1.
The proverbs of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel;
1-4. (See
Part I).
2.
To know wisdom and instruction; to perceive the words of understanding;
2. To know . . .
instruction—literally, "for knowing," that is, such
is the design of these writings.
wisdom—or the use of
the best means for the best ends, is generally employed in this book
for true piety.
instruction—discipline,
by which men are trained.
to perceive—literally,
"for perceiving," the design (as above)
understanding—that is,
words which enable one to discern good and evil.
3.
To receive the instruction of wisdom, justice, and judgment, and equity;
3. To receive . . . of wisdom—For
receiving that discipline which discretion imparts. The Hebrew
for "wisdom" differs from that of , and denotes rather discreet counsel. Compare the opposite
traits of the fool (Proverbs 16:22).
justice . . . equity—all
the attributes of one upright in all his relations to God and man.
4.
To give subtilty to the simple, to the young man knowledge and discretion.
4. simple—one easily led to
good or evil; so the parallel.
young man—one
inexperienced.
subtilty—or prudence
(Proverbs 3:21; Proverbs 5:21).
discretion—literally,
"device," both qualities, either good or bad, according to
their use. Here good, as they imply wariness by which to escape evil
and find good.
5.
A wise man will hear, and will increase learning; and a man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsels:
5, 6. Such writings the wise,
who pursue right ends by right means, will value.
learning—not the act,
but matter of it.
wise counsels—or the
art and principles of governing.
6.
To understand a proverb, and the interpretation; the words of the wise, and their dark sayings.
6. To understand—so as to . .
. such will be the result.
interpretation—(Compare
Margin).
words of the wise—(Compare
Proverbs 1:2).
dark sayings—(Compare
Psalms 49:4; John 16:25;
and see John 16:25, Part I).
7.
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.
7. The fear of the Lord—the
principle of true piety (compare Proverbs 2:5;
Proverbs 14:26; Proverbs 14:27;
Job 28:28; Psalms 34:11;
Psalms 111:10; Acts 9:31).
beginning—first part,
foundation.
fools—the stupid and
indifferent to God's character and government; hence the wicked.
8.
My son, hear the instruction of thy father, and forsake not the law of thy mother:
8. My son—This paternal form
denotes a tender regard for the reader. Filial sentiments rank next
to piety towards God, and ensure most distinguished rewards (compare
Proverbs 6:20; Ephesians 6:2;
Ephesians 6:3).
9.
For they shall be an ornament of grace unto thy head, and chains about thy neck.
9. On the figures of , compare Genesis 41:42;
Song of Solomon 1:10; Song of Solomon 4:9.
10.
My son, if sinners entice thee, consent thou not.
10-19. A solemn warning against
temptation.
entice—literally, "open
the way."
consent . . . not—Sin
is in consenting or yielding to temptation, not in being tempted.
11.
If they say, Come with us, let us lay wait for blood, let us lurk privily for the innocent without cause:
11-14. Murder and robbery are
given as specific illustrations.
lay wait . . . lurk
privily—express an effort and hope for successful concealment.
swallow . . . grave—utterly
destroy the victim and traces of the crime (Numbers 16:33;
Psalms 55:15). Abundant rewards of
villainy are promised as the fruits of this easy and safe course.
12.
Let us swallow them up alive as the grave; and whole, as those that go down into the pit:
13.
We shall find all precious substance, we shall fill our houses with spoil:
14.
Cast in thy lot among us; let us all have one purse:
15.
My son, walk not thou in the way with them; refrain thy foot from their path:
15, 16. The society of the
wicked (way or path) is dangerous. Avoid the beginnings of sin
(Proverbs 4:14; Psalms 1:1;
Psalms 119:101).
16.
For their feet run to evil, and make haste to shed blood.
17.
Surely in vain the net is spread in the sight of any bird.
17-19. Men warned ought to
escape danger as birds instinctively avoid visibly spread nets. But
stupid sinners rush to their own ruin (), and, greedy of gain, succeed in the very schemes which
destroy them (1 Timothy 6:10), not
only failing to catch others, but procuring their own destruction.
18.
And they lay wait for their own blood; they lurk privily for their own lives.
19.
So are the ways of every one that is greedy of gain; which taketh away the life of the owners thereof.
20.
Wisdom crieth without; she uttereth her voice in the streets:
20-33. Some interpreters regard
this address as the language of the Son of God under the name of
Wisdom (compare Luke 11:49).
Others think that wisdom, as the divine attribute specially employed
in acts of counsel and admonition, is here personified, and
represents God. In either case the address is a most solemn and
divine admonition, whose matter and spirit are eminently evangelical
and impressive (see on Proverbs 8:1).
Wisdom—literally,
"Wisdoms," the plural used either because of the unusual
sense, or as indicative of the great excellency of wisdom (compare Proverbs 8:1).
streets—or most public
places, not secretly.
21.
She crieth in the chief place of concourse, in the openings of the gates: in the city she uttereth her words, saying,
21. The publicity further
indicated by terms designating places of most common resort.
22.
How long, ye simple ones, will ye love simplicity? and the scorners delight in their scorning, and fools hate knowledge?
22. simple ones—(Compare ).
simplicity—implying
ignorance.
scorners— () —who despise, as well as reject, truth.
fools—Though a
different word is used from that of , yet it is of the same meaning.
23.
Turn you at my reproof: behold, I will pour out my spirit unto you, I will make known my words unto you.
23. reproof—implying
conviction deserving it (compare , Margin).
pour out—abundantly
impart.
my spirit—whether of
wisdom personified, or of Christ, a divine agent.
24.
Because I have called, and ye refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no man regarded;
24. stretched . . .
hand—Earnestness, especially in beseeching, is denoted by the
figure (compare Job 11:13;
Psalms 68:31; Psalms 88:9).
25.
But ye have set at nought all my counsel, and would none of my reproof:
25. set at naught—rejected as
of no value.
would none of—literally,
"were not willing or inclined to it."
26.
I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your fear cometh;
26, 27. In their extreme
distress He will not only refuse help, but aggravate it by derision.
27.
When your fear cometh as desolation, and your destruction cometh as a whirlwind; when distress and anguish cometh upon you.
27. fear—the object of it.
desolation—literally,
"a tumultuous noise," denoting their utter confusion.
destruction—or calamity
(Proverbs 1:26) compared to a
whirlwind, as to fatal rapidity.
distress— (Psalms 4:1;
Psalms 44:11).
anguish—a state of
inextricable oppression, the deepest despair.
28.
Then shall they call upon me, but I will not answer; they shall seek me early, but they shall not find me:
28. Now no prayers or most
diligent seeking will avail ().
29.
For that they hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of the LORD:
29, 30. The sinner's infatuated
rejection brings his ruin.
30.
They would none of my counsel: they despised all my reproof.
31.
Therefore shall they eat of the fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own devices.
31. fruit . . . way—result of
conduct (Isaiah 3:10; Ezekiel 11:21;
Romans 6:21; Galatians 6:7;
Galatians 6:8).
be filled—even to
repletion (Psalms 123:4).
32.
For the turning away of the simple shall slay them, and the prosperity of fools shall destroy them.
32. turning away—that is, from
the call of Proverbs 1:23.
simple—as in Proverbs 1:23.
prosperity—quiet,
implying indifference.
33.
But whoso hearkeneth unto me shall dwell safely, and shall be quiet from fear of evil.
33. dwell safely—literally,
"in confidence" ().
be quiet—or at ease, in
real prosperity.
from fear—without fear.