1. soft—tender or gentle.
turneth . . . wrath—from
any one.
stir up—as a
smouldering fire is excited.
2. useth . . . aright—commends
knowledge by its proper use.
poureth out—utters
abundantly (Proverbs 12:23), and so
disgusts others.
4. A wholesome tongue—(Compare
Margin), pacifying and soothing language.
tree of life— (Proverbs 3:18;
Proverbs 11:30).
perverseness therein—cross,
ill-natured language.
breach . . . spirit—(compare
Isaiah 65:14, Hebrew),
grieves, instead of appeasing.
6. treasure—implying utility.
trouble—vexation and
affliction.
8, 9. The sacrifice [and]
prayer—are acts of worship.
way . . . followeth . . .
righteousness—denote conduct. God's regard for the worship and
deeds of the righteous and wicked respectively, so stated in Psalms 50:17;
Isaiah 1:11.
11. Hell— ().
destruction—or,
"Abaddon," the place of the destroyer. All the unseen world
is open to God, much more men's hearts.
12. (Compare ).
go unto the wise—to be
instructed.
13. maketh . . . countenance—or,
"benefits the countenance."
spirit is broken—and so
the countenance is sad.
15. The state of the heart
governs the outward condition.
evil—sad, contrasted
with the cheerfulness of a feast.
19. The difficulties of the
slothful result from want of energy; the righteous find a
plain [and open]
way—literally, "a highway," by diligence (1 Samuel 10:7;
Psalms 1:3).
22. Without counsel—or,
"deliberation," implying a wise deference to the opinions
of the wise and good, contrasted with rashness.
23. Good advice blesses the
giver and receiver.
24. (Compare ). Holy purposes prevent sinning, and so its evils.
27. (Compare ). Avarice brings trouble to him and his.
hateth gifts—or,
"bribes" (Exodus 23:8;
Psalms 15:5), and is not avaricious.
30. light of the eyes— (). What gives light rejoiceth the heart, by relieving from
anxiety as to our course; so
good report—or,
"doctrine" (Isaiah 28:9;
Isaiah 53:1),
maketh . . . fat—or,
"gives prosperity" (Proverbs 3:13-17;
Proverbs 9:11). The last clause is
illustrated by the first.
31, 32. (Compare ).
reproof of life—which
leads to life.
abideth . . . wise—is
numbered among them.
32. refuseth—or, "neglects,"
"passes by" (Proverbs 1:25;
Proverbs 4:15).
despiseth . . . soul—so
acts as if esteeming its interests of no value.
CHAPTER 15
.
1. soft—tender or gentle.
turneth . . . wrath—from any one.
stir up—as a smouldering fire is excited.
2. useth . . . aright—commends knowledge by its proper use.
poureth out—utters abundantly (Proverbs 12:23), and so disgusts others.
3. beholding—watching (compare Proverbs 5:21; Psalms 66:7).
4. A wholesome tongue—(Compare Margin), pacifying and soothing language.
tree of life— (Proverbs 3:18; Proverbs 11:30).
perverseness therein—cross, ill-natured language.
breach . . . spirit—(compare Isaiah 65:14, Hebrew), grieves, instead of appeasing.
5. (Compare Proverbs 4:1; Proverbs 10:17; Proverbs 13:1-18).
is prudent—acts discreetly.
6. treasure—implying utility.
trouble—vexation and affliction.
7. (Compare Proverbs 10:20; Proverbs 10:21).
heart . . . not so—not right, or vain.
8, 9. The sacrifice [and] prayer—are acts of worship.
way . . . followeth . . . righteousness—denote conduct. God's regard for the worship and deeds of the righteous and wicked respectively, so stated in Psalms 50:17; Isaiah 1:11.
10. (Compare ).
the way—that in which God would have him to go (Proverbs 2:13; Psalms 119:1).
11. Hell— ().
destruction—or, "Abaddon," the place of the destroyer. All the unseen world is open to God, much more men's hearts.
12. (Compare ).
go unto the wise—to be instructed.
13. maketh . . . countenance—or, "benefits the countenance."
spirit is broken—and so the countenance is sad.
14. (Compare Proverbs 10:21; Proverbs 10:22). The wise grow wiser, the fools more foolish (Proverbs 9:9).
15. The state of the heart governs the outward condition.
evil—sad, contrasted with the cheerfulness of a feast.
16. trouble—agitation, implying the anxieties and perplexities attending wealth held by worldlings (Proverbs 16:18; 1 Timothy 6:6).
17. dinner—or, "allowance" (2 Kings 25:30) —
of herbs—and that the plainest.
and hatred—(compare Proverbs 10:12; Proverbs 10:18).
18. (Compare Proverbs 14:29; Proverbs 16:32).
19. The difficulties of the slothful result from want of energy; the righteous find a
plain [and open] way—literally, "a highway," by diligence (1 Samuel 10:7; Psalms 1:3).
20. (Compare ).
21. walketh uprightly—and so finds his joy (Proverbs 3:6; Proverbs 10:23).
22. Without counsel—or, "deliberation," implying a wise deference to the opinions of the wise and good, contrasted with rashness.
23. Good advice blesses the giver and receiver.
24. (Compare ). Holy purposes prevent sinning, and so its evils.
25. The most desolate who have God's aid have more permanent good than the self-reliant sinner (Proverbs 2:22; Proverbs 12:7).
border—or, "boundary for possessions" (Psalms 78:54).
26. are pleasant words—that is, pleasing to God (Proverbs 8:8; Proverbs 8:9).
27. (Compare ). Avarice brings trouble to him and his.
hateth gifts—or, "bribes" (Exodus 23:8; Psalms 15:5), and is not avaricious.
28. (Compare Proverbs 15:14; Proverbs 10:11). Caution is the fruit of wisdom; rashness of folly.
29. far . . . wicked—in His love and favor (Psalms 22:11; Psalms 119:155).
30. light of the eyes— (). What gives light rejoiceth the heart, by relieving from anxiety as to our course; so
good report—or, "doctrine" (Isaiah 28:9; Isaiah 53:1),
maketh . . . fat—or, "gives prosperity" (Proverbs 3:13-17; Proverbs 9:11). The last clause is illustrated by the first.
31, 32. (Compare ).
reproof of life—which leads to life.
abideth . . . wise—is numbered among them.
32. refuseth—or, "neglects," "passes by" (Proverbs 1:25; Proverbs 4:15).
despiseth . . . soul—so acts as if esteeming its interests of no value.
33. The fear . . . wisdom—Wisdom instructs in true piety.
before . . . humility—(compare Luke 24:26; 1 Peter 1:11); opposite (compare 1 Peter 1:11).