Proverbs 14 - Introduction
_A.M. 3004. B.C. 1000._... [ Continue Reading ]
_A.M. 3004. B.C. 1000._... [ Continue Reading ]
_Every wise woman buildeth her house_ By her care, industry: diligence, and prudent management, she improves, and raises her family and estate. So the phrase is used Exo 1:21; 2 Samuel 7:11; Psalms 127:1. He speaks of the woman, not exclusively of the man, of whom this is no less true, but because t... [ Continue Reading ]
_He that walketh in his uprightness_ Whose conversation is sincerely godly and righteous; _feareth the Lord_ Hath a due regard and reverence for the Lord, from which all true piety and virtue flow; _but he that is perverse in his ways_ That cares not what he does, so he may but satisfy his own lusts... [ Continue Reading ]
_In the mouth of the foolish is a rod of pride_ “Fools often bring upon themselves, by their ungoverned tongues, the correction due to their crimes,” and especially to their pride and arrogance; _but the lips of the wise shall preserve them_ From that rod. Wise men are careful of their words, that t... [ Continue Reading ]
_Where no oxen are, the crib is clean_ The crib and stable may be easily kept clean where there are few or no oxen: but there is so much advantage arising from tilling the ground, that it is better to have a litter with plenty of oxen, than to have great neatness without them. Some think this is spo... [ Continue Reading ]
_A scorner_ A proud, self-conceited, and profane person; _seeketh wisdom and findeth it not_ Because he doth not seek it aright, namely, sincerely, earnestly, and seasonably, and in a constant and diligent use of all the means which God hath appointed to that end; and with an honest intention of emp... [ Continue Reading ]
_The wisdom of the prudent is to understand his way_ It consists not in vain speculations, nor in a curious prying into other men's matters, much less in subtle arts of deceiving others, but in a diligent study of his own duty, and of the way to true and eternal happiness; _but the folly of fools is... [ Continue Reading ]
_Fools make a mock at sin_ Wicked men, here meant by fools, please and divert themselves with their own and other men's sins, which is a high offence to God and all good men. Or, as others render the clause, _excuse_, or _cover sin;_ they sin against God or men, and then justify or extenuate their s... [ Continue Reading ]
_The heart knoweth its own bitterness_ The inward griefs and joys of men's hearts, though sometimes they may be partly manifested by outward signs, yet are not certainly and fully known to any but the persons themselves who are the subjects of them; or, as Bishop Patrick paraphrases the verse, “Nobo... [ Continue Reading ]
_There is a way which seemeth right unto a man_ There are some evil actions or courses which men may think to be lawful and good, either through gross ignorance, or self-flattery, or through want of necessary diligence in examining them by the rule of God's word; all which are culpable causes of the... [ Continue Reading ]
_Even in laughter the heart is sorrowful_ Do not think that every one that laughs is happy, or that profuse and immoderate joy is true pleasure, for the outward signs of it are often mixed with, or end in, real sadness: nay, such is the vanity of this present life, that there is no joy without a mix... [ Continue Reading ]
_The backslider in heart_ He who departs from God, although but inwardly; _shall be filled with his own ways_ With the fruit of his ways, namely, the punishment of his sins; _and a good man shall be satisfied from himself_ From the pious temper of his own heart, which cleaves to the Lord, and from t... [ Continue Reading ]
_The simple_ A foolish man; _believeth every word_ Is easily deceived with the smooth words and fair pretences of false and deceitful men; _but the prudent man_ The man well instructed and truly wise; _looketh well to his goings_ Either, 1st, To his own goings: he ordereth his conversation and deali... [ Continue Reading ]
_A wise man feareth, and departeth from evil_ He trembles at God's judgments when they are either inflicted or threatened; and shuns sin, which is the procuring cause of all calamities; _but the fool rages_ Frets against God, or is enraged against his messengers who declare the threatening; or, as t... [ Continue Reading ]
_He that is soon angry dealeth foolishly_ His passion hurries him into many rash and foolish speeches and actions; _and a man of wicked devices_ One who, it may be, suppresses his passion, but designs and meditates revenge, watching for the fittest opportunities of executing it; _is hated_ Both by G... [ Continue Reading ]
_The simple inherit folly_ Possess it as their inheritance, or portion; holding it fast, improving it, and delighting in it; _but the prudent are crowned with knowledge_ They place their honour and happiness in a sound, practical, and saving knowledge of God, and of their duty; and therefore earnest... [ Continue Reading ]
_The evil bow before the good_ Giving honour to them, and supplicating their favour and help; _and the wicked at the gates of the righteous_ As clients and petitioners are wont to wait at the houses of the great and powerful, or beggars at the doors of such as they expect will relieve their wants. T... [ Continue Reading ]
_The poor is hated_ That is, despised and abandoned, as hateful persons and things are; _of his own neighbour_ Strictly so called of persons nearest to him, either by habitation or relation, and therefore most obliged to love and help him; _but the rich hath many friends_ As matter of fact daily sho... [ Continue Reading ]
_He that despiseth his neighbour_ That doth not pity and relieve the poor, as this is explained in the next clause; _sinneth_ And therefore shall be punished for his inhumanity, which is opposed to his being _happy_, in the next branch; _but he that hath mercy on the poor_ That shows his compassion... [ Continue Reading ]
_In all labour there is profit_, &c. Diligent labour is the ready way to riches; but idle talking, wherein too many spend most of their precious time, will bring a man to poverty. Houbigant renders the verse, _All labour will produce abundance, but garrulity nothing but want._ “Solomon here,” says... [ Continue Reading ]
_The crown of the wise is their riches_ They are a singular advantage and ornament to them, partly as they make their wisdom more regarded, while the poor man's wisdom is despised, Ecclesiastes 9:16; and partly as they give a man great opportunity to exercise wisdom or virtue, by laying out his rich... [ Continue Reading ]
_A true witness delivereth souls_ That is, persons, namely, such as, being innocent, are falsely accused; whom he delivers from the mischief designed against them, by declaring the truth, and thereby clearing them from the charges brought against them; _but a deceitful witness speaketh lies_ To the... [ Continue Reading ]
_In the multitude of people is the king's honour_ “The honour and splendour of a king depend upon the multitude, wealth, and strength of his subjects, whom, therefore, he ought to protect and cherish: for if they be wasted by unnecessary wars, or forced into other countries by oppression and unjust... [ Continue Reading ]
_He that is slow to wrath_, &c. He who is not soon provoked to anger by reproaches or ill usage, shows himself to be a wise and great man; _but he that is hasty of spirit exalteth folly_ Exposes his folly, and makes it apparent to every body. Hebrew, מרים אולת, _lifteth up folly_, displays it like a... [ Continue Reading ]
_A sound heart_ Free from envy, and such like inordinate passions, which are commonly called the diseases of the soul, even in heathen, as well as in the sacred writers. Or, as others render לב מרפא, _a healing heart_, mild, merciful, and kind to others, which is opposed to envy; _is the life of the... [ Continue Reading ]
_He that oppresseth the poor_ That _uses the poor_ man _hardly_, as the Syriac renders it: that withholdeth from him that which is his due, either by the rules of strict justice, or by the great law of charity, of which see Proverbs 3:27; _reproacheth his Maker_ Whose image the poor man bears, by wh... [ Continue Reading ]
_The wicked is driven away_ From God's favour and presence, and from the society of the righteous, and from all his hopes of happiness, both in this life and in the next; _in his wickedness_ Or, _for his wickedness._ The Hebrew, however, ברעת, is literally, _in his evil;_ and may be understood of th... [ Continue Reading ]
_Wisdom resteth in the heart_, &c. Is laid up and hid there, and not vainly or rashly uttered by him, but only brought forth upon necessary or fit occasions; _but that which is in the midst_ That is, in the heart; _of fools, is made known_ That folly which is there instead of wisdom, or that small d... [ Continue Reading ]
_Righteousness exalteth a nation_ A righteous administration of the government of it, impartial equity between man and man, public countenance given to religion, the general practice and profession of virtue, the protecting and preserving of virtuous men, mercy, humanity, and kindness to strangers a... [ Continue Reading ]
_The king's favour is toward a wise servant_ He will respect and prefer those who behave themselves wisely and virtuously, whatever enemies they may have that seek to undermine them. This Solomon was determined to do. He was resolved that no man's services should be neglected to please a party, or a... [ Continue Reading ]