Proverbs 15 - Introduction
_A.M. 3004. B.C. 1000._ NOTES ON CHAPTER XV.... [ Continue Reading ]
_A.M. 3004. B.C. 1000._ NOTES ON CHAPTER XV.... [ Continue Reading ]
_A soft answer_, &c. A mild, submissive, and yielding answer to him who severely chides, or reproves, _turns away wrath_ And prevents the further progress of it. The word מענה, here rendered _answer_, however, signifies as well what is first said, as the reply to it, and may not improperly be transl... [ Continue Reading ]
_The tongue of the wise useth knowledge aright_ Expressing what he knows prudently and gracefully; taking due care both what, and when, and to whom, and in what manner he speaks; _but the mouth of fools poureth out foolishness_ Plentifully, continually, promiscuously, and vehemently, as a fountain d... [ Continue Reading ]
_A fool despiseth_ Doth not regard nor obey; (which is an evidence of contempt;) _his father's instruction_ Who hath both love to him and authority over him, which greatly aggravates his folly; _but he that regardeth reproof_ That is, is willing to receive, and duly regard the reproof of any person... [ Continue Reading ]
_In the house of the righteous is much treasure_ “A truly just and merciful man is very rich, whether he have little or much, because he is well contented, and what he hath is likely to continue in his family: but there is much disquiet and trouble in the greatest revenues of the wicked; which can n... [ Continue Reading ]
_The lips of the wise disperse knowledge_ Freely communicate to others what they know, as they have opportunity; _but the heart of the foolish doth not so_ Either because he hath no knowledge to disperse, or because he hath not a heart to perform his duty, or to do good to others. Or, as others rend... [ Continue Reading ]
_The sacrifice of the wicked_ Or the religious services, yea, the best and most costly of them, one kind being put for all the rest; _is an abomination to the Lord_ Because not offered with a sincere desire to glorify him, nor from a principle of faith and love, but is made a cloak for sin, is used... [ Continue Reading ]
_Correction is grievous unto him that forsaketh the way_ God's way, emphatically called _the way_ here, as also Psalms 119:1, and elsewhere. He abhors reproof, because it is a reproach to him, and because it strikes at the sin which he loves. _And he that hateth reproof shall die_ That is, shall be... [ Continue Reading ]
_A merry heart maketh a cheerful countenance;_ &c. “When the mind of a man is inwardly satisfied, and full of joy, it does good to his body too, as appears in his cheerful countenance: but when grief seizes on the heart, it detects, enfeebles, and breaks the most courageous spirit.” _All the days of... [ Continue Reading ]
_Better is a little with the fear of the Lord_ Which gives a man tranquillity and comfort in what he hath; _than great treasure and trouble therewith_ Tumultuous lusts and passions, vexatious cares and fears, horrors of conscience, and expectations of God's wrath and indignation. _Better is a dinner... [ Continue Reading ]
_The way of the slothful man_ The way in which he does or ought to walk; any good work which he pretends or desires to undertake; _is as a hedge of thorns_ As a way hedged up with thorns, (see Hosea 2:6,) troublesome, perplexed, and full of such difficulties as he despairs, and therefore never striv... [ Continue Reading ]
_A wise son_, &c. See the note on chap. 10:1, where we have the same proverb. _Folly is joy to him that is destitute of wisdom _ He not only works wickedness, but takes pleasure in doing it; _but a man of understanding walketh uprightly_ Hebrew, יישׁר לכת, _directeth_, or _maketh straight, his goin... [ Continue Reading ]
_Without counsel_ When men do not seek, or will not receive advice from others in weighty affairs; _purposes are disappointed_ Their designs are ill managed, and succeed accordingly; _but in the multitude of counsellors_ That is, of wise and good counsellors, for such only deserve that name; _they a... [ Continue Reading ]
_The way of life is above to the wise_ The way which a wise man takes to preserve and obtain spiritual and eternal life, is to place his heart, treasure, and conversation in things above; and to manage all his affairs in this world with due respect and subserviency to the happiness of another world;... [ Continue Reading ]
_The Lord will destroy the house of the proud_ Of the most mighty oppressors, who suppose themselves to be immoveably fixed; or the family of haughty men, who, forgetting him, trample upon their inferiors; _but he will establish the border of the widow_ The estate, _the border_ being often used for... [ Continue Reading ]
_The thoughts of the wicked_ Their evil intentions and affections, their wicked designs and contrivances, nay, their very thoughts and imaginations; _are an abomination to the Lord_ Are abhorred, and will be punished by him; _but the words of the pure_ Which discover and proceed from their thoughts,... [ Continue Reading ]
_He that is greedy of gain_ That seeketh wealth by unjust practices, which the opposite clause shows to be the sense intended; _troubleth his own house_ Bringeth God's displeasure and destruction upon himself and his family, whom he designed to enrich, honour, and establish; _but he that hateth gift... [ Continue Reading ]
_The heart of the righteous studieth to answer_ He answers, or speaks, considerately and conscientiously, and therefore profitably, to the edification of the hearers; _but the mouth of the wicked_ Not _the heart_, for they are _without heart_, in the Scripture account, and speak rashly whatever come... [ Continue Reading ]
_The Lord is far from the wicked_ They set him at defiance, and therefore he sets himself at a distance from them; they _say to the Almighty, Depart from us_, and he accordingly does depart, and is far from them; he does not manifest himself to them, has no communion with them, will not hear them wh... [ Continue Reading ]
_The light of the eyes rejoiceth the heart_, &c. “In the same manner that the sensible light rejoices a sound eye, and diffuses its pleasure through the whole soul, so a good reputation gives pleasure, and contributes to the health of the body. The wise man frequently advises his disciple to labour... [ Continue Reading ]
_The ear that heareth the reproof of life_ The man that hearkens to and delights in that reproof and good counsel which lead to life; _abideth among the wise_ He will thereby be made wise, and be esteemed one of that number: or rather, he seeks and delights in the company and conversation of the wis... [ Continue Reading ]