Proverbs 19:22

The desire of a man is his kindness: and a poor man is better than a liar. THE DESIRE OF A MAN IS HIS KINDNESS: AND A POOR MAN IS BETTER THAN A LIAR. 'A man's kindness is what makes him desirable,' and acceptable to all; or, 'A man's kindness is a desirable adornment to him.' The parallel clause accords with this, "A poor man (who is disposed to acts of kindness as far as his means extend) is better than a liar" - i:e than a rich man who lyingly withholds the riches which he hath, and with which he has promised to relieve the afflicted poor. Though rained above the godly poor by riches, he falls infinitely beneath them by lying avarice....

The “liar” is probably the man, who makes false excuses for not giving, and so is inferior to the poor man, whose “desire,” the wish to do good, is taken, in the absence of means to carry it into effect, for the act of kindness itself....

EXPOSITION PROVERBS 19:1 BETTER IS THE POOR THAT WALKTH IN HIS INTEGRITY. The word for "poor" is, here and in Proverbs 19:7, Proverbs 19:22, _rash, _which signifies "poor" in opposition to "rich." In the present reading of the second clause, than he that is perverse in his lips, and is a fool, there seems to be a failure in antithesis, unless we can understand the fool as a rich fool. This, the repetition of the maxim in Proverbs 28:6 ("Than he that is perverse in his ways, though he be rich"), would lead one to admit. The Vulgate accordingly has, Quam dives torquem

THE DESIRE OF A MAN [IS] HIS KINDNESS,.... Either the grace and kindness of God, which is, desirable by every sensible man, as being most excellent, and better than life and anything in it; or it is his desire to show kindness. A good man is desirous of riches, that he might have it in the power of his hands to do good to others; and a beneficent man, who has it in his power, is desirous of an opportunity of showing kindness to his fellow creatures and friends; and such a disposition and conduct render a man very desirable and amiable; it is the beauty of a man, as Ben Melech; yea, a man that is not able to do a kindness to another, yet has a desire to do it, his good will is his kindness, and the will is taken for the deed. Gersom takes the word in the sense of "reproach", as it is sometimes used; and understands it of the sinful desires of the heart, the imaginations of the thoughts of...

CHAPTER 19:1-19 FURTHER PROVERBS ON PERSONAL INSTRUCTION One may be poor, but walking in integrity, he is far ahead of him who is perverse in his lips and is a fool. Then we find proverbs about fretting against the Lord; warning against false witness and speaking lies and other matters. We call special attention to Proverbs 19:12 . _ The King's wrath is as the roaring of a lion._ But his favour is as dew upon the grass. It may be applied to Him who is The Lamb of God and also the Lion of the tribe of Judah. Some day He will roar in His displeasure and manifest the wrath, so well deserved by the world. But even then His grace will be revealed, for in wrath He will remember mercy, the mercy promised to Israel. “I will be as the dew unto Israel; he shall grow as the lily, and cast forth its roots as Lebanon”...

PROVERBS 19. A shrewd turn of sarcasm in Proverbs 19:3 suggests the attitude of practical wisdom towards that questioning of the moral government of the world which we find in Job. PROVERBS 19:1. FOOL: read rich, as in Proverbs 28:6. Proverbs 19:2 a. Both RV and RVm are unsound grammatically. The lit. rendering shows that the clause is defective, Also without knowledge of the soul. is not good. Some verb expressing action is required. Proverbs 19:2 b. sinneth: read _mg._ The idea is more haste less speed.

MAN. Hebrew. _'adam._ App-14. This word stands in relation to _'ish_ in Proverbs 19:21, and to. poor man in next clause. here, the commonest sort of man, or ordinary man. IS, &C.. is [measured by] his kindness. BETTER. See note on Proverbs 8:11. A LIAR. Hebrew an _'ish_ [a man of the better sort who is]. liar. This proverb does not "remain. riddle". THE STRUCTURE above is addressed to "My Son" Proverbs 19:27; Proverbs 23:15; Proverbs 23:19;...

is _his kindness_ The R.V. renders, _is_the measure of _his kindness_, in order to make the meaning clearer. The "kindness," or "benevolence" of a man is to be measured, not by what he does, but by what he desires to do (2 Corinthians 8:12). _a liar_ A poor man who would help but cannot is better than one whose circumstances or promises warrant expectations which are not fulfilled. The proverb holds together better and is more forcible thus than if rendered, with R.V. marg., _that which maketh a man to be desired is his kindness_....

THE DESIRE OF A MAN IS HIS KINDNESS— This will admit of several interpretations. The LXX read, _Alms-giving,_ or _charity, bringeth fruit to a man; and a poor just man is better than a rich man who is a liar._ Le Clerc gives this meaning of the first clause, That there is no virtue which a man should labour after more than beneficence, as it is the greater ornament of human nature, and the bond of society. But if we consider it as connected with the verse following, the most natural construction seems to be this, "A man shews his kindness by his will or desire to do good; and in this respect a poor man, who would be beneficent if he could, is better than a liar; i.e. a rich man who makes a profession of kindness, but does not perform it." The Syriac reads, _A poor man is better than a deceitful rich one._ See Grey....

TEXT Proverbs 19:21-29 21. There are many devices in a man's heart; But the counsel of Jehovah, that shall stand. 22. That which maketh a man to be desired is his kindness; And a poor man is better than a liar. 23. The fear of Jehovah tendeth to life; And he that hath it shall abide satisfied; He shall not be visited with evil. 24. The sluggard burieth his hand in the dish, And will not so much as bring it to his mouth again. 25. Smite a scoffer, and the simple will learn prudence; And reprove one that hath understanding, and he will understand knowledge. 26. He that doeth violence to his father, and chaseth away his mother, Is a son that causeth shame and bringeth reproach. 27. Cease, my son, to hear instruction Only to err from the words of knowledge.