1. mocker—scorner. Such men
are made by wine.
strong drink—made by
spicing wine (compare Isaiah 5:11;
Isaiah 5:22); and it may include
wine.
raging—or boisterous as
a drunkard.
deceived—literally,
"erring," or reeling.
2. (Compare ). Men who resist authority injure themselves ().
3. to cease from strife—or,
better, "to dwell from or without strife," denoting the
habit of life.
fool . . . meddling—
(Proverbs 17:14).
4. shall . . . beg—literally,
"ask" (in this sense, ).
6. Boasters are unreliable.
goodness—or, "kind
disposition."
11. The conduct of children even
is the best test of principle (compare ).
12. Hence, of course, God will
know all you do (Psalms 94:9).
13. Activity and diligence
contrasted with sloth (Proverbs 6:9;
Proverbs 10:11).
lest . . . poverty—literally,
"be deprived of inheritance."
14. when . . . his way—implying
that he goes about boasting of his bargains.
15. The contrast denotes the
greater value of knowledge (compare ).
16. Take his garment—implies
severe exaction, justified by the surety's rashness.
a strange woman—by some
readings "strangers," but the former here, and in , is allowable, and strengthens the sense. The debauchee is
less reliable than the merely careless.
17. Bread . . . sweet—either
as unlawfully (Proverbs 9:17) or
easily obtained.
mouth . . . gravel—well
expresses the pain and grief given at last.
18. (Compare ). Be careful and considerate in important plans.
19. Those who love to tell news
will hardly keep secrets.
flattereth . . .
lips—(compare Margin; ).
meddle . . . him—literally,
"join," or "associate with."
21. gotten hastily—contrary to
God's providence (Proverbs 28:20),
implying its unjust or easy attainment; hence the man is punished, or
spends freely what he got easily (compare Proverbs 28:20).
24. Man's goings—literally,
"Stately steppings of a strong man."
a man—any common man.
understand—or,
"perceive."
25. devoureth . . . holy—or,
better, "who rashly speaks promises," or "devotes what
is holy," consecrating any thing. This suits better the last
clause, which expresses a similar view of the results of rashly
vowing.
26. (Compare ).
bringeth . . . over them—The
wheel was used for threshing grain. The figure denotes severity
(compare Amos 1:3).
29. The glory of young men . . . the
beauty of old men—Each age has its peculiar excellence ().
30. blueness—literally,
"joining," the process of uniting the edges of a wound
throws off purulent matter.
stripes . . . belly—So
punishment provides healing of soul (), by deterring from evil courses.
CHAPTER 20
.
1. mocker—scorner. Such men are made by wine.
strong drink—made by spicing wine (compare Isaiah 5:11; Isaiah 5:22); and it may include wine.
raging—or boisterous as a drunkard.
deceived—literally, "erring," or reeling.
2. (Compare ). Men who resist authority injure themselves ().
3. to cease from strife—or, better, "to dwell from or without strife," denoting the habit of life.
fool . . . meddling— (Proverbs 17:14).
4. shall . . . beg—literally, "ask" (in this sense, ).
5. Counsel . . . water—that is, deeply hidden (Proverbs 18:4; Psalms 13:2). The wise can discern well.
6. Boasters are unreliable.
goodness—or, "kind disposition."
7. The conduct of good men proclaims their sound principles. God's covenant and their good example secure blessing to their children (Proverbs 4:26; Psalms 112:1; Psalms 112:2).
8. As in Proverbs 14:35; Proverbs 16:10; Proverbs 16:15, this is the character of a good king, not of all kings.
9. The interrogation in the affirmative strengthens the implied negation (compare Job 15:14; Ecclesiastes 7:20).
10. Various measures, implying that some are wrong (compare Proverbs 11:1; Proverbs 16:11).
11. The conduct of children even is the best test of principle (compare ).
12. Hence, of course, God will know all you do (Psalms 94:9).
13. Activity and diligence contrasted with sloth (Proverbs 6:9; Proverbs 10:11).
lest . . . poverty—literally, "be deprived of inheritance."
14. when . . . his way—implying that he goes about boasting of his bargains.
15. The contrast denotes the greater value of knowledge (compare ).
16. Take his garment—implies severe exaction, justified by the surety's rashness.
a strange woman—by some readings "strangers," but the former here, and in , is allowable, and strengthens the sense. The debauchee is less reliable than the merely careless.
17. Bread . . . sweet—either as unlawfully (Proverbs 9:17) or easily obtained.
mouth . . . gravel—well expresses the pain and grief given at last.
18. (Compare ). Be careful and considerate in important plans.
19. Those who love to tell news will hardly keep secrets.
flattereth . . . lips—(compare Margin; ).
meddle . . . him—literally, "join," or "associate with."
20. his lamp—(Compare Proverbs 13:9; Proverbs 24:20).
21. gotten hastily—contrary to God's providence (Proverbs 28:20), implying its unjust or easy attainment; hence the man is punished, or spends freely what he got easily (compare Proverbs 28:20).
22. (Compare Psalms 27:14; Romans 12:17-19).
23. (Compare Proverbs 20:10; Proverbs 11:1).
24. Man's goings—literally, "Stately steppings of a strong man."
a man—any common man.
understand—or, "perceive."
25. devoureth . . . holy—or, better, "who rashly speaks promises," or "devotes what is holy," consecrating any thing. This suits better the last clause, which expresses a similar view of the results of rashly vowing.
26. (Compare ).
bringeth . . . over them—The wheel was used for threshing grain. The figure denotes severity (compare Amos 1:3).
27. The spirit . . . Lord—Men's minds are God's gifts, and thus able to search one another (compare Proverbs 20:5; Proverbs 18:8; Proverbs 18:17; 1 Corinthians 2:11).
28. (Compare Proverbs 3:3; Proverbs 16:6; Proverbs 16:12).
29. The glory of young men . . . the beauty of old men—Each age has its peculiar excellence ().
30. blueness—literally, "joining," the process of uniting the edges of a wound throws off purulent matter.
stripes . . . belly—So punishment provides healing of soul (), by deterring from evil courses.