Proverbs 21:6

The getting of treasures by a lying tongue is a vanity tossed to and fro of them that seek death. THE GETTING OF TREASURES BY A LYING TONGUE (BY FALSE WITNESS, OR BY MISREPRESENTATION IN BARGAINING) (IS) A VANITY TOSSED TO AND FRO OF THEM THAT SEEK DEATH - is as a vapour tossed to and fro by the wind; and it is the act "of them that" eventually, though unconsciously, 'are seeking death' eternal. The Hebrew for "vanity" ( hebel (H1892)) means vapour (cf. Psalms 68:2). Those that seek treasures by lying are all the time virtually seeking death (Proverbs 11:27, end)....

Verse Proverbs 21:6. _OF THEM THAT SEEK DEATH_] Instead of מבקשי _mebakshey_, "them that seek," several MSS., some ancient editions, with _Symmachus_, the _Septuagint, Vulgate_, and _Arabic_, have מקשי _mokeshey_, the _snares_. He who gets treasures by a lying tongue, pursues vanity into the snares of death. Our common translation may be as good. But he who, by the snares of his _tongue_, endeavours to _buy_ and _sell_ to the _best advantage_, is _pursuing_ _what_ is _empty in itself_; and he is _ensnared_ by _death_, while he is attempting to _ensnare_ others....

VANITY - Or, “a breath driven to and fro of those that are seeking death.” Another reading of the last words is: “of the snares of death” (compare 1 Timothy 6:9). Some commentators have suggested that the “vapor” or “mist” is the mirage of the desert, misleading those who follow it, and becoming a “net of death.”...

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 GETTING OF TREASURES BY A LYING TONGUE,.... By telling lies in trade; by bearing false witness in a court of judicature; or by preaching false doctrines in the church of God: [IS] A VANITY TOSSED TO AND FRO OF THEM THAT SEEK DEATH: such treasures, though ever so great, are like any light thing, smoke or vapour, straw, stubble, chaff, or a feather, tossed about the wind; which is expressive of the instability uncertainty of riches ill gotten; they do not last long, but are taken away and carried off by one providence or another; and they are likewise harmful and pernicious; they issue in death: and those that seek after them, and obtain them in a bad way, are said to "seek death": not intentionally, but eventually; this they certainly find, if grace prevent not; see Proverbs 8:36. Jarchi reads it, they are the "snares of death" to him; and so the Septuagint version.

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...

_a vanity_&c. Lit. A VAPOUR DISPERSED; SEEKERS OF DEATH. Thus in the abrupt, sententious style of the wisdom of the East the end is described both of the treasures so sought, and of those who so seek them. "A vapour dispersed," unsubstantial and vanishing away are the treasures gotten by a lying tongue; "seekers of death," men whose pursuit will end in their own destruction, are those who so acquire them. By the change of a letter in the Heb. word the LXX., Vulgate, and R.V. marg. have _snạres_(instead of seekers) _of death_....

THE GETTING OF TREASURES BY A LYING TONGUE— _He who gathers treasures by a deceitful tongue, pursues vain things. He shall be driven into the snares of death._ Houbigant....

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