1. Through desire . . . seeketh—that
is, seeks selfish gratification.
intermeddleth . . .
wisdom—or, "rushes on" () against all wisdom, or what is valuable ().
3. So surely are sin and
punishment connected (Proverbs 16:4).
wicked, for "wickedness,"
answers to
ignominy, or the state of
such; and
contempt, the feeling of
others to them; and to
reproach, a manifestation
of contempt.
4. Wise speech is like an
exhaustless stream of benefit.
5. accept the person—(Compare
Psalms 82:2). "It is not good"
is to be supplied before "to overthrow."
6, 7. The quarrelsome bring
trouble on themselves. Their rash language ensnares them ().
8. (Compare ).
as wounds—not sustained
by the Hebrew; better, as "sweet morsels," which men
gladly swallow.
innermost . . . belly—the
mind, or heart (compare Proverbs 20:27-30;
Psalms 22:14).
9. One by failing to get, the
other by wasting wealth, grows poor.
waster—literally,
"master of washing," a prodigal.
13. Hasty speech evinces
self-conceit, and ensures shame ().
14. infirmity—bodily sickness,
or outward evil. The spirit, which sustains, being wounded,
no support is left, except, as implied, in God.
18. The lot—whose disposal is
of God (Proverbs 16:13), may,
properly used, be a right mode of settling disputes.
19. No feuds so difficult of
adjustment as those of relatives; hence great care should be used to
avoid them.
21. Death and life—or, the
greatest evil and good.
that love it—that is,
the tongue, or its use for good or evil.
eat . . . fruit—(Compare
Proverbs 18:19; James 1:19).
23. the rich . . . roughly—He
is tolerated because rich, implying that the estimate of men by
wealth is wrong.
24. A man . . . friendly—better,
"A man . . . (is) to, or, may triumph (), or, shout for joy (), that is, may congratulate himself." Indeed, there is
a Friend who is better than a brother; such is the "Friend of
sinners" [Matthew 11:19;
Luke 7:34], who may have been
before the writer's mind.
CHAPTER 18
.
1. Through desire . . . seeketh—that is, seeks selfish gratification.
intermeddleth . . . wisdom—or, "rushes on" () against all wisdom, or what is valuable ().
2. that his heart . . . itself—that is, takes pleasure in revealing his folly (Proverbs 12:23; Proverbs 15:2).
3. So surely are sin and punishment connected (Proverbs 16:4).
wicked, for "wickedness," answers to
ignominy, or the state of such; and
contempt, the feeling of others to them; and to
reproach, a manifestation of contempt.
4. Wise speech is like an exhaustless stream of benefit.
5. accept the person—(Compare Psalms 82:2). "It is not good" is to be supplied before "to overthrow."
6, 7. The quarrelsome bring trouble on themselves. Their rash language ensnares them ().
8. (Compare ).
as wounds—not sustained by the Hebrew; better, as "sweet morsels," which men gladly swallow.
innermost . . . belly—the mind, or heart (compare Proverbs 20:27-30; Psalms 22:14).
9. One by failing to get, the other by wasting wealth, grows poor.
waster—literally, "master of washing," a prodigal.
10. name of the Lord—manifested perfections (Psalms 8:1; Psalms 20:2), as faithfulness, power, mercy, c., on which men rely.
is safe—literally, "set on high, out of danger" (Psalms 18:2 Psalms 91:4).
11. contrasts with (compare Proverbs 10:15). Such is a vain trust (compare Proverbs 10:15).
12. (Compare Proverbs 15:33; Proverbs 16:18).
13. Hasty speech evinces self-conceit, and ensures shame ().
14. infirmity—bodily sickness, or outward evil. The spirit, which sustains, being wounded, no support is left, except, as implied, in God.
15. (Compare Proverbs 1:5; Proverbs 1:15; Proverbs 1:31).
16. (Compare Proverbs 17:8; Proverbs 17:23). Disapproval of the fact stated is implied.
17. One-sided statements are not reliable.
searcheth—thoroughly (Proverbs 17:9; Proverbs 17:19).
18. The lot—whose disposal is of God (Proverbs 16:13), may, properly used, be a right mode of settling disputes.
19. No feuds so difficult of adjustment as those of relatives; hence great care should be used to avoid them.
20. (Compare Proverbs 12:14; Proverbs 13:2). Men's words are the fruit, or, increase of his lips, and when good, benefit them.
satisfied with—(Compare Proverbs 1:31; Proverbs 14:14).
21. Death and life—or, the greatest evil and good.
that love it—that is, the tongue, or its use for good or evil.
eat . . . fruit—(Compare Proverbs 18:19; James 1:19).
22. The old versions supply "good" before the "wife," as the last clause and Proverbs 19:14 imply (compare Proverbs 19:14).
23. the rich . . . roughly—He is tolerated because rich, implying that the estimate of men by wealth is wrong.
24. A man . . . friendly—better, "A man . . . (is) to, or, may triumph (), or, shout for joy (), that is, may congratulate himself." Indeed, there is a Friend who is better than a brother; such is the "Friend of sinners" [Matthew 11:19; Luke 7:34], who may have been before the writer's mind.