Proverbs 21:5

The thoughts of the diligent tend only to plenteousness; but of every one that is hasty only to want. THE THOUGHTS OF THE DILIGENT (AND THE STEADY-PERSEVERING) (TEND) ONLY TO PLENTEOUSNESS; BUT OF EVERYONE (THAT IS) HASTY (AND THEREFORE NOT PERSEVERINGLY DILIGENT), ONLY TO WANT - (; .) Lord Bacon advises us 'not to measure despatch by the times of sitting, but by the advancement of the business. A wise man had it for a by-word, when he saw men hasten to a conclusion, Stay a little, that we may make an end the sooner. To choose time is to save time.' "Let us run," not with haste, but "with patience, the race that is set before us" (; cf....

Here diligence is opposed, not to sloth but to haste. Undue hurry is as fatal to success as undue procrastination....

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

THE THOUGHTS OF THE DILIGENT [TEND] ONLY TO PLENTEOUSNESS,.... A man that is thoughtful and studious, and wisely forms schemes in his mind, and diligently pursues them; the issue of it is, generally speaking, prosperity and plenty: such a man is usually thriving and flourishing; and this holds good in things spiritual, as well as in things temporal, Matthew 25:29; BUT OF EVERYONE [THAT IS] HASTY ONLY TO WANT; that is in haste to be rich, and is resolved to be so, right or wrong, he comes at last to poverty and want: or he who is rash and precipitate in acting, who never thinks before he acts, but rashly engages in an affair; or, however, does not give himself time enough to think it over, but, as soon as ever it has entered his thoughts, he immediately attempts to put it in execution; a man so thoughtless and inconsiderate, so rash and hasty, brings himself and family t

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...

THOUGHTS. reckonings, or calculatings. THE DILIGENT. a diligent one....

_but of every one_ i.e. but _the thoughts_(supplied from the first clause) of every one. It is more literal, however, and at the same time avoids attributing "thoughts" to him whose fault is want of thought, to render with R.V. BUT EVERY ONE THAT IS HASTY _hasteth_ ONLY TO WANT....

CHAPTER 21 TEXT Proverbs 21:1-10 1. The king's heart is in the hand of Jehovah as the water courses: He turneth it whithersoever he will. 2. Every way of a man is right in his own eyes; But Jehovah weigheth the hearts. 3. To do righteousness and justice Is more acceptable to Jehovah than sacrifice. 4. A high look, and a proud heart, Even the lamp of the wicked, is sin. 5. The thoughts of the diligent tend only to plenteousness; But every one that is hasty hasteth only to want. 6. The getting of treasures by a lying tongue Is a vapor driven to and fro by them that seek death. 7. The violence of the wicked shall sweep them away, Because they refuse to do justice. 8. The way of him that is laden with guilt is exceeding crooked; But as for t

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