Proverbs 21:15

It is joy to the just to do judgment: but destruction shall be to the workers of iniquity. (IT IS) JOY TO THE JUST TO DO JUDGMENT: BUT DESTRUCTION (SHALL BE) TO THE WORKERS OF INIQUITY - or else, to suit the parallelism, 'but (it is) terror to the workers of iniquity (to do judgment). The English version may be supplied thus (for often one clause has to be supplied from the opposite): 'It is joy to the just to do judgment (justice), and ends in salvation; "but" it is a grief "to the workers of iniquity," so that they do it not, and therefore the issue 'shall be destruction' to them....

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

[IT IS] JOY TO THE, LAST TO DO JUDGMENT,.... It is with pleasure he does it; he delights in the law of God, after the inward man, and finds much peace of mind and joy in the Holy Ghost in keeping it, and observing its commands, which are holy, just, and good; yea, it gives him pleasure to see justice done by others; both by private persons in their dealings with one another; and especially by judges putting the laws in execution, as their office requires; whereby much good comes to a nation in general, and to particular persons; BUT DESTRUCTION [SHALL BE] TO THE WORKERS OF INIQUITY; that make a trade of sinning; whose whole life is a continued series of sin and iniquity; who take much pains in committing sin, and are constant at it; everlasting destruction is in their ways, and they lead unto it: or, "terror" a shall be to them; terror of mind now at times, in opposition to the joy and...

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...

THE JUST. a just one....

_destruction_shall be] There is no necessity for inserting the words _shall be_. The subject may be continued from the preceding clause BUT IT (sc. to do judgement) IS A DESTRUCTION TO (in the estimation of) THE WORKERS OF INIQUITY. It is the ruin, they think, of all their prospects. Comp. Proverbs 10:29....

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

21:15 right; (b-12) Elsewhere 'righteous judgment.'...

1. The 'watercourses' (RV) are the artificial irrigation channels of Egypt and Babylon (Isaiah 58:11)....