Proverbs 21:11

When the scorner is punished, the simple is made wise: and when the wise is instructed, he receiveth knowledge. WHEN THE SCORNER IS PUNISHED, THE SIMPLE IS MADE WISE - (note, .) and when the wise is instructed, he receiveth (accepteth) knowledge-he becometh wiser....

Verse Proverbs 21:11. _WHEN THE SCORNER IS PUNISHED_] When those who mock at religion, blaspheme against its Author, and endeavour to poison society, and disturb the peace of the community by their false doctrine, meet with that degree of punishment which their crimes, as far as they affect the public peace, deserve; then _the simple_, who were either led away, or in danger of being led away, by their pernicious doctrines, _are made wise_. And when those thus _made wise_ are _instructed_ in the important truths which have been decried by those unprincipled men, then they receive knowledge; and one such public example is made a blessing to thousands. But only _blasphemy_ against _God_ and the _Bible_ should be thus punished. Private opinion the state should not meddle with....

EXPOSITION PROVERBS 21:1 THE KING'S HEART IS IN THE HAND OF THE LORD, AS THE RIVERS OF WATER. We are to think of the little channels used for irrigation. As these are altogether under the gardener's control, so the heart of the king, who might seem to have no superior, is directed by God. HE TURNETH IT WHITHERSOEVER HE WILL. By hidden influences and providential arrangements God disposes the monarch to order his government so as to carry out his designs, to spread around joy and plenty. The system of irrigation signified in this passage is still to be seen in Eastern lands. "Flower beds and gardens of herbs are always made at a little lower level than the surrounding ground, and are divided into small squares, a slight edging of earth banking the whole round on each side. Water is then let in, and floods the entire sur

WHEN THE SCORNER IS PUNISHED,.... Either by the immediate hand of God, or by the civil magistrate; he who scoffs at Deity, blasphemes the most High, mocks at all religion, despises dominion, and speaks evil of dignities: THE SIMPLE IS MADE WISE; who is weak and foolish, easily persuaded and drawn into sin, yet not hardened in it, but open to reproof and conviction; he takes notice of the punishment of scorners, and takes warning from it, and behaves more wisely and cautiously for the future; see Proverbs 19:25; AND WHEN THE WISE IS INSTRUCTED; by others, superior to him in wisdom; by the ministers of the Gospel, by reading and hearing the word of God, and the writings of good men; or by corrections and chastisements: HE RECEIVETH KNOWLEDGE; the wise man receives it, he attends to the instruction given him, and improves in knowle

CHAPTER 21 PERSONAL INSTRUCTIONS AS TO LIFE AND CONDUCT In the proverbs of this chapter the Lord is mentioned five times. “The king's heart is in the hand of the LORD, as the rivers of water: He turneth it whithersoever He will” Proverbs 21:1). The rivers of water are “water-courses,” the irrigation system known to the ancients, opening and shutting sluices directed the flow of the waters. Thus the Lord governs the king's heart as He directs the affairs of men. The Lord pondereth the hearts Proverbs 21:2). The same truth is stated in Proverbs 16:2; self-justification suits the natural man but the Lord testeth all hearts. How well it is to remember in all our conduct, that truth, so comforting to the believer, expr

PROVERBS 21:1. WATERCOURSES: not the natural brooks and wadys of Palestine, but the artificial irrigation canals of Egypt or Babylonia, which could be diverted in any direction at will. Proverbs 21:4. Apparently two unconnected lines belonging to different couplets. A connexion can be established only by forced exegesis. The Heb. is lit. lofty of look and arrogant of heart, the tillage of the wicked is sin. RV lamp for tillage depends on a different pointing, but does not improve the sense. Proverbs 21:6. Lit. The getting of treasures by a lying tongue (is) a driven breath, seekers of death. RV clearly inserts more than the text warrants to make sense of...

SCORNER. scoffer. INSTRUCTED. corrected....

See Proverbs 19:25, note....

WHEN THE SCORNER IS PUNISHED— _When the scorner is punished, the humble is made more wise; when the wise man prospers, the same person will acquire knowledge._ Houbigant....

TEXT Proverbs 21:11-20 11. When the scoffer is punished, the simple is made wise; And when the wise is instructed, he receiveth knowledge. 12. The righteous man considereth the house of the wicked, How the wicked are overthrown to their ruin. 13. Whoso stoppeth his ears at the cry of the poor, He also shall cry, but shall not be heard. 14. A gift in secret pacifieth anger; And a present in the bosom, strong wrath. 15. It is joy to the righteous to do justice; But it is a destruction to the workers of iniquity. 16. The man that wandereth out of the way of understanding Shall rest in the assembly of the dead. 17. He that loveth pleasure shall be a poor man: He that loveth wine and oil shall not be rich. 18. The wicked is a ransom for the righteo