1.
Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise.
Wine. Hebrew. yayin. See App-27 .
is. Figure of speech Metaphor. App-6 .
mocker = scoffer.
strong drink. Hebrew. shekar. App-27 . IV
raging = a brawler.
is deceived = erreth. Hebrew. shagah = to go astray. See note on Proverbs 11:18 . Not the same word as in Proverbs 20:17 .
is not wise. Illustrations: Noah (Genesis 7:1 . Compare Pro 9:20 , Pro 9:21 ); Nabal (1 Samuel 25:36 ); Elah (1 Kings 16:8-10 ); Ben-hadad (1 Kings 20:16-21 ); Ephraim (Isaiah 28:7 ); Belshazzar, &c. (Daniel 5 .Jeremiah 51:39 , Jeremiah 51:57 ); Nineveh (Nahum 1:10 ); and probably Nadab and Abihu (Leviticus 10:8 , Leviticus 10:9 ),
2.
The fear of a king is as the roaring of a lion: whoso provoketh him to anger sinneth against his own soul.
sinneth = erreth. Hebrew. chata'. App-44 .
soul. Hebrew. nephesh. App-13 .
3.
It is an honour for a man to cease from strife: but every fool will be meddling.
to cease from strife. Illustrations: Abraham (Genesis 13:7-9 . Compare Proverbs 17:14 ); David (1 Samuel 25:32-34 ).
fool. Hebrew. 'evil. See note on Proverbs 1:7 .
meddling = breaking out. See notes on Proverbs 17:14 ; Proverbs 18:1 . The only other occurrences of gala'. Not the same word as in Proverbs 20:19 .
4.
The sluggard will not plow by reason of the cold; therefore shall he beg in harvest, and have nothing.
plow. Plowing always done during the early rains.
cold = autumn. Put by Figure of speech Metalepsis, "cold" put for Autumn, and "Autumn" put for abundance of fruits possessed at that time.
Therefore. This word is read in the text in some codices, with five early printed editions.
5.
Counsel in the heart of man is like deep water; but a man of understanding will draw it out.
6.
Most men will proclaim every one his own goodness: but a faithful man who can find?
men. Hebrew. 'adam. App-14 .
every one. Hebrew. 'Ish 'ish. App-14 .
his own goodness. Illustrations: Absalom (2 Samuel 15:4 ); Jehu (2 Kings 10:16 , 2 Kings 10:31 ); Scribes, &c. (Matthew 6:2 ; Matthew 23:5 ); the rich young man (Matthew 19:20 , Matthew 19:22 ).
7.
The just man walketh in his integrity: his children are blessed after him.
children = sons.
blessed = happy. See note on Proverbs 3:13 .
8.
A king that sitteth in the throne of judgment scattereth away all evil with his eyes.
evil. Hebrew. ra'a'. App-44 .
9.
Who can say, I have made my heart clean, I am pure from my sin?
can = is able to.
I am pure, &c. Illustrations: Job before he learned his lesson (Job 9:17 ; Job 10:7 ; Job 11:4 ; Job 16:17 ; Job 23:10 , Job 23:11 ; Job 27:5 ; Job 29:14 ; Job 31:1 ; Compare Pro 33:9 . But not after, See Pro 42:5 , Pro 42:6 ). None of God's own people say this. Not David. (2 Samuel 12:13 . Compare Psalms 51:1-7 ); not Psalmist ( Pro 119:176 ); not Ezra (Ezra 9:6 ); not Nehemiah (Nehemiah 9:33 , Nehemiah 9:34 ); not Isaiah (Isaiah 6:5 , Isaiah 6:6 ); not Daniel (Daniel 9:8 ); not Peter (Luke 5:8 ); not John (1 John 1:8 ); not James (James 3:2 ); not Paul (Romans 7:18 . 1 Timothy 1:15 ).
10.
Divers weights, and divers measures, both of them are alike abomination to the LORD.
weights . . . measures. Hebrew "a stone and a stone, an ephah and an ephah". Ephah put by Figure of speech Synecdoche (of Species), App-6 , for all kinds of weights and measures. There is no word for "divers" = diverse.
abomination, &c. Compare Proverbs 20:23 , and Proverbs 11:1 ; Proverbs 16:11 , &c. See note on Proverbs 3:32 , and compare Deuteronomy 25:13 , &c.
the LORD. Hebrew. Jehovah. App-4 .
11.
Even a child is known by his doings, whether his work be pure, and whether it be right.
pure = accurate.
right = correct.
12.
The hearing ear, and the seeing eye, the LORD hath made even both of them.
hearing ear, &c. Illustrations: Moses (Exodus 4:11 ); Hagar (Genesis 21:19 ); Elisha's servant (2 Kings 6:17 ); Lydia (Acts 16:14 ).
13.
Love not sleep, lest thou come to poverty; open thine eyes, and thou shalt be satisfied with bread.
come to poverty = become dispossessed. Hebrew. yarash. See note on Proverbs 6:11 .
14.
It is naught, it is naught, saith the buyer: but when he is gone his way, then he boasteth.
naught . . . naught = very bad. Figure of speech Epizeuxis ( App-6 ), for emphasis.
15.
There is gold, and a multitude of rubies: but the lips of knowledge are a precious jewel.
16.
Take his garment that is surety for a stranger: and take a pledge of him for a strange woman.
stranger = apostate. Hebrew. zur. See notes on Proverbs 2:16 ; Proverbs 5:3 .
pledge of him. Supply Figure of speech Ellipsis ( App-6 ), "[Who has become security for] a foreign woman. "
strange woman = foreign woman. Hebrew. nakar. See notes on Proverbs 2:16 ; Proverbs 5:3 .
17.
Bread of deceit is sweet to a man; but afterwards his mouth shall be filled with gravel.
Bread of deceit = Bread gained by deceit. Genitive of Origin. See App-17 (2).
Bread. Put by Figure of speech Synecdoche (of Part), for all kinds of food.
deceit = lying. Hebrew. sheker. See note on Proverbs 11:18 .
filled with gravel: or grit. See note on Genesis 3:14 , implying utmost disappointment. See App-19 .
18.
Every purpose is established by counsel: and with good advice make war.
19.
He that goeth about as a talebearer revealeth secrets: therefore meddle not with him that flattereth with his lips.
meddle = mingle, mix thyself up. Not the same word as in Proverbs 20:3 .
lips. Put by Figure of speech Metonymy (of Cause) for the flattery spoken by them.
20.
Whoso curseth his father or his mother, his lamp shall be put out in obscure darkness.
curseth = revileth.
lamp shall be put out. A Figure of speech Hypocatastasis ( App-6 ), denoting that he shall die childless.
21.
An inheritance may be gotten hastily at the beginning; but the end thereof shall not be blessed.
blessed = happy. See note on Proverbs 3:13 .
22.
Say not thou, I will recompense evil; but wait on the LORD, and he shall save thee.
on = for.
23.
Divers weights are an abomination unto the LORD; and a false balance is not good.
abomination, &c. See note on Proverbs 3:32 .
24.
Man's goings are of the LORD; how can a man then understand his own way?
Man's = A strong man's. Hebrew. geber. App-14 .
man = an ordinary man. Hebrew. 'adam. App-14 .
25.
It is a snare to the man who devoureth that which is holy, and after vows to make inquiry.
devoureth = rashly promises.
holy. See note on Exodus 3:5 .
26.
A wise king scattereth the wicked, and bringeth the wheel over them.
scattereth = winnoweth out.
wicked = lawless. Hebrew. rasha'.
the wheel: i.e. of the threshing instrument. Compare Isaiah 28:27 .
27.
The spirit of man is the candle of the LORD, searching all the inward parts of the belly.
spirit = breath. Hebrew. neshamah. See App-16 .
candle = lamp or light. Same word as in Proverbs 20:20 .
the belly. Put by Figure of speech Metalepsis ( App-6 ) for the heart, and the heart for its thoughts.
28.
Mercy and truth preserve the king: and his throne is upholden by mercy.
Mercy = lovingkindness, grace, or favour.
29.
The glory of young men is their strength: and the beauty of old men is the gray head.
30.
The blueness of a wound cleanseth away evil: so do stripes the inward parts of the belly.
cleanseth away = is cleansing. Supply the Ellipsis ( App-6 ), "[though it be] an evil".
evil. Hebrew. ra'a'. App-44 .
belly. Supply the Ellipsis from preceding clause, "[though they be an evil]"