1.
A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches, and loving favour rather than silver and gold.
name. Note the Ellipsis ( App-6 ), and supply "good" from Ecclesiastes 7:1 .
2.
The rich and poor meet together: the LORD is the maker of them all.
poor = needy. Hebrew. rush. See note on Proverbs 6:11 . Same word as in Proverbs 22:7 . Not the same word as in verses: Proverbs 22:9 , Proverbs 22:16 , Proverbs 22:22 .
3.
A prudent man foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself: but the simple pass on, and are punished.
evil = mischief. Hebrew. ra'a'. App-44 .
simple. See note on Proverbs 1:4 .
are punished = suffer for it, or pay the penalty.
4.
By humility and the fear of the LORD are riches, and honour, and life.
By humility, &c. = The reward of humility [that is] the fear of the Jehovah, will be, &c.
the fear of the LORD. See note on Proverbs 1:7 .
life: i.e. resurrection and eternal life. See note on Leviticus 18:5 ; not necessarily long life on earth.
5.
Thorns and snares are in the way of the froward: he that doth keep his soul shall be far from them.
and. Septuagint, Syriac, and Vulg, read this "and" in the text.
froward = perverse. See note on Proverbs 2:12 , Proverbs 2:15 ; Proverbs 3:32 . Illustrations: Israel (Judges 2:2 , Judges 2:3 .Joshua 23:12 , Joshua 23:13 ; contrast with Joshua 21:43-45 ; Joshua 24:31 ); Ahab (1 Kings 17:1 ; 1Ki 18:5 ; 1 Kings 21:4 , 1 Kings 21:20 ; 1 Kings 22:6 , 1 Kings 22:37 ).
6.
Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.
Train up = Hedge in: i.e. straiten him in, as cattle are guided.
in the way he should go = concerning his way. Hebrew at the mouth of his way: "mouth" being put by Figure of speech Metonymy (of Adjunct), App-6 , for the opening or beginning of his way. C H. Spurgeon applied it to "the way you wish you had gone yourself"!
7.
The rich ruleth over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender.
The rich = a rich one.
the poor = poor ones.
is servant, &c. Illustrations: the widow (2 Kings 4:1 ); the Jews (Nehemiah 5:3 , Nehemiah 5:5 ).
8.
He that soweth iniquity shall reap vanity: and the rod of his anger shall fail.
iniquity = trickery. Hebrew. 'aval. App-44 . Illustration: Rebekah (Genesis 27:6-17 , Genesis 27:41-46 ).
shall fail. Illustrations: Balak (Numbers 24:10 ); Solomon (1 Kings 11:14 , 1 Kings 11:23 , and 1 Kings 11:31 , 1 Kings 11:40 ); Ahaziah (2 Kings 1:9-17 ); Sennacherib (2 Chronicles 32:21 .Isaiah 30:31; Isaiah 30:31 ); Haman (Esther 5:11-13 ; Esther 7:10 ).
9.
He that hath a bountiful eye shall be blessed; for he giveth of his bread to the poor.
the poor = a weak one. Hebrew. dal. Same word as in verses: Proverbs 22:16 , Proverbs 22:22 . Not the same word as in verses: Proverbs 22:2 , Proverbs 22:7 . See note on Proverbs 6:11 .
10.
Cast out the scorner, and contention shall go out; yea, strife and reproach shall cease.
scorner = scoffer.
shall go out. Illustration: Ishmael (Genesis 21:9-12 . Compare Galatians 1:4 , Gal 1:29 ).
11.
He that loveth pureness of heart, for the grace of his lips the king shall be his friend.
He that, &c. Aramaean, Septuagint, and Syriac, read "Jehovah".
pureness of heart = one pure of heart.
12.
The eyes of the LORD preserve knowledge, and he overthroweth the words of the transgressor.
preserve = guard.
words: or affairs. Hebrew. dabar. App-73 .
transgressor = traitor. Hebrew. bagad. Illustrations: Ahithophel (2 Samuel 17:14 ); Noadiah (Nehemiah 6:14-16 ); Ezra's opponents (Ezra 3:3 , Ezra 3:13 . Compare Proverbs 5 and Proverbs 6 ); the Sanhedrin (Acts 5:34 ).
13.
The slothful man saith, There is a lion without, I shall be slain in the streets.
streets = open places.
14.
The mouth of strange women is a deep pit: he that is abhorred of the LORD shall fall therein.
strange = apostate. Hebrew. zur. S ee notes on Proverbs 2:16 with Proverbs 5:3 .
15.
Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child; but the rod of correction shall drive it far from him.
Foolishness. Hebrew. 'evil. See note on Proverbs 1:7 .
16.
He that oppresseth the poor to increase his riches, and he that giveth to the rich, shall surely come to want.
17.
Bow down thine ear, and hear the words of the wise, and apply thine heart unto my knowledge.
words of the wise. See the Structure of the whole book (p. 864). Referring to the wise men by whom Solomon was surrounded, such as Ethan, Heman, Chalcol, and Darda, the sons of Mahol (1 Kings 4:31 ).
thine. Note the continuation of the second person, "the words of the wise" being addressed to Solomon.
heart. Put by Figure of speech Metonymy (of Subject), App-6 , for thoughts and powers.
my. Note the writer's personality as being other than Solomon.
knowledge = teaching.
18.
For it is a pleasant thing if thou keep them within thee; they shall withal be fitted in thy lips.
19.
That thy trust may be in the LORD, I have made known to thee this day, even to thee.
trust = confidence. Hebrew. batah . See App-69 .
be = come to be.
thee. Note the emphasis on the second person.
20.
Have not I written to thee excellent things in counsels and knowledge,
to thee = for thee. See the Structure (p. 891).
excellent things. Hebrew margin reads "formerly", or "before".
In = With.
21.
That I might make thee know the certainty of the words of truth; that thou mightest answer the words of truth to them that send unto thee?
words = sayings, or utterances. Hebrew. 'imrah. See App-73 .
send unto = inquire of. Illustration: the queen of Sheba (1 Kings 10 ).
22.
Rob not the poor, because he is poor: neither oppress the afflicted in the gate:
the afflicted = a wretched one. Hebrew. 'ani. See note on Proverbs 6:11 .
23.
For the LORD will plead their cause, and spoil the soul of those that spoiled them.
24.
Make no friendship with an angry man; and with a furious man thou shalt not go:
an angry man = a lord, or master, of anger.
25.
Lest thou learn his ways, and get a snare to thy soul.
26.
Be not thou one of them that strike hands, or of them that are sureties for debts.
27.
If thou hast nothing to pay, why should he take away thy bed from under thee?
he: i.e. the usurer.
28.
Remove not the ancient landmark, which thy fathers have set.
ancient = age-long.
landmark = boundary stone.
29.
Seest thou a man diligent in his business? he shall stand before kings; he shall not stand before mean men.
Seest thou . . . ? Figure of speech Erotesis. App-6 .
mean = mean ones: i.e. men who are obscure.