folly and of wicked men, he now declares the voice of wisdom. The Hebrew word חכמות, rendered _wisdom_ here, is in the plural number, and is literally _wisdoms._ It was probably intended to include various kinds, or, rather, all the k... [ Continue Reading ]
_She crieth in the chief place of concourse_ Where there is most probability of success. The LXX. render it, επ ' ακρων τειχεων κηρυσσεται, _she preacheth upon the tops of the walls_, or _houses_, a translation which Houbigant approves. Schultens, not improperly, renders the Hebrew, בראשׁ המיות, _at... [ Continue Reading ]
_How long, ye simple ones_ Ye ignorant, careless, and credulous persons, who are so easily deceived by sin and sinners, and cheated and deluded by the world, and the god of it, and do not understand or consider your own interest; _will ye love simplicity?_ Being unwilling to part with it, or to be m... [ Continue Reading ]
_Because I have called_, &c. By my ministers, my judgments, the motions of my Spirit, and your own consciences; _and ye refused_ To obey my call; _I have stretched out my hand_ Offering mercy and grace to you, and earnestly inviting you to accept of them; _and no man regarded_ Few or none complied w... [ Continue Reading ]
_For that they hated knowledge_ Hated the light of divine truth, because it discovered to them the evil of their ways, John 3:20; or, hated the practical knowledge of God, and of their duty to him, _and did not choose_ That is, heartily approve of and love, _the fear of the Lord_ But chose to walk i... [ Continue Reading ]
_But whoso hearkeneth unto me_ Unto the counsels and instructions of wisdom, and will be ruled thereby, _shall dwell safely_ Hebrew, בשׂח, _in security_, or _confidence and peace_, resting himself upon the consciousness of his own integrity, and upon the promises and favour of God; _and shall be qui... [ Continue Reading ]