Bible Commentary (1871–1879 Edition) (continued)
Sundry Obervaiinni; of Moral Virtues, PEOVERBS XII—XIV. and of their Contrary Victt trailing (Hosca 10. 12; Galatians 6. 8, 9). 19. Inference from V. 18 (cf. v. o, (>; cli. 10. 16). ao. (Cf. v. 5.) froward— RS ch. 2. 15, opposed to the simplicity and purity of tlie vpcourse, to which, with all its evils and dangers to others and themselves, the happiness of peace-makers is opposed
(cf. Matthew .5. 9; Romans 12. 18). 21. no evil—(as Psaltl.
rifjlit. ill tlielr wny—or, conduct. 31. The combined power of the wiclced cannot free tliem from jast punishment, wliife tlie unaided children of the righteous find deliverance by reason of their pious relationship (Psalm
91. 10), under God's wise limitations (Romans 8. 28). mischief—as penal evil. 23. deal truly— or, faithfully, i. e., according to promises (cf. John 3. 21). 33. concealeth—by his modesty (ch. 10. 14; 11. 13). heart . . . proelaimeth— as his lips speak his thoughts (cf. Ecclesiastes 10.3). 24. slot Jiful—(cf. Margin), so called because lie fails to meet his promises, under tribute—not denoting legal taxes, but the obligation of dependence. 25. a good wordone of comfort. 36. more excellent—(cf. Margin), or, more successful, while the wicked fail; or, we may read it: "The righteous guiiles his friend, but," Ac, i. e.. The ability of the righteous to aid others is contrasted with the ruin to which the way of the wicked leads themselves. 37. (Cf. V. 24.) took In hunting—or, his venison. He does not improve his advantages, the substance . . . precious—or, the wealth of a man of honour is being diligent, or diligence, precious— honour (Ecclesiastes lt>,
37. 2.5, 2«). 'Z-Z. Jewels were often suspended from the nose (Genesis 'U. 47; Isaiah .S. 21). Thus adorned, a hog disgusts less than a fair and indi.screet woman. 23. (Cf. ch. 10. 28.) The wrath is that of God. 24-31. The scope of the whole is a comment on x\ 2'!. Thus liberality {v. 21), by God's blessing, secures increase, while penuriousness. Instead of expected gain, procures poverty. 35. liberal soul—(Cf. M'lryin.) made faJ—prospers (ch. 28. 25; Deuteronomy 32.
15; Luketj. O.S). \vatcretli . . . watered—a common figure lor blessing. 3(>. Ahotlier example of the truth of D. 23; the miser loses reputation, though he saves corn, soiletli It— ('. e., at a (air price. 27. g;ood [and] misc Jilef—i. c, of others. proeiirctU . . . sccketli—implying success. 28.
1). 28. (Cf. ch. 8. 8, '20, &c.) A sentiment often stated; here first aflirmatively, then negatively.
(Cf. ch. IQ. 15; Psalm 19. 6; 1 Timothy 6. 17.) rigl Ueoiis . . . braiicU—(P.salm 1. 3; Jeremiah 17. 8.) 29. ti-oubletli—as ch. 1). 27 explains, by greediness for gain (cf. v. 17). Inherit . . . wind—even succes.sful, his gains are of no real value. So the fool, tlms acting, either comes to poverty, or heaps up for others. 30. a tree of life—blessings to othei's proceed from the works of the righteous (ch. 3. 18). wiiiiietli souls—(Cf. Margin), to do them good as opposed to ch.G. 25; Ezekiel 13.18 (cf. Luke 5.10). 31. BeJiold— Thus calling attention to the illustrations (cf. v. 23), the sentiment of which is confirmed even in time, not ex Clud'iig future rewards and punishments.
CHAPTER XIII.
Ver. 1-25. 1. (Cf. ch. 6. 1-5; 10. 1, 17.) 2. sliall eat—i.e., obtain (ch. 12. 14). transgressors—as ch. 2. '22. violence or, mischief to themselves. 3. He . . . moutli . . . life Because evil speeches may provoke violence from others. On last clause cf. ch. 10. 14. 4. (Cf. ch. 12. 11, 27.) 5. loatlisome . . . shame—better, causeth shame and reproach
(cf. ch. 19. 26), by slander, &c., which the righteous hates. 6. A sentiment of f requent recurrence, that piety benefits, and sin Injures. 7. In opposite ways men act hypocritically for gain of honour or wealth. 8. Riches save some from punishment, while others suffer because they will not heed the rebuke of sloth, which makes and keeps them poor. 9. light [and] lami>—prosperity ; the first, the greater, and It rejoiccth—or, burns brightly, or continues, wli'ile the other, at best small, soon fails. 10. The obstinacy which attends self-conceit, produces contention, which the well-advised, thus evincing .modesty, avoid. 11. by vanity—or, nothingness, i.e., which is vain or useless to the public (as card playing or similar vices), gathereth . . . labour—(cf. Margin), little by
CHAPTEE XII. Ver. 1-2S. 1. lovetli knowledge—as the fruit of instruction or training (ch 1. 2). Iiateth reproof—(Ch. 10. 17.) bnitlsU—stupid, regardless of his own welfare (Psalm 49.
10; 73. 22). 3. Wickedness cacoot give permanent prosperity, root . . . not be moved—firm as a flourishing tree-(Psalm 1.3; 15.5; Jeremiah 17.8). 4. a -virtuous woman—in the wide sense of well disposed to all moral duties (ch. 31. 10). malteth ashamed i.,e., by misconduct, rottenness—an incurable evil. 5. thoughts—or, purposes, are rigiit lit., are judgment, i. e., true decisions, counsels—(Cf. cli. 11. 11.) deceit—contrary to truth and honesty. 6. The words—or, expressed designs of the wicked are for evil purposes, the month—or, words of the righteous delivering instead of ensnaring men. 7. Such conduct brings a proper return, by the destruction of the wicked and well-being of the righteous and his family. 8. despised—as opposed to commended (ch. 11.
little, laboriously. 13. desire comcth—is realized. atre« of life—or, cause of happiness. 13. tlie word i.e., of advice, or, instruction (cf. ch. 10. 27; 11. 31). 14. (Cf! ch. 10.
11.) fountain—or, source of life, to depart—(cf. ch. 1. 2-4), or, for departing, &c., and so gives life. 15. Right perception and action secure good will, while evil ways are difficult as a stony road. The wicked left of God find punishment of sin in sinning, hard—or, harsh (cf. {Hebrew) Deuteronomy 21.4; Jeremiah 5.15). 16. dealeth—acts with foresight, a fool . . . folly—for want of caution. 17. A wicked [or, unfaithful] messenger falleth into—or, by mischief, or evil, and so his errand fails. Contrasted is the character of the faithful, whose faithfulness benefits others. 18. (Cf. ch. 10,17; 12.1.) 19. Self-denial, which fools will not endure, is essential to success. 20. The benefits of good and evils of bad society are contrasted. 21. (Cf. ch. 11. 31.) good . . . repaid—or. He ((3od) will repay good. 22. wealth . . . just—while good men's estates I'emain in their families, God so orders tliat the gains of sinners enure to the just (cf. ch. 28. 8; Psalm 37.
12). perverse heart—or, wicked principles, as opposed to one of wisdom. 9. despised—held in little repute, obscure
(1 Samuel 18. 23; Isaiah 3. 5). hath a servant—implying some means of honest living, honoureth himself—is self-conceited. 10. regardeth lit., knoweth (Psalm 1.6). mercies . .. . cruel—as acts of compassion ungraciously rendered to the needy. The righteous more regards a beast than the wicked a man. 11. The idler's fate is the result of indolence and want of principle (ch. 6. 32; 7. 7). 12. the wicked . . . evil—They love the crafty arts of deception, the root . . . (fruit)—their own resources supply them; or, it may be rendered: "He (God) giveth, or sets (Ezekiel 17. 22) the root of the righteous," and hence
It is linn : or, the verb is impersonal; "As to the root, &c., it Is firm" (ch. 17.19). 13, 14. The sentiment expanded. While the wicked, such as liars, flatterers, &c.,
18, 22, 26, &c.). 23. The labouring poor prosper more than those who injudiciously or wickedly strive, by fraud and violence, to supersede the necessity of lawful labour. 34, spareth—or, withholds, rod—of correction, hateth—or, acts as if he hated him (cf. ch. 3. 12; 8.36). chasteneth fall by their own words, the righteous are unliurt. Their good conduct makes friends, and God rewards them. 15. The way . . . eyes—The fool, is self-conceited (cf. t). 1 ; ch.
. . . betimes—or, diligently seeks for him all useful discipline. 35. The comparative temporal prosperity of the righteous and wicked, rather than contentment and discontent, is noted.
1. 32; 10. 17; James 3. 17). 16. prudent . . . shame—he is slow to denounce his insulters (James 1. 19). 18. speaketh —lit., speaketh ha/slily, or indiscreetly (Psalm 108. 33), as an angry man retorts harsh and provoking invectives, tongue . . . healtli—by soothing and gentle language. 19. Words of truth are consistent, and stand all tests, while lies are soon discovered and exposed. 20. that Imagine—or, plan' (ch. 3. 29). They design a deceitful
CHAPTER XIV.
Ver. 1-35. 1. Every wise, <fec. lit., J7ie wisdoms (cf. ch.
9. 1) (tf women, plural, a distributive form of speech, hulld* 395
Sundry Observatio7is of Moral Virtues, PROVERBS XV, XVI. and of their Contrary Vices.
trouble — vexation and affliction. 7. (Cf . ch. 10.20, 21.) heai-t . . . not so—not right, or vain. 8, 9. Tlie savritii [and] prayer—are acts of worsliip. way [and] followeth etli . . . lionise—Inore.-isps wealth, which the foolish, by niismanafeun Jiit, lessen, a. uprightness—is the fruit of fearing God, as falsehood and ill-nature (ch. 2. 15; 3. 32) of despising Him and His law. 3. rod of pride—i. e., the punishment of pride, which tliey evince Ijy their words. The words of the wise procure good to them. 4. crib Is cleaii—or, empty; so "cleanness of teeth" denotes want Of food (cf. Amos 1. 6). Men get the proper fruit of their doings (Galatians 6. 7). 5. A faithful witness, &c.—One tested to be sucli. utter [or, breathe out] lies i. e., habitually lies (cli. 6. 19; cf. Acts 9. 1). Or the sense is, that habitual truthfulness, or lying, will be evinced in witnessbearing. 6. An humble, teachable spirit succeeds In seeking (ch. 8.9; John 7.17; James 1.5,6). 7. Avoid the society pf those who cannot teach you. 8. Appearances deceive the thoughtless, but the prudent discriminate. 9. Fools . . . sin—or, Sin deludes fools, righteous . . . favotir—i. e., of God, instead of the punishment of sin. 10. Each one best knows his own sorrows or joys. 11. (Cf. ch.
. . . righteousness—denote conduct. God's regard for the worship and deeds of tlie righteous and wicked respectively, so stated Psalm 50.17; Isaiah 1. 11. 10. iCf. ch. 10.
17.) the way—that in which God would have him to go (ch. 2.13; Pstilmlig. 1). 11, Hell—(Psalm 16. 10.) destruction—or, Aliaddon, the place of the destroyer. All tlie unseen world is open to God, much more men's hearts. 12.
(Cf. ch.9;8.) go unto the wise—to be instructed. 13. maketh . . . countenance—or, benefits the countenance.' spirit is broken—and so the countenance is sad. 14, (Cf. ch. 10. 21, 2'2.) The wise grow wiser, the fools more foolisli (ch. 9.9). 15. The state of the heart governs the outward condition, evil — sad, contrasted with tlie cheerfulness of a feast. 16. trouble—agitation, implying the anxieties and perplexities attending wealth held by worldlings (ch.
16. 18 ; 1 Timothy 6. 6). 17. dinner [or, allowance (2 Kings
25.30)] (of herbs)—and that the plainest, and hatred—
12.7.) The contrast of the whole is enhanced by that ol house and tabcriincle, a permanentand a temporary dv7ell-
(cf. ch. 10. 12, 18.) 18. (Cf. ch. 14. 29; 16. 32.) 19. Tlie difficulties of the slothful result from want of energy ; the righteous find a plain [and open] way—lit., a highway, by diligence (1 Samuel 10.7; Psalm 1.3). 20. (Cf. ch. 10. 1.) 21. walketii uprightly—and so finds his joy (cli. 3. 6; 10.23). 22. Without cotinsel—or, deliberation, implying a wise deference to the opinions of the wise and good, contrasted with rashness. 23. Good advice blesses the giver and receiver. 24. (Cf. Colossians 3. 2.) Holy purposes prevent sinning, and so its evils. 25. The most desolate who have God's aid have more permanentgood than the self-reliant sinner(ch. 2. 22; 12.7). border—or, boundary for possess ions (Psalm 78. 54). 26. are pleasant words—t. e., pleasing to God (ch. 8. 8, 9). 27. (Cf. ch. 11. 17.) Avarice brings trouble to him and his. hnteth gifts—or, bribes (Exodus 23. 8; Psalm 15. 5), and is not avaricious. 28. (Cf. v. 14; ch. 10. 11.) Caution is the fruit of wisdom; rashness of folly. 29. far
Ing. VZ. eiml thereof—or, reward, what results (cf. ch.5. 4). ways of death—leading to it. 13. The preceding sentiment illustrated by the disappointments of a wicked or untimeljjoy. 14. filled . . . ways—receive retribution
(ch. 1.311. a good man . . . himself— is away from sucli, will not associate with him.. 15, The simple . . . word—He Is credulous, not from love, but heedlessness
(ch. 13.16). 16. (Cf. ch. 3.7; 28.14.) rageth—acts proudly and conceitedly. 17. He . . . angry—lit., short of anger [cf.
V. 29, opposite idea), man . . . hated—i.e., the deliberate evil-doer is nrore hated than the rash. 18. inherit—as a portion (rf. 3.35). are crowned lit., are surrounded with ii, abound in it. 19. describes the humbling of the wicked by the punishment their sins incur. 20. This sad but true picture of human nature is not given approvingly, but only as a fact. 21. For such contempt of the poor is contrasted as sinful with the virtuous compassion of the good. 22. As usual, the interrogative negative strengthens the atiirmative. mercy and truth i. e., God's (Psalm 57.
. . . wicked—in His love and favour (Psalm 22. 11 ; 119. 155). 30. Light of the eyes— (Ch. 13.9.) What gives light rejoiceth the heart, by relieving from anxiety as to our course, so good report—or, doctrine (Isaiah 28. 9; 53. 1), maketh . . . fat-^or, gives prosperity (ch. 3.13-17; 9. H), The last clause is illustrated by the first. 31, 32, (Cf. ch,
8; 61. 7). 23. labour—or, painful diligence, talk ... penury—idle and vain promises and plans. 24. (Cf. ch. 3. 16.) foolisltness . . . folly—folly remains, or produces folly, has no benefit. 25. Life often depends on truth-telling, a deeeitfiil . . . lies—he that breathes out lies is deceit, not to be trusted (v. 5). 26. The blessings of piety descend
10.17.) reproof of life—which leads to life, abidet.lt... wise— is numbered among them, refuseth—or, neglects, passes by (ch. 1. 25; 4. 15). despiseth . . . soul—so acts as If esteeming its interests of no value. 33. The fear . . . wisflom—Wisdom instructs in true piety, before . . . humility— (cf. Luke 24. 26 ; 1 Peter 1. 11) ; opposite (cf. ch. 16. 15). CHAPTER XVI.
to children (ch. 13.22; 20.7; Exodus 20.6). 27. (Cf. ch. 13.
14.) fear of the Lord—or, law of the wise, is wisdom (Psalm HI. 10.) 2«. Tlie teacliing of a true political economy. 29, slow . . . understanding — (Cf. v. 17.) hasty—(Cf. v. 17.) exalteth folly—makes it conspicuous, as if delighting to honour it. 30, A sound heart—Both literally and figuratively, a source of health ; in the latter sense, opposed to the known ef Tectof evil passionson health. .31. reproacheth his Maker—who is the God of such, as well as of the rich (ch. 22. 2; .fob 31. 15; and specially 1 Samuel 2. 8; Psalm
Ver. 1-.33. 1. preparations—or, schemes. In man—or lit., to man, belonging, or pertaining to him. the answer. . . Lord—theeflicient ordering is from God, "JIan proposes ; God disposes." 2. clean—or, faultless, weigheth —or, tries, judges, implying that they are faulty (ch.21.2*
113.7). 32. driven—or, thrust out violently (cf. Psalm 35.
24. 12). 3. (Cf. Margin.) Rely on God for success to your lawful purposes. 4. for liimself—or, "for its answer, or purpose," i.e., according to God's plan; the wicked are for the day of evil (Psalm 49.5; Jeremiah 17.18); sinning and sulfering answer to each otlier, are indissoluljly united. 5. (Cf. ch. 3. 32.) 6. By mercy and truth—
5, 6). hath hope—or, trusteth (ch. 10. 2; 11. 4; Psalm 2. 12), Implying assurance of help. 33. restcth— preserved in quietness for use, while fools blazon their folly (eh. 12. Zi;
13. 10). 34. Righteousness—.Just principles and actions, exolteth—raises to honour, is a reproach—or brings on them the ill-will of others (cf. ch. 13. 6). 35. wise—discreet, or prudent, causeth shame—(ch. 10. 5; 12.4) acts basely.
i. e., God's (P.salm 8.5. 10), He effects the atonement, or covering of sin ; and the principles of true piety incline men to depart from evil; or, merc and truth may be man's, indicative of tlie gracious tempers which work instrumentally in procuring pardon, purged— expiated (aa Leviticus 16. 33; Isaiah 27. 9, Hebrew). 7. Persecutions, of course, excepted. 8. (Cf. ch. 15. 6, 16, 17.) 9. (Cf. v. 3.) dlrecteth—establisheth. 10. The last clause depends on the
CHAPTER XV.
Ver. 1-33. 1. soft—tender, or gentle, tumeth . . . wrath —from any one. stir up—as a smouldering fire is excited.
tt. tisetJi . . . aright—commends knowledge by its proper use. pouretli out—utters abundantly (ch. 12. 23), and so disgusts otliers. 3. bcliolding— watching (cf. ch. 5. 21; iPsaim 66. 7). 4. A wholesome toitgue—(cf. Margin), pacifying and soothing language, tree of life—(Ch. H. 18; 11.
first, expressing the importance of equity In decisions, so authoritative. 11. are tlie Lord's. . . his work — i.e., what He has ordered, and lience should be observed by men. 12. Rulers are rightly expected, by their position, to hate evil; for tlieir power is sustained by righteousness. 13. A specification of the general sentiment of ti.
30.) perversene»s therein — cross, ill-natured language, breacli . . . spirit—(cf. Isaiah 65. 14, Hebrew), grieves, instead of appeasi-ig. 5. (Cf. ch. 4. 1; 10. 17; 13. 1-18.) is prudent—acts discreetly. 6. treasure-implying utility. 396
12. 14, 15. This wrath, so terrible and certain, like me«-