EVERY WISE WOMAN BUILDETH HER HOUSE,.... Not only by her fruitfulness, as Leah and Rachel built up the house of Israel; but by her good housewifery, prudent economy; looking well to the ways of her household; guiding the affairs of her house with discretion; keeping all things in a good decorum; and... [ Continue Reading ]
HE THAT WALKETH IN HIS UPRIGHTNESS FEARETH THE LORD,.... It is plain that the fear of the Lord is upon the heart and before the eyes of such that walk according to the word of God, with a sincere desire to glorify him; for it is by the fear of the Lord that men depart from evil, and because of that... [ Continue Reading ]
IN THE MOUTH OF THE FOOLISH [IS] A ROD OF PRIDE,.... A proud tongue, or a tongue speaking proud and haughty things; with which foolish or wicked men smite others and wound and hurt their reputation and credit, and in the issue hurt themselves also; their tongue is not only a rod to others, but a sco... [ Continue Reading ]
WHERE NO OXEN [ARE] THE CRIB [IS] CLEAN,.... Or "empty" z, so Jarchi and Aben Ezra. Oxen were used in Judea in several parts of husbandry; in ploughing the land, bringing home the corn, and in threshing or treading it out, Deuteronomy 22:10. Now where these are not, or not used, where husbandry is n... [ Continue Reading ]
A FAITHFUL WITNESS WILL NOT LIE,.... For that would be contrary to his character as faithful; and as he will not witness to a falsehood upon oath in a court of judicature, so neither will he tell a lie in common conversation. This may be applied to Gospel ministers, who are witnesses of Christ; the... [ Continue Reading ]
A SCORNER SEEKETH WISDOM, AND [FINDETH IT] NOT,.... So the scornful Greeks, that scoffed at the plainness and simplicity of the Gospel, sought natural wisdom, and thought they found it, and professed they had; but professing themselves to be wise they became fools, and with all their wisdom knew not... [ Continue Reading ]
GO FROM THE PRESENCE OF A FOOLISH MAN,.... A wicked one; avoid him, shun his company, depart from him, have no fellowship with him, it, being dangerous, infectious, and hurtful; WHEN THOU PERCEIVEST NOT [IN HIM] THE LIPS OF KNOWLEDGE; when it is observed that his lips pour out foolishness, what is... [ Continue Reading ]
THE WISDOM OF THE PRUDENT [IS] TO UNDERSTAND HIS WAY,.... The way of his calling, in which he should abide, and how to manage it in the best manner; the way of his duty, that he may walk inoffensively both towards God and men; and the way of life and salvation, which is by Jesus Christ, which to und... [ Continue Reading ]
FOOLS MAKE A MOCK AT SIN,.... At sinful actions, their own or others; they make light of them, a jest of them, call evil good, and good evil; take pleasure in doing them themselves, and in those that do them; yea, sport themselves with the mischief that arises from them unto others; they make a mock... [ Continue Reading ]
THE HEART KNOWETH HIS OWN BITTERNESS,.... Or "the bitterness of his soul" l, the distress of his conscience, the anguish of his mind; the heart of man only knows the whole of it; something of it may be known to others by his looks, his words, and gestures, but not all of it; see 1 Corinthians 2:10;... [ Continue Reading ]
THE HOUSE OF THE WICKED SHALL BE OVERTHROWN,.... Houses built to perpetuate their names and eternize their memory; and which, though built high and stately, strong and firm, yet by one accident or another shall come to ruin, when they imagined they would continue for ever, and their dwelling places... [ Continue Reading ]
THERE IS A WAY WHICH SEEMETH RIGHT UNTO A MAN,.... As the way of sin and wickedness does, it promising much carnal pleasure and mirth; there is a great deal of company in it, it is a broad road, and is pleasant, and seems right, but it leads to destruction; so the way of the hypocrite and Pharisee t... [ Continue Reading ]
EVEN IN LAUGHTER THE HEART IS SORROWFUL,.... As Belshazzar's was in the midst of his feast and jollity, when he saw the writing on the wall; so sin may stare a man in the face, and guilt load his conscience and fill him with sorrow, amidst his merriment; a man may put on a merry countenance, and fei... [ Continue Reading ]
THE BACKSLIDER IN HEART SHALL BE FILLED WITH HIS OWN WAYS,.... One that is a backslider at heart, whose heart departeth from the Lord; in whom there is an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God; and indeed apostasy begins at the heart, and shows itself in the life and conversation:... [ Continue Reading ]
THE SIMPLE BELIEVETH EVERY WORD,.... Every thing that is said to him every story that is told him, and every promise that is made him; and so is easily imposed upon, and drawn in to his hurt: every word of God, or doctrine of his, ought to be believed; because whatever he says is true, he cannot lie... [ Continue Reading ]
A WISE [MAN] FEARETH, AND DEPARTETH FROM EVIL,.... He fears God, and is careful not to offend him; wherefore he departs from sin, stands at a distance from it, abstains from all appearance of it; being influenced by the goodness and grace of God unto him, he fears the Lord and his goodness, and ther... [ Continue Reading ]
[HE THAT IS] SOON ANGRY DEALETH FOOLISHLY,.... A man that is quick and short, of a hasty spirit, and presently discovers anger and resentment in his face; he says and does many foolish things, which he afterwards is sorry for, and repents, and is ashamed of; and he is to be pitied and forgiven; AND... [ Continue Reading ]
THE SIMPLE INHERIT FOLLY,.... It is natural and hereditary to them, they are born like wild asses colts; the foolish sayings and proverbs, customs and practices, of their ancestors, though they have been demonstrated to be mere folly, yet these, their posterity, approve them; they love, like, and re... [ Continue Reading ]
THE EVIL BOW BEFORE THE GOOD,.... Wicked men before good men. This, as Jarchi observes, respects future time; even the latter day glory, or the spiritual times of the Messiah, when the kingdom under the whole heaven shall be given to the saints of the most High: for though there may have been some f... [ Continue Reading ]
THE POOR IS HATED EVEN OF HIS OWN NEIGHBOUR,.... As well as of strangers; that is, he is shy of him; he does not care to take any notice of him, or be friendly with him, lest he should be burdensome to him. Poverty brings a man into contempt and disgrace; the same man, in affluence and indigence, is... [ Continue Reading ]
HE THAT DESPISETH HIS NEIGHBOUR SINNETH,.... He that despiseth his neighbour in his heart, speaks slightly of him, overlooks him, is not friendly to him, will neither converse with him, nor relieve him in his necessity; for it seems to be understood of his poor neighbour; and so the Septuagint and A... [ Continue Reading ]
DO THEY NOT ERR THAT DEVISE EVIL?.... Certainly they do; they go astray from the right way, from the word of truth, from the Gospel of Christ, who contrive schemes to commit sin, and do mischief to their neighbours; or who "plough" t it, and sow it, and expect a fine harvest; but they will be mistak... [ Continue Reading ]
IN ALL LABOUR THERE IS PROFIT,.... Or "abundance" u; much is got by it, food, raiment, riches, wealth, wisdom, honour; either with the labour of the hands or head, and nothing is to be got without labour; and he that is laborious in his calling, whether it be by manual operation, working with his ha... [ Continue Reading ]
THE CROWN OF THE WISE [IS] THEIR RICHES,.... Riches being used by them to increase and improve their knowledge and wisdom, and for the good of men, are an honour to them, and give them credit and reputation among men of sense and goodness; see Ecclesiastes 7:11; [BUT] THE FOOLISHNESS OF FOOLS [IS]... [ Continue Reading ]
A TRUE WITNESS DELIVERETH SOULS,.... Or, "a witness of truth" x: one that witnesses truth upon oath in a court of judicature, he "delivers souls"; men, not one man only, but many; a whole family, or more, in danger of being ruined; he delivers them, as the Septuagint and Arabic versions add, "from e... [ Continue Reading ]
IN THE FEAR OF THE LORD [IS] STRONG CONFIDENCE,.... Such who fear the Lord may be confident that he has a love to them, a delight in them; that his eye is upon them, and his heart towards them; and will communicate every needful good to them, and protect and defend them: or the Lord himself that is... [ Continue Reading ]
THE FEAR OF THE LORD [IS] A FOUNTAIN OF LIFE,.... Where the true fear of God is, there is a real principle of grace, which is "a well of living water, springing up unto everlasting life", John 4:14; eternal life is connected with it; it makes meet for it, and issues in it: or the Lord, who is the ob... [ Continue Reading ]
IN THE MULTITUDE OF PEOPLE [IS] THE KING'S HONOUR,.... For it is a sign of a good and wise government, of clemency and righteousness being exercised, of liberty and property being enjoyed, of peace, plenty, and prosperity; which encourage subjects to serve their king cheerfully, and to continue unde... [ Continue Reading ]
[HE THAT IS] SLOW TO WRATH [IS] OF GREAT UNDERSTANDING,.... Or "long in wrath" e; it is long before he is angry; he is longsuffering, bears much and long, is very patient; such an one appears to understand himself and human nature, and has a great command over his passions; which shows him to be a m... [ Continue Reading ]
A SOUND HEART [IS] THE LIFE OF THE FLESH,.... A heart made so by the grace of God, in which are sound principles of truth, righteousness, and holiness; these preserve from sin, and so from many diseases; whereby the life of the flesh or body is kept safe and sound, or that is kept in health and vigo... [ Continue Reading ]
HE THAT OPPRESSETH THE POOR REPROACHETH HIS MAKER,.... That does him any injury, either by scoffing at him, and reproaching him for his poverty; or by vexatious law suits; or by withholding from him his wages; or not giving him that relief which he ought: such an one not only injures the poor man; b... [ Continue Reading ]
THE WICKED IS DRIVEN AWAY IN HIS WICKEDNESS,.... That is, at death, as the opposite clause shows; he is driven out of the world, his heart is so much set on; from all the good things of it, which are his all, his portion; from the place of his abode, which will know him no more; and from all his fri... [ Continue Reading ]
WISDOM RESTETH IN THE HEART OF HIM THAT HATH UNDERSTANDING,.... It is in his heart, as the treasury where it is laid up, and where it is kept in safety; here it lies hid and undiscerned, unmolested and undisturbed; no noise is made about it, or any ostentation of it; it dwells quietly and constantly... [ Continue Reading ]
RIGHTEOUSNESS EXALTETH A NATION,.... Administered by the government, and exercised by subjects towards one another; doing justice between man and man: this exalts a nation, as it did the people of Israel, while practised among them; this sets a people above their neighbours, and high in the esteem o... [ Continue Reading ]
THE KING'S FAVOUR [IS] TOWARD A WISE SERVANT,.... Who does his prince's business well, committed to him; manages all his affairs wisely and prudently; is diligent and careful to do everything for the king's honour, and the good of his subjects; such an one has a share in royal favour, a place in the... [ Continue Reading ]