1.
Better is the poor that walketh in his integrity, than he that is perverse in his lips, and is a fool.
2.
Also, that the soul be without knowledge, it is not good; and he that hasteth with his feet sinneth.
3.
The foolishness of man perverteth his way: and his heart fretteth against the LORD.
4.
Wealth maketh many friends; but the poor is separated from his neighbour.
5.
A false witness shall not be unpunished, and he that speaketh lies shall not escape.
6.
Many will intreat the favour of the prince: and every man is a friend to him that giveth gifts.
7.
All the brethren of the poor do hate him: how much more do his friends go far from him? he pursueth them with words, yet they are wanting to him.
8.
He that getteth wisdom loveth his own soul: he that keepeth understanding shall find good.
9.
A false witness shall not be unpunished, and he that speaketh lies shall perish.
10.
Delight is not seemly for a fool; much less for a servant to have rule over princes.
11.
The discretion of a man deferreth his anger; and it is his glory to pass over a transgression.
12.
The king's wrath is as the roaring of a lion; but his favour is as dew upon the grass.
13.
A foolish son is the calamity of his father: and the contentions of a wife are a continual dropping.
14.
House and riches are the inheritance of fathers and a prudent wife is from the LORD.
15.
Slothfulness casteth into a deep sleep; and an idle soul shall suffer hunger.
16.
He that keepeth the commandment keepeth his own soul; but he that despiseth his ways shall die.
17.
He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto the LORD; and that which he hath given will he pay him again.
18.
Chasten thy son while there is hope, and let not thy soul spare for his crying.
19.
A man of great wrath shall suffer punishment: for if thou deliver him, yet thou must do it again.
20.
Hear counsel, and receive instruction, that thou mayest be wise in thy latter end.
21.
There are many devices in a man's heart; nevertheless the counsel of the LORD, that shall stand.
MAN PURPOSES, GOD DISPOSES
‘There are many devices in a man’s heart; nevertheless the counsel of the Lord, that shall stand.’
Proverbs 19:21
The text plainly implies a great disconformity—a want of coalescence between the designs of man and God; an estranged spirit of design on the part of man. And the case actually is so in the world. Many of the designs in men’s hearts are formed independently of God; many in contrariety to Him.
I. Independently of Him.—In what proportion of men’s internal devisings may we conjecture that there is any real acknowledgment of God? One in ten? One in twenty? In beginning to entertain the design, there is no question made, Will this be approved by Him? The whole devising and prosecution are in a spirit just as if there were no such thing as Providence to aid or defeat.
II. But even this is not the worst: man’s heart entertains many devices in contrariety to God.—It can cherish ‘devices’ which must sometimes involve a rebellious emotion of displeasure, almost resentment, that there is a Sovereign Lord, Whose counsel shall stand.
III. The counsel of the Lord is sometimes not to prevent the design taking effect in the first instance.—He shows that He can let men bring their iniquitous purposes into effect, and then seize that very effect—reverse its principle of agency and make it produce immense unintended good.
IV. How important is it that all the designs of the heart should, in principle, be conformed to the spirit of God’s unalterable counsel; that in all our projects we should be conscientiously and solicitously aiming at a general conformity to His will.
22.
The desire of a man is his kindness: and a poor man is better than a liar.
23.
The fear of the LORD tendeth to life: and he that hath it shall abide satisfied; he shall not be visited with evil.
24.
A slothful man hideth his hand in his bosom, and will not so much as bring it to his mouth again.
25.
Smite a scorner, and the simple will beware: and reprove one that hath understanding, and he will understand knowledge.
26.
He that wasteth his father, and chaseth away his mother, is a son that causeth shame, and bringeth reproach.
27.
Cease, my son, to hear the instruction that causeth to err from the words of knowledge.
28.
An ungodly witness scorneth judgment: and the mouth of the wicked devoureth iniquity.
29.
Judgments are prepared for scorners, and stripes for the back of fools.