Proverbs 21:29

A wicked man hardeneth his face: but as for the upright, he directeth his way. A WICKED MAN HARDENETH HIS FACE: BUT (AS FOR) THE UPRIGHT, HE DIRECTETH HIS WAY. "A wicked man hardeneth his face" against admonition, so as to persevere in he wrong way; "but the upright," if he be betrayed into an error, hardens not his face against monition, but blushes with shame and sorrow, and so "he directeth his" course in the right way." The Qeri' (margin) reads, 'considereth [ yaabiyn (H995)] his way.' The Kethibh (text) reads, [ yaakiyn (H3559)] 'directeth his ways:' this is the better reading. The wicked is not to be shamed out of his wickedness. He pertinaciously and unblushingly adheres to it (Proverbs 7:13...

Verse Proverbs 21:29. _HE DIRECTETH HIS WAY_] Instead of יכין _yachin_, he _directeth_, upwards of _fifty_ of _Kennicott's_ and _De Rossi's_ MSS., several ancient _editions_ with some of the _versions_, read יבין _yabin, he understands_; and because he _understands_ his way, he is able to _direct_ himself in walking in it....

DIRECTETH - i. e., Makes straight and firm. On one side it is the callousness of guilt; on the other side it is the confidence of integrity....

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

A WICKED MAN HARDENETH HIS FACE,.... Against all corrections and reproofs of parents, masters, ministers, and others; he blushes not at sins committed, and is not ashamed of them, but glories in them: or, he "strengthens with his face" l; he puts an impudent face upon his words, and confirms them by his impudence; if he tells the most notorious lies, and says things the most shameful and scandalous, his countenance does not alter, by which he would be thought to have spoken what is right and true; BUT [AS FOR] THE UPRIGHT, HE DIRECTETH HIS WAY; or "his ways" m; according to the various reading; the man that is upright in heart, and walks uprightly, he directs his way according to the word of God; and, if he does amiss, when sensible he is ashamed of it, and amends. l העז בפניו "roborat vultu suo", Baynus; "in faciebus suis", Montanus. m דרכיו τα οδους αυτου, Sept. "vias suas", Baynus,...

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...

_directeth_ Or, _ordereth_, R.V. _corrigit_, Vulg. There is another reading, noticed in the marg. both of A.V. and R.V., _considereth_; συνίει, LXX....

TEXT Proverbs 21:21-31 21. He that followeth after righteousness and kindness Findeth life, righteousness, and honor. 22. A wise man scaleth the city of the mighty, And bringeth down the strength of the confidence thereof. 23. Whoso keepeth his mouth and his tongue Keepeth his soul from troubles. 24. The proud and haughty man, scoffer is his name; He worketh in the arrogance of pride. 25. The desire of the sluggard killeth him; For his hands refuse to labor. 26. There is that coveteth greedily all the day long; But the righteous giveth and withholdeth not. 27. The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination; How much more, when he bringeth it with a wicked mind! 28. A false witness shall perish; But the man that heareth shall speak so as t

21:29 establisheth (f-13) Or 'regulateth,' as 'heedeth,' ch. 14.15....