1.
Better is a dry morsel, and quietness therewith, than an house full of sacrifices with strife.
Better. See note on Proverbs 8:11 .
sacrifices = slain beasts. Hebrew. zebach. App-43 .
2.
A wise servant shall have rule over a son that causeth shame, and shall have part of the inheritance among the brethren.
3.
The fining pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold: but the LORD trieth the hearts.
the LORD. Hebrew. Jehovah. App-4 .
trieth the hearts. Illustrations: Abraham (Genesis 22:1 ); Israel (Deuteronomy 8:2 ); Hezekiah (2 Chronicles 32:31 ); Martha and Mary (John 11:5 , John 11:6 ); young man (Matthew 19:16-22 ); woman (Matthew 15:23-28 ).
4.
A wicked doer giveth heed to false lips; and a liar giveth ear to a naughty tongue.
wicked = mischief maker. Hebrew. ra'a'. App-44 .
liar. Hebrew "lie". Text not "corrupt"; but "lie "is put by Figure of speech Metonymy (of Effect), App-6 , for the man who habitually lies: i.e. a liar is always ready to believe a lie. Illustrations: Ahab (1 Kings 22:6 ); Jews (Isaiah 30:9-11 .Jeremiah 5:30 , Jeremiah 5:31 .Micah 2:11; Micah 2:11 ).
5.
Whoso mocketh the poor reproacheth his Maker: and he that is glad at calamities shall not be unpunished.
mocketh. Illustrations: princes of Judah (Isaiah 3:14 , Isaiah 3:15 ; Isaiah 10:1 , Isaiah 10:2 .Jeremiah 34:10 , Jeremiah 34:11 ); rich (James 5:4 ).
the poor = a needy one. Hebrew. rush. See note on Proverbs 6:11 .
Maker. See note on Proverbs 14:31 .
unpunished = held guiltless. Illustrations: Tyrians (Ezekiel 26:2-6 ); Edom (Obadiah 1:10-15 ).
6.
Children's children are the crown of old men; and the glory of children are their fathers.
Children's = Sons'.
7.
Excellent speech becometh not a fool: much less do lying lips a prince.
speech. Hebrew "lip", put by Figure of speech Metonymy (of Cause), App-6 , for what is spoken by it.
fool. Hebrew. nabal. See note on Proverbs 1:7 . Not the same word as in verses: Proverbs 17:10 , Proverbs 17:12 , Proverbs 17:16 , Proverbs 10:24 , Proverbs 10:25 .
lips. See above note.
8.
A gift is as a precious stone in the eyes of him that hath it: whithersoever it turneth, it prospereth.
him that hath it = its owner (the bribed, not the briber).
prospereth = it sparkles. And he loves to look at it and keep it. Compare "gift", Proverbs 17:23 .
9.
He that covereth a transgression seeketh love; but he that repeateth a matter separateth very friends.
transgression. Hebrew. pasha'. App-44 .
very friends = true friends.
10.
A reproof entereth more into a wise man than an hundred stripes into a fool.
wise man. Hebrew. binah. See note on Proverbs 1:2 .
fool. Hebrew. kesil . See note on Proverbs 1:7 .
11.
An evil man seeketh only rebellion: therefore a cruel messenger shall be sent against him.
evil = evil worker. Same word as "wicked", Proverbs 17:4 .
12.
Let a bear robbed of her whelps meet a man, rather than a fool in his folly.
a bear = a he-bear (masculine because it is always construed with a masculine verb).
her whelps = his mate.
man. Hebrew. 'ish. App-14 .
folly. Hebrew. 'evil. See note on Proverbs 1:7 .
13.
Whoso rewardeth evil for good, evil shall not depart from his house.
14.
The beginning of strife is as when one letteth out water: therefore leave off contention, before it be meddled with.
beginning of strife. Illustrations: Ephraimites (Judges 12:1-6 ); Abner (2 Samuel 2:14-17 ); Rehoboam (2 Chronicles 10:1-16 ); Jeroboam (2 Chronicles 13:17 ); the Twelve (Matthew 20:24 ).
when one letteth out = the letting loose (as by making a breach in a dam).
be meddled with = gathereth volume.
15.
He that justifieth the wicked, and he that condemneth the just, even they both are abomination to the LORD.
justifieth the wicked, &c. Illustrations: the counsellors (Ezra 4:1-16 ); Tertullus (Acts 24:1-9 ); Ahab and Jezebel (1 Kings 21:5-24 ). Note the Figure of speech Paronomasia ( App-6 ). Mazdik rasha' umarshia' zadik, which may be Englished, "he who wrongs the right and rights the wrong".
the wicked = a lawless one. Hebrew. rasha'. App-44 .
the just = a just one.
abomination, &c. See note on Proverbs 3:32 .
16.
Wherefore is there a price in the hand of a fool to get wisdom, seeing he hath no heart to it?
Wherefore is there a price, &c. = Why is this ready money in the hand of a fool to get wisdom when he has no sense? Illustrations: Israel (2 Chronicles 30:10 ); the Jews (Luke 4:28 ); Herod Antipas (Luke 23:11 ); Jews (John 5:40 ; John 8:45 ); Athenians (Acts 17:32 , Acts 17:33 ); Felix (Acts 24:25-27 ); Agrippa (Acts 26:28 ).
wisdom. Hebrew. chakmah. See note on Proverbs 1:2 .
heart. Put by Figure of speech Metonymy (of Subject), App-6 , for the sense in it.
17.
A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.
loveth at all times. Illustrations: Abraham (Genesis 14:14 . Compare Proverbs 13:11 ); Joseph (Genesis 45:5 ; Genesis 50:21 ); Moses (Exodus 32:11-13 .Deuteronomy 9:18 , Deuteronomy 9:25-29 . Compare Acts 7:40 ); Jonathan (1 Samuel 20:33 ); Barzillai (2 Samuel 19:32 ); Ahikam (Jeremiah 26:24 ); Ebed-melech (Jeremiah 38:7 ); Paul (Philemon 1:12 , Philemon 1:20 ); Barnabas (Acts 9:27 ); Aristarchus (Acts 19:29 ; Acts 20:4 ; Acts 27:2 .Philemon 1:24 .Colossians 4:10; Colossians 4:10 ); Luke (2 Timothy 4:11 ); Epaphroditus (Philippians 1:2 , Philippians 1:26 ).
18.
A man void of understanding striketh hands, and becometh surety in the presence of his friend.
man. Hebrew. 'adam. App-14 .
understanding. Hebrew "heart", put by Figure of speech Metonymy (of Cause), App-6 , for the understanding in it. See note on Proverbs 1:2 .
19.
He loveth transgression that loveth strife: and he that exalteth his gate seeketh destruction.
he that exalteth his gate, &c. : i.e. a rich man, who thus proclaimed his wealth (Eastern doors being generally low-pitched and uninviting),
courted destruction. This explains 2 Kings 25:9 , where "every great man's house he (Nebuchadnezzar) burnt with fire".
20.
He that hath a froward heart findeth no good: and he that hath a perverse tongue falleth into mischief.
21.
He that begetteth a fool doeth it to his sorrow: and the father of a fool hath no joy.
fool. Hebrew. nabal, as in Proverbs 17:1 .
22.
A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones.
spirit. Hebrew. ruach. App-9 .
23.
A wicked man taketh a gift out of the bosom to pervert the ways of judgment.
gift = bribe. Compare Proverbs 17:8 . This is the act of the briber, not the bribed.
bosom = lap. See note on Proverbs 16:33 .
24.
Wisdom is before him that hath understanding; but the eyes of a fool are in the ends of the earth.
before = is the goal of.
25.
A foolish son is a grief to his father, and bitterness to her that bare him.
26.
Also to punish the just is not good, nor to strike princes for equity.
27.
He that hath knowledge spareth his words: and a man of understanding is of an excellent spirit.
spareth his words. Illustrations: Aaron (Leviticus 10:3 ); Moses (Numbers 16:4 ; Numbers 20:6 ); Samuel (1 Samuel 8:6-8 ); Christ (1 Peter 2:23 ).
understandings discerning. Hebrew. binah. See note on Proverbs 1:2 .
excellent = quiet.
28.
Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise: and he that shutteth his lips is esteemed a man of understanding.
fool. Hebrew. 'evil, as in verses: Proverbs 17:16 , Proverbs 17:22 . See note on Proverbs 1:7 .
understandings = wisdom (i.e. a wise man).