Proverbs 28:11

The rich man is wise in his own conceit; but the poor that hath understanding searcheth him out. THE RICH MAN IS WISE IN HIS OWN CONCEIT; BUT THE POOR THAT HATH UNDERSTANDING SEARCHETH HIM OUT. Parasites and his own vanity may make the rich man mistake the flattery that he receives as due to his wisdom, and not merely to his riches. But the poor man who hath the spiritual understanding which discriminates between the true and the false riches, 'searcheth out' his pretensions to wisdom, and disproves them (; ; Ezekiel 28:2). Naaman's servants 'searched him out' (); the blind man, the Pharisees ...

Wealth blunts, poverty sharpens, the critical power of intellect....

EXPOSITION This chapter is still part of the Hezekiah collection, and not a new series by another author. It may be regarded as describing the various destinies of the powerful and the weak, the sinner and the righteous. PROVERBS 28:1 THE WICKED FLEE WHEN NO MAN PURSUETH. The unreasoning terror of the sinner arises partly from his uneasy conscience, which will not permit him to transgress without warning of consequences, and partly from the judgment of God, according to the threats denounced in Leviticus 26:36, Leviticus 26:37. A terrible picture of this instinctive fear is drawn in...

THE RICH MAN [IS] WISE IN HIS OWN CONCEIT,.... Ascribing his getting riches to his great sagacity, wisdom, and prudence; and being flattered with it by dependents on him; BUT THE POOR THAT HATH UNDERSTANDING SEARCHETH HIM OUT: a man of good understanding, whether in things natural, civil, moral, or spiritual, though poor, as a man may be poor and yet a wise man; such an one, when he comes into company with a rich man, wise in his own conceit, he soon by conversation with him finds him out to be a very foolish man, and exposes him as one; for riches are not always to men of understanding, or all that have them are not such; and better is a poor wise man than even a foolish king; see Ecclesiastes 9:11....

CHAPTER 28 WARNINGS AND INSTRUCTIONS CONTINUED The wicked is a coward; the righteous man, because he trusteth in the Lord and knows the Lord is on his side, is as bold as a lion. It is the conscience which makes a coward of the wicked man. This chapter has many sharp contrasts and important warnings and exhortations. We point out a few. Those who forsake the law, turn their backs upon the revelation of God, refuse obedience to Him, praise the wicked, they make common cause with them. Those who keep the law, obey God's Word, are contenders for the faith Proverbs 28:4. Evil men are blind, but with seeking the Lord comes understanding, the blind eyes are opened Proverbs 28:5. A wise son is he who keepeth the law; such was Solomon till he plunged into apostasy and darkness...

SECOND DIVISION, PROVERBS 28 F. In general character this division resembles Section II., consisting chiefly of antithetic couplets. PROVERBS 28:2 B. The text is uncertain, and various renderings are possible. The translation state is very doubtful. If MT be retained, connect the word for state with the preceding, and translate by men of understanding who know what is right it is prolonged. LXX reads Through the sin of the ungodly disputes arise, but a prudent man quenches them, possibly the original text. Proverbs 28:3. A needy man: so MT, but the thought is not in keeping with the conception of the poor in Pr. or in the OT. We should probably read a wicked man who, etc. (LXX), or possibly a rich man who, etc. The simile seems to be that of a heavy unseasonable rain which flood

CONCEIT. eyes. THE POOR. a poor one. Hebrew. _dal._ See note on Proverbs 6:11....

_searcheth him out sees through him_, as we should say, "Bene novit, neutiquam, ut Euripidis utamur dicto, τὸν εὐτυχοῦντα πάντʼ ἐπίστασθαι καλῶς," Maurer....

DISCOURSE: 816 ADVANTAGES OF THE RICH AND OF THE POOR COMPARED Proverbs 28:11. _The rich man is wise in his own conceit; but the poor that hath understanding searcheth him out_. PROVERBS are, for the most part, very obscure: they are intended to convey an abundance of instruction in a small space: and the truths contained in them are almost always such as escape the observation of unthinking men, and such as militate against their most received opinions. That the rich have greatly the advantage of the poor in reference to knowledge in general, must be confessed: for they have leisure, which the poor cannot command; and instruction, which the poor cannot obtain. Hence it is generally supposed that the rich have the same advantage in reference to divine knowledge. But this is by no means true. On the contrary, the poor have, in reference to divine knowledge, the advanta

TEXT Proverbs 28:10-18 10. Whoso causeth the upright to go astray in an evil way, He shall fall himself into his own pit; But the perfect shall inherit good. 11. The rich man is wise in his own conceit; But the poor that hath understanding searcheth him out. 12. When the righteous triumph, there is great glory; But when the wicked rise, men hide themselves. 13. He that covereth his transgressions shall not prosper; But whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall obtain mercy. 14. Happy is the man that feareth alway; But he that hardeneth his heart shall fall into mischief. 15. As a roaring lion, and a ranging bear, So is a wicked ruler over a poor people. 16. The prince that lacketh understanding is also a great oppressor; But he that hateth covetousn