THE PREPARATIONS OF THE HEART IN MAN,.... The sense of these words, according to our version, depends upon the next clause, and the meaning of the whole is, that a man can neither think nor speak without God: the "orderings" or "marshallings of the heart" a, as it may be rendered; that is, of the th... [ Continue Reading ]
ALL THE WAYS OF A MAN [ARE] CLEAN IN HIS OWN EYES,.... All right and well, not only some, but all, having a high opinion of himself; for this is to be understood of a self-righteous man, who is pure in his own eyes, though not cleansed from his filthiness, and so fancies every way he walks in, and e... [ Continue Reading ]
COMMIT THY WORKS UNTO THE LORD,.... Natural, civil, or religious; seek to him for strength and assistance in all, and leave the success of all with him: or "roll thy works on" or "unto the Lord" b; devolve all upon him, cast all care upon him and his providence for supply, support, and sustenance in... [ Continue Reading ]
THE LORD HATH MADE ALL [THINGS] FOR HIMSELF,.... This is true of the Lord with respect to the creation of all things by him. All things are made by him, the heaven, earth, and sea; and all that are in them, angels, men, beasts, birds, fishes, and all creatures: and these are made for himself, and no... [ Continue Reading ]
EVERY ONE [THAT IS] PROUD IN HEART [IS] AN ABOMINATION TO THE LORD,.... Though he may dissemble his pride, and not discover it in his looks, by his words and gestures; yet the Lord sees and knows the heart, the naughtiness of it, and the pride that is in it: and only a proud look, but a proud heart,... [ Continue Reading ]
BY MERCY AND TRUTH INIQUITY IS PURGED,.... Or "expiated" d, and atoned for: not by the mercy and truth of men; not by alms deeds or showing mercy to the poor; nor by speaking truth and keeping promises, and doing justice between man and man; for, though these are duties to be performed, they will no... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEN A MAN'S WAYS PLEASE THE LORD,.... As they do when a man walks according to the rule of his word; when he walks as he has Christ for an example; when he walks after the Spirit, and not after the flesh; when he walks by faith, and does all he does in faith; without which it is impossible to pleas... [ Continue Reading ]
BETTER [IS] A LITTLE WITH RIGHTEOUSNESS,.... Gotten in a righteous way, held by a righteous claim, used in a righteous manner, attended with a life of righteousness and holiness; and also along with an interest in the righteousness of Christ, which renders acceptable unto God, yields peace and comfo... [ Continue Reading ]
A MAN'S HEART DEVISETH HIS WAY,.... This is to be understood, not of a wicked man, in whose heart is frowardness, and who devises mischief and evil imaginations continually, Proverbs 6:14; for such are an abomination to the Lord; nor will he direct their goings, or prosper and succeed them in their... [ Continue Reading ]
A DIVINE SENTENCE [IS] IN THE LIPS OF THE KING,.... Or "divination" f, as the word signifies; or what is like to divination, as Aben Ezra and Gersom interpret it g. What be says is as an oracle, and should be strictly true. Some understand it of the sagacity and penetration of kings, as was in Solom... [ Continue Reading ]
A JUST WEIGHT AND BALANCE [ARE] THE LORD'S,.... These are of his devising; what he has put into the heart, of men to contrive and make use of, for the benefit of mankind, for the keeping and maintaining truth and justice in commercial affairs; these are of his appointing, commanding, and approving,... [ Continue Reading ]
[IT IS] AN ABOMINATION TO KINGS TO COMMIT WICKEDNESS,.... The Targum is, "the abomination of kings are they that work wickedness.'' It should be an abomination to kings to commit wickedness themselves, and those that do it should be abhorred by them, or they should show their resentment at it by r... [ Continue Reading ]
RIGHTEOUS LIPS [ARE] THE DELIGHT OF KINGS,.... Such that speak truth and righteousness, and advise to the administration of justice and judgment, and to do that which is most for their own true honour and the people's good, are, or ought to be, highly valued and esteemed by kings: but the contrary i... [ Continue Reading ]
THE WRATH OF A KING [IS AS] MESSENGERS OF DEATH,.... Or, "angels of death", as the Targum. As the wrath of Ahasuerus was to Haman; when it is either discovered in the countenance of a king, or expressed by his words, or signified by a messenger; it sometimes has been immediate death to a person, and... [ Continue Reading ]
IN THE LIGHT OF THE KING'S COUNTENANCE [IS] LIFE,.... When he looks with a pleasant smiling countenance on a person that has been under his displeasure, and especially if under a sentence of death, it is as life from the dead: so the light of the countenance of God, the King of kings; the discoverie... [ Continue Reading ]
HOW MUCH BETTER [IS IT] TO GET WISDOM THAN GOLD?.... To obtain and possess Christ, the fountain of wisdom, in whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge, which treasures are infinitely preferable to thousands of gold and silver; to gain the knowledge of him, and of God in him, with which... [ Continue Reading ]
THE HIGHWAY OF THE UPRIGHT [IS] TO DEPART FROM EVIL,.... Upright persons, such who are upright in heart, and walk uprightly; these walk in the highway of holiness, in which men, though fools, shall not err; in the King's highway, the highway of the King of kings; in the plain beaten path of God's co... [ Continue Reading ]
PRIDE [GOETH] BEFORE DESTRUCTION,.... As it did in the angels that sinned, who, through pride, fell into condemnation, not being able to bear the thought that the human nature, in the person of the Son of God, should be advanced above theirs; and as it did in our first parents, who, not content with... [ Continue Reading ]
BETTER [IT IS TO BE] OF AN HUMBLE SPIRIT WITH THE LOWLY,.... The followers of the meek and lowly Jesus, whose spirits are humbled under a sense of sin; have mean thoughts of themselves and their own righteousness, and submit to the righteousness of the Son of God, and wholly trust in him for salvati... [ Continue Reading ]
HE THAT HANDLETH A MATTER WISELY SHALL FIND GOOD,.... That frames and composes his discourse well on any subject he takes in hand; or manages his affairs prudently and discreetly, in which he is concerned; or that wisely attends to the affair of humility, as Aben Ezra: or rather to the word, that is... [ Continue Reading ]
THE WISE IN HEART SHALL BE CALLED PRUDENT,.... He that has true wisdom in the inward part; who knows his heart and the haughtiness of it; who has the fear of God in it, which is the beginning of wisdom; who is wise unto salvation, not only knows the scheme of it, but is experimentally acquainted wit... [ Continue Reading ]
UNDERSTANDING [IS] A WELLSPRING OF LIFE UNTO HIM THAT HATH IT,.... "The master" or "owner of it" k. As he only is to whom an understanding is given; for, whatever understanding men may have of natural and civil things, they have none of things spiritual and divine, unless it be given them by Christ.... [ Continue Reading ]
THE HEART OF THE WISE TEACHETH HIS MOUTH,.... That is, a man that is wise in heart, as in Proverbs 16:21; his heart will teach his mouth what to say, when to say it, and before whom; it will prompt him to matter, that he shall not be at a loss what to say, nor how to say; it will furnish him with wo... [ Continue Reading ]
PLEASANT WORDS [ARE AS] AN HONEYCOMB,.... Jarchi interprets it of the words of the law; but it may be much better understood of the doctrines of the Gospel; such as the doctrines of God's everlasting love, eternal election, the covenant of grace, the person of Christ as God-man; of peace and reconci... [ Continue Reading ]
THERE IS A WAY THAT SEEMETH RIGHT UNTO A MAN, BUT THE END THEREOF [ARE] THE WAYS OF DEATH. The same is said in Proverbs 14:12, and is here repeated because of the excellence, importance, and usefulness of the observation, and to excite an attention to it; that men may be more diligent to look into t... [ Continue Reading ]
HE THAT LABOURETH, LABOURETH FOR HIMSELF,.... Man is born for labour; it is a part of the curse inflicted on him for sin; and his condition and circumstances are such as make it necessary, for such who will not work ought not to eat; and it is labouring for food and raiment which is here meant, and... [ Continue Reading ]
AN UNGODLY MAN DIGGETH UP EVIL,.... Or "a man of Belial" p, a worthless unprofitable man; a man without a yoke, not obedient to the law of God; such a man digs for sin as for a treasure; nor need he go far for it, he has enough in his own heart, out of the evil treasure of which he brings forth evil... [ Continue Reading ]
A FROWARD MAN SOWETH STRIFE,.... Or "a man of perversenesses" q; in whose heart is frowardness and perverseness; and whose mouth speaketh froward and perverse things, contrary to reason, law, and Gospel; and who has a spirit of contradiction, and is contrary to all men in his principles and practice... [ Continue Reading ]
A VIOLENT MAN ENTICETH HIS NEIGHBOUR,.... As false teachers do, who are grievous wolves, not sparing the flock, and who by good words and fair speeches deceive the heart of the simple; and as the man of sin, that has shed the blood of the saints, and been drunk with the same, deceives with his mirac... [ Continue Reading ]
HE SHUTTETH HIS EYES TO DEVISE FROWARD THINGS,.... Or "perverse" or "contrary things" r; he shuts his eyes, that his thoughts might not be disturbed and distracted by visible objects, but might be more free and composed, and intent upon the things he is meditating and devising; or he shuts his eyes... [ Continue Reading ]
THE HOARY HEAD [IS] A CROWN OF GLORY,.... Gray hairs, white locks through age are very ornamental; look very beautiful, bespeak gravity, wisdom, and prudence, and command reverence and respect; with the ancient Romans s, greater honour was paid to age than to family or wealth; and the elder were rev... [ Continue Reading ]
[HE THAT IS] SLOW TO ANGER IS BETTER THAN THE MIGHTY,.... Than a mighty warrior or conqueror; as Alexander who conquered his enemies, and even all the world, and yet in his wrath slew his best friends: a man that is slow to anger is esteemed by the Lord, respected by men, and is happy in himself; an... [ Continue Reading ]
THE LOT IS CAST INTO THE LAP,.... Of a man's garment, or into his bosom, or into a hat, cap, urn, or whatsoever he has in his lap, and from whence it is taken out; which used to be done in choosing officers, civil or ecclesiastical; in dividing inheritances, and determining doubtful cases; and makin... [ Continue Reading ]