CHAPTER XXII _A good reputation. The rich and the poor. The idle. Good habits_ _formed in infancy. Injustice and its effects. The providence of_ _God. The lewd woman. The necessity of timely correction._ _Exhortation to wisdom. Rob not the poor. Be not the companion_ _of the froward. Avoid sure... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Proverbs 22:2. _THE RICH AND POOR MEET TOGETHER_] עשיר _ashir_ the _opulent_, whether in money, land, or property; רש _rash_, the man that is destitute of these, and lives by his labour, whether a handicraftsman, or one that tills the ground. In the order of God, the rich and the poor live to... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Proverbs 22:3. _A PRUDENT_ MAN _FORESEETH THE EVIL_] God in mercy has denied man the knowledge of futurity; but in its place he has given him _hope_ and _prudence_. By _hope_ he is continually expecting and anticipating _good_; by _prudence_ he derives and employs _means_ to secure it. His _e... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Proverbs 22:5. _THORNS_ AND _SNARES_] Various difficulties, trials, and sufferings.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Proverbs 22:6. _TRAIN UP A CHILD IN THE WAY HE SHOULD GO_] The Hebrew of this clause is curious: חנך לנער על פי דרכו _chanoch lannaar al pi_ _darco_, "Initiate the child at the opening (the mouth) of his path." When he comes to the _opening of the way of life_, being able to walk alone, and t... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Proverbs 22:7. _THE RICH RULETH OVER THE POOR_] So it is in the order of God, and may be a blessing to _both_.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Proverbs 22:8. _HE THAT SOWETH INIQUITY_] The _crop_ must be according to the _seed_. If a man sow _thistle seed_, is it likely he shall reap _wheat_? If he sow to the _flesh_, shall he not of the flesh reap _destruction_?... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Proverbs 22:9. _A BOUNTIFUL EYE_] One that disposes him to help all that he sees to be in want; the _bountiful eye_ means the _bountiful_ _heart_; for the _heart_ looks through the _eye_. The _merciful heart,_ even when the _hand_ has little or nothing to give, shall be blessed of the Lord.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Proverbs 22:11. _HE THAT LOVETH PURENESS OF HEART_] Who aims to be what God would have him to be - _the King_ of kings _shall be his Friend_. There is no class of men that value _uprightness_ more than _kings_; as none stand so much in need of it in their _servants_.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Proverbs 22:12. _THE EYES OF THE LORD _- (the Divine providence) _PRESERVE_ _KNOWLEDGE_] This providence has been wonderfully manifested in _preserving the sacred oracles_, and in _preserving many ancient_ _authors_, which have been of great use to the _civil interests of_ _man_.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Proverbs 22:13. _THE SLOTHFUL_ MAN _SAITH_, THERE IS _A LION WITHOUT_] But _why_ does he say so? Because he is a _slothful_ man. Remove his slothfulness, and these imaginary difficulties and dangers will be no more. He will not _go abroad_ to _work_ in the fields, because he thinks there is a... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Proverbs 22:14. _THE MOUTH OF STRANGE WOMEN_ IS _A DEEP PIT_] In Proverbs 23:27, he says, A _whore_ is a DEEP DITCH:, and a _strange woman_ is a NARROW PIT. The allusions in these _three_ places are too plain to be misunderstood. Virgil's hell has been adduced in illustration: - -------------... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Proverbs 22:16. _HE THAT OPPRESSETH THE POOR_] He who, in order to obtain the favour of the _rich_ and _great_, either _robs_ or _cheats_ the _poor_, to make those men _presents_; or gives _in presents_ to them, for the sake of _honour_ and _reputation_, what he should have given to the _poor,... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Proverbs 22:17. _BOW DOWN THINE EAR_] From this to the end of Proverbs 22:21 are contained, not _proverbs_, but _directions_ how to _profit_ by that which _wisdom_ has already delivered; the _nature_ of the _instruction_, and the end for which it was given. I shall give a paraphrase of this v... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Proverbs 22:18. _FOR_ IT IS _A PLEASANT THING IF THOU KEEP THEM WITHIN_ _THEE_] II. The pleasure and profit which may be derived from an attentive hearing. 1. They should be _laid up in the heart _- stored, treasured up _within thee_. 2. This will yield high _satisfaction_ and _happiness_ t... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Proverbs 22:19. _THAT THY TRUST MAY BE IN THE LORD, I HAVE MADE KNOWN,_ _c._] III. The END for which the wise man gives these instructions: - 1. "That thy trust may be in the Lord." That thou mayest acknowledge HIM as the _Fountain_ of all good and refer every thing to _him_. 2. That this e... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Proverbs 22:21. _THAT I MIGHT MAKE THEE KNOW THE CERTAINTY OF THE WORDS_ _OF TRUTH_] 1. These are words or doctrines of _truth_: 1) They are true in themselves. 2) Come from the God of truth. 3) Are truly _fulfilled_ to all that believe. 2. These words of truth are certain, קשט _koshet_,... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Proverbs 22:22. _NEITHER OPPRESS THE AFFLICTED IN THE GATE_] In judgment let the poor have a fair hearing; and let him not be borne down because he is _poor_. The reader has often seen that courts of justice were held at the _gates_ of cities in the East.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Proverbs 22:23. _FOR THE LORD WILL PLEAD THEIR CAUSE_] Wo therefore to them that oppress them, for they will have _God_, not the _poor_, to deal with.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Proverbs 22:24. _MAKE NO FRIENDSHIP WITH AN ANGRY MAN_] _Spirit_ has a wonderful and unaccountable influence upon _spirit_. From those with whom we associate we acquire habits, and learn _their ways_, imbibe their _spirit_, show their _tempers_ and walk in their _steps_. We cannot be too choic... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Proverbs 22:26. _THAT STRIKE HANDS_] See on the parallel texts in the margin.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Proverbs 22:27. _IF THOU HAST NOTHING TO PAY_] Should any man give security for more than he is _worth_? If he does, is it not a fraud on the very face of the transaction? _WHY SHOULD HE TAKE AWAY THY BED FROM UNDER THEE?_] The _creditor_ will not pursue the _debtor_ whom he knows to be worth... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Proverbs 22:28. _REMOVE NOT THE ANCIENT LANDMARK_] Do not take the advantage, in ploughing or breaking up a field contiguous to that of thy neighbour, to set the dividing stones _farther_ into his _field_ that thou mayest _enlarge thy own_. Take not what is not _thy_ _own_ in any case. Let al... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Proverbs 22:29. _HE SHALT NOT STAND BEFORE MEAN MEN._] חשכים _chashukkim,_ _dark_ or _obscure persons_; men of no repute. _Na he schal ben before_ _un-noble men_. - Old MS. Bible. "Not amonge the symple people." - _Coverdale_. The general meaning of the proverb is, "Every diligent, active man... [ Continue Reading ]