Proverbs 3:29

Devise not evil against thy neighbour, seeing he dwelleth securely by thee. DEVISE NOT EVIL AGAINST THY NEIGHBOUR, SEEING HE DWELLETH SECURELY BY THEE. After having praised beneficence, Solomon proceeds to forbid malevolence, especially toward neighbours living peaceably near. If you are to do positive good, much more are you to refrain from devising and doing evil to your neighbour....

27-35 Our business is to observe the precepts of Christ, and to copy his example; to do justice, to love mercy, and to beware of covetousness; to be ready for every good work, avoiding needless strife, and bearing evils, if possible, rather than seeking redress by law. It will be found there is little got by striving. Let us not envy prosperous oppressors; far be it from the disciples of Christ to choose any of their ways. These truths may be despised by the covetous and luxurious, but everlasting contempt will be the portion of such scorners, while Divine favour is shown to the humble believer....

A marked change in style. The continuous exhortation is replaced by a series of maxims. FROM THEM TO WHOM IT IS DUE - literally, as in the margin. The precept expresses the great Scriptural thought that the so-called possession of wealth is but a stewardship; that the true owners of what we call our own are those to whom, with it, we may do good. Not to relieve them is a breach of trust. Proverbs 3:28 Procrastination is especially fatal to the giving impulse. The Septuagint adds the caution: “for thou knowest not what the morrow will bring forth.” Proverbs 3:29 SECURELY - i. e., “With full trust,” without care or suspicion. Compare...

EXPOSITION PROVERBS 3:1 4. _Fourth admonitory discourse. _The third chapter introduces us to a group of admonitions, and the first of these (Proverbs 3:1) forms the fourth admonitory discourse of the teacher. To all intents and purposes this is a continuation of the discourse in the preceding chapter, for inasmuch as that described the benefits, spiritual and moral, which follow from the pursuit of Wisdom, in promoting godliness and providing safety from evil companions, so this in like manner depicts the gain flowing from Wisdom, the happiness of the man who finds Wisdom, and the favour which he meets with both with God and man. The discourse embraces exhortations to obedience ...

DEVISE NOT EVIL AGAINST THY NEIGHBOUR,.... Or, "plough not evil" i; turn not up thy heart to find evil against thy neighbour, as the earth is turned up by the plough; see Hosea 10:13. Do not contrive and form schemes in thy mind and thoughts to do him any injury, in his name and character, in his person, property, or family: a good man should devise all the good he can to his fellow creatures, but not evil to any; especially to his neighbour, and as described in the next clause; SEEING HE DWELLETH SECURELY BY THEE; having a good opinion of thee, and not suspecting any ill design against him, thinks himself, goods, and family, in safety; and is under no concern to provide for his security, placing his confidence in thee, and perhaps to such a degree as to entrust with his secrets. Now to project evil against such a man is exceeding base; it is doubly sinful; this is an aggra

FOURTH Discourse. The sage exhorts the young man to heed his oral instruction (_torah),_ and to trust in Yahweh, fear Him, and honour Him in the prescribed manner of firstfruits. It is interesting to find _torah_ used in its earlier prophetic sense of oral instruction, without reference to its later sense of the whole body of legislation represented by the Pentateuch. The torah of the wise man represents not his own individual authority, but the accumulated wisdom of experience. The torah of the prophet, although delivered in the name of Yahweh, represents ultimately the accumulated moral consciousness of the nation; while the torah of the priest in its later form at least represents the traditional and inherited ritual, the prescribed method of the cultus. Hence the primary idea of torah is the same in all three forms. (See pp. 121, 620, Deuteronomy 1:5 *, and for a fuller disc

EVIL. Hebrew. _ra'a'._ App-44. SECURELY. confidently, or without suspicion....

TEXT Proverbs 3:27-35 27. Withhold not good from them to whom it is due, When it is in the power of thy hand to do it. 28. Say not unto thy neighbor, Go, and come again, And to-morrow I will give; When thou hast it by thee. 29. Devise not evil against thy neighbor, Seeing he dwelleth securely by thee. 30. Strive not with a man without cause, If he have done thee no harm. 31. Envy thou not the man of violence, And choose none of his ways. 32. For the perverse is an abomination to Jehovah; But his friendship is with the upright. 33. The curse of Jehovah is in the house of the wicked; But he blesseth the habitation of the righteous. 34. Surely he scoffeth at the scoffers; But he giveth grace unto the lowly. 35. The wise shall in

THE BLESSINGS OF OBEDIENCE AND OF CHASTISEMENT The first and third divisions, 1-10, 21-35, are exhortations to good conduct and promises of consequent blessing. The second, 11-20, declares the profitableness of divine chastening and the value of wisdom....

LESSONS ABOUT WISDOM PROVERBS _KEITH SIMONS_ CHAPTER 3 V1 My son, do not forget my law. Keep my commands in your heart. V2 My commands will bring you long life. They will bring you wealth....