Proverbs 29:13

The poor and the deceitful man meet together: the LORD lighteneth both their eyes. THE POOR AND THE DECEITFUL MAN (Hebrew, the usurer; the creditor, the Septuagint and Vulgate. The poor who is oppressed, and the rich creditor who oppresses him) "meet together; the Lord lighteneth both their eyes" - i:e., gives life to both alike (; , note). They both meet on the same footing in many respects, and are mutually dependent on one another; notwithstanding their accidental and temporary differences in respect to wealth. They ought not, therefore, to complain of one another, but to walk as in the presence of God, and with mutual kindness and good faith. Religion elevates the poor, makes humble the rich (James 1:9)...

Verse Proverbs 29:13. _THE POOR AND THE DECEITFUL MAN_] It is difficult to fix the meaning of תככים _techachim_, which we here render the _deceitful_ _man_. The TARGUM has, "The _poor_ and the _man_ of LITTLE WEALTH." The SEPTUAGINT, "The _usurer_ and the DEBTOR." The VULGATE, "The _poor_ and CREDITOR." COVERDALE, "The _poor_ and the LENDER." OTHERS, "The _poor_ and the RICH;" "The _poor_ and the OPPRESSORS." I suppose the meaning may be the same as in Proverbs 22:2: "The rich and the poor meet together; the Lord is the Maker of them all." Where see the note....

Better, The poor and the oppressor. “Usurer,” as in the margin expresses the special form of oppression from which the poor suffer most at the hands of the rich. God has made them both and bestows His light equally on both....

EXPOSITION This chapter reinforces many precept given previously. PROVERBS 29:1 HE THAT BEING OFTEN REPROVED HARDENETH HIS NECK; literally, _a man of reproofs—_one_ _who has had a long experience of rebukes and warnings. Compare "a man of sorrows" (Isaiah 53:3). The hardening of the neck is a metaphor derived from obstinate draught animals who will not submit to the yoke (Deuteronomy 10:16; Jeremiah 2:20; Jeremiah 27:8). Christ calls his yoke easy, and bids his followers

THE POOR AND THE DECEITFUL MAN MEET TOGETHER,.... Or "the usurer" q; who by usury, by fraud and deception, is possessed of the mammon of unrighteousness, and is become rich; he and the poor man meet together; and so the sense is the same as in Proverbs 22:2; Proverbs 22:2; THE LORD LIGHTENETH BOTH THEIR EYES; with the light of natural life, and with the light of natural reason, John 1:4; and so is the same as being "the Maker of them all", in the above place; or he bestows his providential favours on both; causes his sun to shine upon the rich and poor, the wicked and the righteous, Matthew 5:45. Or it may be under

CHAPTER 29 THE FINAL INSTRUCTIONS These final instructions given in proverbs cover the similar ground as those in the previous Chapter s. Wisdom shines out in each, and the contents of every proverb shows that the author is not Solomon but He who is perfect in knowledge. “He that being often reproved hardeneth his neck shall suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy.” Scripture abounds with examples of cases of hardening the neck and the heart, like Pharaoh, Ahab and others. This proverb will be finally proven to be the truth when an ungodly age will end with judgment for those who were often reproved and continue in sin. Once more the sin of flattery is mentioned. “A man that flattereth his neighbor spreadeth a net for his feet” Proverbs 29:5. Flattery is akin to lying and can never be right, but is always a mistake, which results in the gravest consequences. More servants

PROVERBS 29:2. _cf._ Proverbs 11:10 f., Proverbs 28:12. Proverbs 29:4. he that exacteth gifts: lit. a man of presents. Proverbs 29:9 b. Who is the subject? If it is the wise man, the meaning is that however he treats his opponent, seriously or lightly, he cannot end the matter. If it is the fool, the thought will be that he shows no decorum of manner. The proverb seems directed against a wise man's going to law with a fool....

THE POOR. a needy man. Hebrew. _rush._ See note on Proverbs 6:11. THE DECEITFUL. a crafty, or an oppressive man, especially. creditor or usurer. Occurs in plural only here, for emphasis. Compare Psalms 10:7 ("fraud"); Pro 55:11, and Pro 72:14 ("deceit"). Hebrew. _tok._ See note on Proverbs 11:18. MEET TOGETHER: i.e. unexpectedly; first occurrence Genesis 32:17. Compare Pro 33:8....

_deceitful man_ Rather, OPPRESSOR. The rendering _usurer_, A.V. marg., which follows the LXX. δανειστής, and Vulg. _creditor_, restricts the reference to one form of oppression. _lighteneth both their eyes_ i.e. with the light of life, Psalms 13:3 [Hebrews 4]. Comp. "He maketh His sun to rise on the evil and on the good," Matthew 5:45; and see ch. Proverbs 22:2....

THE POOR AND THE DECEITFUL MAN MEET TOGETHER— See chap. Proverbs 22:2 where the sentence appears very similar. The LXX read, _The usurer and debtor meet together; the Lord has the oversight of them both._ The Vulgate, Houbigant, Schultens, &c. read, _The poor and the rich,_ or, _The poor and his creditor._...