_A.M. 3304. B.C. 700._ The consequence of being hardened against reproof, and maxims of good government, wisdom, and righteousness, Proverbs 29:1. The duty of parents to correct their children, Proverbs 29:15. The importance of having God's law, Proverbs 29:18. Of anger, pride, theft, cowardice, an... [ Continue Reading ]
_He that being often reproved_ Who having received frequent reproofs from wise and good men, and perhaps also chastisements from God; _hardeneth his neck_ Remains incorrigible, and obstinately persists in those sins for which he is reproved and corrected; _shall suddenly be destroyed_ Is in danger o... [ Continue Reading ]
_When the righteous are in authority_ The Hebrew word here used signifies _to increase_, either in number, or in dignity and power, but it appears from the opposite clause that the latter is intended in this place. _The people rejoice_ For the blessed effects of their good government; _but when the... [ Continue Reading ]
_The king by judgment_ By the free and impartial exercise of justice; _establisheth the land_ Restores his kingdom to a firm and good state, though it might before be in great disorder; _but he that receiveth gifts _ Hebrew, אישׁ תרומות, _a man of oblations_, or _gifts_, whose delight and common pra... [ Continue Reading ]
_A man that flattereth his neighbour_ That praiseth, or applaudeth, another in a sinful state or practice; _spreadeth a net for his feet _ Kills him under a pretence of kindness; is an occasion of his sin, and consequently of his destruction, which possibly he might design to accomplish by that mean... [ Continue Reading ]
_The righteous_ Whether magistrate, or any private person, concerned to know it, and capable of helping him in it; _considereth the cause of the poor_ His poverty neither hinders him from taking pains to examine it, nor from a righteous determination of it; _but the wicked regardeth not to know_ Wil... [ Continue Reading ]
_Scornful men_ That mock at religion, the obligations of conscience, the fears of another world, and every thing that is sacred and serious; who when employed in the business of the state do things with precipitation, because they scorn to deliberate and take time for consultation; who do things ill... [ Continue Reading ]
_If a wise man contendeth with a foolish man_ Debating any matter with him, or endeavouring to convince him of any error; _whether he_ The wise man, _rage_ (_is angry_) _or laugh_ That is, whether he deal sharply and severely with him: rebuking him for his folly, or mildly and pleasantly, smiling at... [ Continue Reading ]
_The blood-thirsty hate the upright_ And consequently seek their ruin, as may be inferred from the following clause; _but the just seek his soul_ To preserve it. Schultens renders this verse, _Bloody men hate the upright, and seek the life of the just._... [ Continue Reading ]
_A fool uttereth all his mind_ All at once, unnecessarily, unseasonably, without reservation or caution; _but a wise man keepeth it in till afterward_ Till he have a fit occasion to express it. _If a ruler hearken to lies_ Delight in flatteries or calumnies, or any lying words, or deceitful and wick... [ Continue Reading ]
_The poor and the deceitful man_ Hebrew, אישׁ תככים, _the man of deceits_, or _of usuries;_ that is, who hath enriched himself by such practices; _meet together_ Converse together, and one needeth the other; _the Lord lighteneth both their eyes_ Either their bodily eyes, namely, with the light of th... [ Continue Reading ]
_The king that faithfully judgeth the poor_ And the rich too; but he names _the poor_, because these are much oppressed and injured by others, and least regarded by princes, and yet committed to their more especial care by the King of kings.... [ Continue Reading ]
_The rod and reproof give wisdom_ Correction and instruction going together; _but a child left to himself_ Suffered to follow his own will without restraint and chastening; _bringeth his mother to shame_ And father too, but he names only the mother, either because her indulgence often spoils the chi... [ Continue Reading ]
_When the wicked are multiplied_ Or rather, _are advanced_, or _in authority_, as the word ברבות, is understood, Proverbs 29:2; _transgression increaseth_ Sin and sinners abound, and grow impudent by impunity, and the example and encouragement of such rulers. _But the righteous shall see their fall_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Where there is no vision_ That is, no prophecy, _the prophets_ being anciently called _seers;_ no public preaching of God's word, called prophecy, Romans 12:6; 1 Corinthians 14:4, &c. Where the people are destitute of the means of instruction; _the people perish_ Because they want the chief means o... [ Continue Reading ]
_A servant_, &c. “A slave, and he who is of a servile nature, is not to be amended by reason or persuasion: no, nor by reproofs or threats; for though he hear, and understand too, what you say, yet he will not obey, till he be forced into it by punishment of his disobedience.” The LXX. read, οικετης... [ Continue Reading ]
_Seest thou a man hasty in his words_ Or rather, _in his business;_ who is rash and heady in the management of his affairs? _There is more hope of a fool_ Who is sensible of his folly, and willing to hearken to the advice of others, _than of him_ Because he is self-confident, and neither considers t... [ Continue Reading ]
_He that delicately bringeth up his servant_, &c. Allowing him too much freedom and familiarity; _shall have him become his son_ Will find him, at last, grow insolent, and forgetful of his servile condition.... [ Continue Reading ]
_A man's pride shall bring him low_ Because both God and men conspire against him; _but honour shall uphold the humble_ Or, as others render it, without any difference in the sense, _the humble in spirit shall hold their honour_, shall be honoured by God and men. Thus honour, like a shadow, flees fr... [ Continue Reading ]
_Whoso is partner with a thief_ By receiving a share of stolen goods, upon condition of his concealing the theft; _hateth his own soul_ Acts as if he hated it; for he wounds and destroys it; _he heareth cursing_ He _heareth the voice of swearing_, as is said Leviticus 5:1; namely, the oath given to... [ Continue Reading ]
_The fear of man_ Inordinate fear of harm or suffering from men, which is properly opposed to trust in God, because it arises from a distrust of God's promises and providence; _bringeth a snare_ Is an occasion of many sins, and consequently of punishments from God: _but whoso putteth his trust in th... [ Continue Reading ]
_Many seek the ruler's favour_ Men study to please their rulers, and to ensure their favour, by their obliging behaviour, humble petitions, and various other means, supposing that to be the only way to procure either right or preferment; _but every man's judgment cometh from the Lord _ The decision... [ Continue Reading ]