Proverbs 14:34

Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people. RIGHTEOUSNESS EXALTETH A NATION: BUT SIN (IS) A REPROACH TO ANY PEOPLE - Hebrew, 'to peoples,' plural; whereas "a nation" is singular, implying the paucity of the nations observing righteousness, and the multitude of those that nationally sin. The Hebrew for "reproach" (chesed) means also mercy. Hence, Gejer translates, 'Mercy is an expiatory sacrifice for sin;' "sin" being sometimes used for sin offering (; ). Not that mercy puts away sin before God, but before men, who are by mercy reconciled to those who had before been unmerciful to them. But the Chaldaic ('sin is the reproach of a people') supports the English version. So in the main Vulgate ('sin makes people miserable'). The Septuagint, Syriac, and Arabic ('sins...

Verse Proverbs 14:34. _BUT SIN_ IS _A REPROACH TO ANY PEOPLE._] I am satisfied this is not the sense of the original, וחסד לאמים חטאת _vechesed_ _leummim chattath_; which would be better rendered, _And mercy is a_ _sin-offering for the people_. The _Vulgate_ has, _Miseros autem facit_ _populos peccatum_, "sin makes the people wretched." Ελασσονουσι δε φυλας ἁμαρτιαι; "But sins lessen the tribes." - _Septuagint_. So also the _Syriac_ and _Arabic_. The plain meaning of the original seems to be, _A national disposition to mercy_ appears in the sight of God as a _continual sin-offering_. Not that it atones for the sin of the people; but, _as_ a sin-offering is pleasing in the sight of the God of mercy, so is a merciful disposition in a nation. This view of the verse is consistent with the purest doctri...

REPROACH - The word so rendered has this sense in the Targum of Leviticus 20:17. Its more usual meaning is “mercy,” “piety;” hence, some have attached to the word rendered “sin” the sense of “sin-offering,” and so get the maxim “piety is an atonement for the people.”...

EXPOSITION PROVERBS 14:1 EVERY WISE WOMAN BUILDETH HER HOUSE. Wise women order well their household matters and their families; they have an important influence, and exercise it beneficially. Γυναικὸς ἐσθλῆς ἐστὶ σώζειν οἰκίαν_._ "A good wife is the saving of a house." The versions render as above. A different pointing of the word translated "wise" (_chakhmoth_)_ _will give "wisdom" (_chokhmoth_)_, _which it seems best to read here, as the parallel to the abstract term "folly" in the second member. So we have, "Wisdom hath builded her house" (Proverbs 9:1; comp. Proverbs 1:20). Thus: "The wi

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 of God and men; and is attended with privileges and blessings, which make a nation great and honourable. Some understand this of aims deeds, or beneficence to the poor; which, both in the Hebrew and Greek languages, is called righteousness; Matthew 6:1. It may be put for the whole of true religion, which is an honour to a nation, where it obtains; and is what makes the holy nation, and peculiar people, so truly illustrious; and particularly the righteousness of Christ makes such who are interested in it really great and noble, and promotes and exalts them to heaven and happiness;...

CHAPTER 14 THE WISE AND THE FOOLISH: THE RICH AND THE POOR The contrast now concerns the wise and the foolish, the rich and the poor. Let us see some of these contrasts. “In the mouth of the foolish is a rod of pride, but the lips of the wise shall preserve them” Proverbs 14:3. The foolish shoots forth his foolishness like a branch. Separation from the foolish man is commanded in the seventh verse. The wise cannot have fellowship with the foolish, as the believer is not to be yoked to the unbeliever. Fools make a mock at sin Proverbs 14:9). The word “sin” in the original means “trespass offering.” That is exactly what the foolish man does, including the religious fool; he denies both sin and the blessed provision God has made to deliver from the guilt and power of sin. But among the righteous, says

PROVERBS 14. In this, as in each of the preceding Chapter s in this section, aphorisms on the moral government of the world come first in number. There are rather more in this chapter of a political and social character, while a group that might be called psychological appears for the first time (_e.g._ Proverbs 14:10; Proverbs 14:13, and in part Proverbs 14:30). The contrast between wisdom and folly, simplicity and prudence, also yields a fairly numerous group. PROVERBS 14:1. MT cannot be translated. Proverbs 14:1 a is p

EXALTETH... BUT, &C. Illustrations: Deuteronomy 4:6. Deu 4:28. 1 Kings 9:7; 2 Chronicles 15:3 2 Chronicles 15:5, 2 Chronicles 15:6. compare Joshua 1:8; Joshua 10:42; Joshua 23:14 with Judges 1:2, &

BUT A SIN IS A REPROACH TO ANY PEOPLE— Schultens renders this, _And the beneficence of nations is their expiation;_ which appears to be perfectly agreeable to the Hebrew: nor can there be a more pleasing or a more just observation. According as nations exercise mercy, compassion, and justice, towards others; they will obtain the favour and protection of God. It is agreeable to consider the expression in this view, in an age, when, however defective we may be in the estimate of severer moralists, there can be no doubt that the high virtues of benevolence and humanity shine forth among us with a distinguished lustre; for which we may hope the God of compassions will still look with a favourable eye upon our land, protecting us by his mighty arm, and blessing us with his fatherly kindness. We must here recollect, that nations, _as such,_ must be rewarded or punished in this world. _Individu...

TEXT Proverbs 14:25-35 25. A true witness delivereth souls; But he that uttereth lies causeth deceit. 26. In the fear of Jehovah is strong confidence; And his children shall have a place of refuge. 27. The fear of Jehovah is a fountain of life, That one may depart from the snares of death. 28. In the multitude of people is the king's glory; But in the want of people is the destruction of the prince. 29. He that is slow to anger is of great understanding; But he that is hasty of spirit exalteth folly. 30. A tranquil heart is the life of the flesh; But envy is the rottenness of the bones. 31. He that oppresseth the poor reproacheth his Maker; But he that hath mercy on the needy honoreth him. 32. The wicked is thrust down in his evil-doing;...