Proverbs 21

August 9, 2017/in Old Testament, Proverbs/by David Guzik

Proverbs 21 – Peace in the Home, Prosperity in Life, Preparation for Battle

Proverbs 21:1

The king’s heart is in the hand of the LORD,
Like the rivers of water;
He turns it wherever He wishes.

a. The king’s heart is in the hand of the LORD: God holds and can guide the human heart. If God can do this with someone as powerful and noble as a king, He can do this with any man or woman He chooses.

i. “Thus he turned the heart of Pharaoh to Joseph; of Saul to David; of Nebuchadnezzar to Jeremiah; of Darius to Daniel; of Cyrus, and afterwards of Alexander the Great, to the Jews; of some of the Roman persecutors to the primitive Christians.” (Trapp)

ii. “God’s inscrutable mastery extends to the king, the most powerful of human beings, and to the heart, their most free member. The Lord rules even the most free and powerful of all human beings.” (Waltke)

iii. This should build our faith that God can guide and change hearts. Sometimes we despair when we see the stubbornness and hardness of man’s heart against God and His will, but the king’s heart is in the hand of the LORD and He can guide it wherever He wishes.

iv. “He names kings not to exclude other men, but because they are more arbitrary and uncontrollable than other men.” (Poole)

b. Like the rivers of water; He turns it wherever He wishes: This analogy illustrates how God may guide the heart of man. In moving a river, one does not need to carry each drop of water to a place where it is desired; if one can shape the banks and guide the direction of the river, the water will go where desired. So, God does not need to do violence to the human heart to guide it; He may do it simply through arranging other circumstances like banks of a river to guide the flow where He wants it.

i. “Tiglath-pileser (Isaiah 10:6, 7), Cyrus (Isaiah 41:2-4) and Artaxerxes (Ezra 7:21) are all examples of autocrats who, in pursuing their chosen courses, flooded or fertilized God’s field as he chose. The principle is still in force.” (Kidner)

ii. “As a farmer channels the water where he wants and regulates its flow, so does the Lord with the king. No human ruler, then, is supreme; or, to put it another way, the Lord is truly the King of kings.” (Ross)

Proverbs 21:2

Every way of a man is right in his own eyes,
But the LORD weighs the hearts.

a. Every way of a man is right in his own eyes: By nature, we justify ourselves. Sometimes we do this in sincerity, sometimes with deception, but stubborn pride makes us generally think every way of a man is right in his own eyes.

b. But the LORD weighs the hearts: Men and women are confident in their own way, but God knows. We justify things according to our hearts – “It was in my heart” or “I must follow my heart” or “In my heart, I know” – but God weighs the hearts of men and women, knowing that the heart itself doesn’t justify anything.

i. “Yahweh’s power of discernment goes beyond unmasking those who fool others; he even finds out those who have fooled themselves.” (Garrett)

Proverbs 21:3

To do righteousness and justice
Is more acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice.

a. To do righteousness and justice: The way we treat people – what might be called our horizontal relationship – is important to God. He wants us to do righteousness and justice in this world.

b. Is more acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice: Animal sacrifice was a way to walk in right relationship with God – what might be called our vertical relationship. God here says that how we treat others is more important than how we perform religious ceremonies such as sacrifice. This was the truth missed by the priest and the Levite in Jesus’s story of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:30-36).

Proverbs 21:4

A haughty look, a proud heart,
And the plowing of the wicked are sin.

a. A haughty look, a proud heart: Often a proud heart is displayed through a haughty look. There is no shortage of either among humanity.

i. “This sin assumes so many different forms that until God’s Spirit reveals a man to himself, he does not think it applies to him. Indeed, he manages to be proud of his pride!” (Bridges)

b. And the plowing of the wicked are sin: These three things – the look, the heart, and the plowing of the wicked are each called sin. Even the hard work (plowing) of the wicked can be regarded as sin before God because they often use the benefit of their hard work for an evil purpose.

i. Plowing: “The prosperity and posterity of the wicked; is sin-it is evil in the seed, and evil in the root, evil in the branch, and evil in the fruit. They are full of sin themselves, and what they do is sinful.” (Clarke)

ii. “This figure indicates that the product of the wicked is sin.” (Ross)

iii. Derek Kidner agreed with some other translations that have lamp here instead of plowing. “Plowing…should almost certainly be lamp.”

Proverbs 21:5

The plans of the diligent lead surely to plenty,
But those of everyone who is hasty, surely to poverty.

a. The plans of the diligent lead surely to plenty: When good planning is combined with diligent work there will be a harvest of plenty.

b. But those of everyone who is hasty, surely to poverty: The one who wants to avoid work, find shortcuts, and cut corners will find failure instead of plenty. Their path leads surely to poverty.

i. Everyone who is hasty: “Elsewhere the diligent person stands over against the lethargic sluggard (Proverbs 10:4; 12:24, 27; 13:4), but here he stands opposed to the rash and imprudent. The lazy are defective in action; the hasty, in thought.” (Waltke)

Proverbs 21:6

Getting treasures by a lying tongue
Is the fleeting fantasy of those who seek death.

a. Getting treasures by a lying tongue: There are some who hope to talk their way into money, and to do it with a lying tongue. They plan deals and make promises that aren’t honest, hoping it can bring them treasures.

i. Treasures by a lying tongue: “As do seducers, sycophants, flatterers, corrupt judges, that say with shame, ‘Give ye’; mercenary pleaders, that sell both their tongues and silence, and help their clients’ causes.” (Trapp)

b. Is the fleeting fantasy of those who seek death: The hope of great treasure through lying words is a dream of those who are on the path to destruction. They hope to find great treasures with little work and put their trust in fleeting fantasy instead of in God.

i. “The point of the verse, then, is that ill-gotten gain is a fleeting pleasure and a crime for which punishment is prepared.” (Ross)

ii. Those who seek death: “Instead of procuring the fortune and life they hoped for, deceivers find that they were actually seeking death and so lose everything.” (Waltke)

Proverbs 21:7

The violence of the wicked will destroy them,
Because they refuse to do justice.

a. The violence of the wicked will destroy them: The wicked often love violence and use it for their gain. This does not please God, and God allows such people to reap what they have sown.

i. “Judas was eager to rid himself of his ill-gotten treasure, as it became an intolerable curse. But he was unable to run away from his conscience, which tortured him.” (Bridges)

b. Because they refuse to do justice: It isn’t only what the wicked do; it is also what they do not do. What they do is violence; what they refuse to do is justice. God cares about both what they do and don’t do, and will pass judgment over both.

Proverbs 21:8

The way of a guilty man is perverse;
But as for the pure, his work is right.

a. The way of a guilty man is perverse: Every life is on a way, and some people walk a way that is twisted and perverse. Those who walk this crooked way are guilty before God.

b. As for the pure, his work is right: The crooked way belongs to the guilty man, but right work belongs to the pure man. The path we walk will display who we are.

Proverbs 21:9

Better to dwell in a corner of a housetop,
Than in a house shared with a contentious woman.

a. Better to dwell in the corner of a housetop: The corner of a housetop is not a great place to live. It is small, confined, and exposed to the elements because it is on the roof. Yet in some circumstances, the corner of a housetop is a better place to live.

i. “The roof of the house, which in those countries was flat and plain, and habitable, but was exposed to all the injuries of the weather.” (Poole)

ii. “A man had better abide abroad, sub dio, under the sun exposed to wind and weather, yea, to crowd into a corner, and to live in a little ease, than to cohabit in a convenient house with a contentious woman, that is ever brawling and brangling.” (Trapp)

b. Than in a house shared with a contentious woman: To have the whole house but live in constant conflict with a contentious woman is misery. The same principle would be true of the contentious man. One would be better off in a more humble living situation and have peace in the home.

i. A contentious woman: “Also ‘woman’ is ambiguous for it could refer to other women in the household, mother, grandmother, mother-in-law, daughter (cf. Proverbs 11:16, 22), but the wife (Proverbs 12:4; 19:13-14) is more probably intended, as Proverbs 18:22 validates.” (Waltke)

Proverbs 21:10

The soul of the wicked desires evil;
His neighbor finds no favor in his eyes.

a. The soul of the wicked desires evil: When a wicked man or woman does evil, it is because their soul…desires it. Their inward corruption is expressed through their desires.

i. “An important truth about depravity: men can sin not merely from weakness but eagerly and ruthlessly.” (Kidner)

ii. “Here is a graphic picture of Satan himself! He not only does evil – he craves evil. Here we see that evil is natural to the wicked, for it is in their nature.” (Bridges)

b. His neighbor finds no favor in his eyes: The evil that marks the wicked is expressed in their inability to get along with a neighbor. They look upon everyone else with no favor in their eyes. We should be careful of those who can’t get along with other people.

Proverbs 21:11

When the scoffer is punished, the simple is made wise;
But when the wise is instructed, he receives knowledge.

a. When the scoffer is punished, the simple is made wise: There are degrees of fools and their foolishness. A scoffer is hardened in their rejection of wisdom, while the simple is more naïve and inexperienced. A simple man or woman can learn wisdom when they see the scoffer is punished.

b. When the wise is instructed, he receives knowledge: Wise men and women don’t need to learn everything through their own misery or the misery of other people. The wise can learn as they are instructed.

i. “The simple learn wisdom, both from the punishment of wicked men, and from the prosperity of good men.” (Poole)

Proverbs 21:12

The righteous God wisely considers the house of the wicked,
Overthrowing the wicked for their wickedness.

a. The righteous God wisely considers the house of the wicked: The LORD is a righteous God, and what happens in the house of the wicked does not escape His sight. He sees it and wisely considers it. God considers the house of the wicked with perfect wisdom and justice.

i. Considers the house of the wicked: “He foreseeth its fearful fall, and is not offended at their present prosperity; for God, he knows, will shortly overturn it. This consideration cures him of the fret, as it did David [Psalms 37:1-2]…. The destruction of others should be an instruction to us.” (Trapp)

b. Overthrowing the wicked for their wickedness: The wicked are judged for their wickedness. Whatever judgment they receive fits their actions.

Proverbs 21:13

Whoever shuts his ears to the cry of the poor
Will also cry himself and not be heard.

a. Whoever shuts his ears to the cry of the poor: Though many proverbs tell of poverty caused by bad conduct, other proverbs express God’s compassion towards the poor. God cares about the poor and He commands us to have a compassionate heart towards them.

b. Will also cry himself and not be heard: We will reap what we have sown. It will be measured to us as we have measured to others. If we are silent to those in need, God may arrange it so we will not be heard in our time of need.

i. “See the conduct of the priest and Levite to the man who fell among thieves; and let every man learn from this, that he who shuts his ear against the cry of the poor, shall have the ear of God shut against his cry. The words are quite plain; there is no difficulty here.” (Clarke)

Proverbs 21:14

A gift in secret pacifies anger,
And a bribe behind the back, strong wrath.

a. A gift in secret pacifies anger: This is among the proverbs that speak honestly about the effectiveness of a gift or a bribe. The secret nature of this gift shows that it isn’t entirely proper, yet it may work to calm anger in an official or leader.

i. “I conceive the wise man’s drift here is to show how prevalent gifts are, if closely conveyed especially – which takes away the shame of open receiving – and what a pave they have to an amicable reconciliation. Thus Jacob pacified Esau; Abigail, David; Hezekiah, the Assyrian that came up against him. [2 Kings 18:24-25].” (Trapp)

b. A bribe behind the back, strong wrath: Again, the secret nature of the gift or bribe is indicated. Though morally questionable, it may work with the corrupt leader or official.

i. “The verse does not condemn or condone; it merely observes the effectiveness of the practice.” (Ross)

Proverbs 21:15

It is a joy for the just to do justice,
But destruction will come to the workers of iniquity.

a. It is a joy for the just to do justice: When a person is just (righteous, godly) in the inner man or woman, it gives them joy to do justice. Their good works flow out of who they are. For us to really walk in the way God wants us to walk, we need to be transformed on the inside.

b. Destruction will come to the workers of iniquity: Those who work iniquity also show what is in their heart, and it should make them tremble under the judgment of God. Instead of the joy of the just, they will experience destruction.

i. Workers of iniquity: “Wicked men are great workmen; they put themselves to no small pains in ‘catering for the flesh to fulfil the lusts thereof’; yea, and this they do with singular delight.” (Trapp)

Proverbs 21:16

A man who wanders from the way of understanding
Will rest in the assembly of the dead.

a. A man who wanders from the way of understanding: There are two paths or ways a man or woman can walk. It is dangerous to begin on the way of understanding but not to continue on it. To some extent, this became tragically true of Solomon, the author of Proverbs (1 Kings 11:1-11). The departure from the way of understanding doesn’t have to be calculated and deliberate; it may feel like wandering.

i. “As every motion has an end, so every journey has a goal.” (Waltke)

b. Will rest in the assembly of the dead: If one wanders from the way of understanding, they may well end up in the assembly of the dead. The path we walk on – and remain on – matters everything.

Proverbs 21:17

He who loves pleasure will be a poor man;
He who loves wine and oil will not be rich.

a. He who loves pleasure will be a poor man: To find success and prosperity, there must be a measure of discipline and self-denial. The person who loves pleasure lacks this discipline and self-denial and often ends up a poor man.

b. He who loves wine and oil will not be rich: In this proverb wine and oil represent the luxuries of life. There is an appropriate way to enjoy wine and oil without setting one’s heart on them; but if these are loved beyond proper measure, it is a pathway to poverty (will not be rich).

i. “The ‘love’ that is here portrayed must be excessive or uncontrolled, because it brings one to poverty. Perhaps other responsibilities are being neglected or the people are trying to live above their means.” (Ross)

Proverbs 21:18

The wicked shall be a ransom for the righteous,
And the unfaithful for the upright.

a. The wicked shall be a ransom for the righteous: This is a way of saying that the righteous will ultimately succeed and will triumph over the wicked.

i. A ransom: “The metaphor should not be pushed to walk on all fours by asking to whom the ransom is paid.” (Waltke)

ii. “God often in his judgments cuts off the wicked, in order to prevent them from destroying the righteous. And in general, we find that the wicked fall into the traps and pits they have digged for the righteous.” (Clarke)

b. And the unfaithful for the upright: God promises that in the end, all His righteous and upright will be lifted above the wicked and the unfaithful.

Proverbs 21:19

Better to dwell in the wilderness,
Than with a contentious and angry woman.

a. Better to dwell in the wilderness: In a previous proverb (Proverbs 21:9) it was thought better to live in the corner of a rooftop than with a contentious woman. This proverb removes the man from the house entirely and sets his better place in the wilderness.

b. Than with a contentious and angry woman: Proverbs 21:9 spoke of the contentious woman; this proverb adds the idea of anger to the picture and sets the unfortunate man even further from the house (in the wilderness). This shows the great value of peace and happiness in the home.

i. “Yet much prayer and forbearance are required to avoid being upset by every trifle. This will keep us from being irritated needlessly. We must also bear in mind that we have divine support for all our heavy crosses. We also look forward with intense longing for the home of everlasting peace.” (Bridges)

Proverbs 21:20

There is desirable treasure,
And oil in the dwelling of the wise,
But a foolish man squanders it.

a. There is a desirable treasure, and oil in the dwelling of the wise: The wise man or woman lives a life blessed by God, and sometimes that blessing is shown in material things. They may have desirable treasure and good oil in their home.

b. But a foolish man squanders it: The foolish man would have trouble gaining what the wise man or woman has. He doesn’t have the character of life or blessing of God that leads to prosperity. Yet even if he were to gain it, it would not last. His foolish nature dominates as he squanders it.

i. “The verse basically means that the wise gain wealth but the foolish squander it.” (Ross)

Proverbs 21:21

He who follows righteousness and mercy
Finds life, righteousness, and honor.

a. He who follows righteousness and mercy: Each life is on a path, and here the path is righteousness and mercy. This is the path of wisdom, God’s path for those who will listen and surrender to Him.

b. Finds life, righteousness, and honor: The path of righteousness and mercy isn’t easy and is often opposed and mocked. Yet it is rewarded, and rewarded richly with life, righteousness, and honor. The wise path is worth it.

Proverbs 21:22

A wise man scales the city of the mighty,
And brings down the trusted stronghold.

a. A wise man scales the city of the mighty: The walls of a city are difficult obstacles, especially the city of the mighty. Yet with wisdom one can overcome such obstacles. The wise man can accomplish things impossible for others.

i. “It is more effective to use wisdom than to rely on strength.” (Ross)

b. Brings down the trusted stronghold: Because the wise man enjoys the blessing and guidance of God, he can defeat obstacles as difficult as a trusted stronghold. This is true in military and practical life; wisdom and ingenuity have won many battles and destroyed many strongholds. It is also true in spiritual life. Cities and strongholds that stand against the progress of the believer can be broken down with the wisdom and power of God.

i. “The truth that wisdom may succeed where brute force fails (cf. Proverbs 24:5-6), has many applications, not least to spiritual warfare.” (Kidner)

ii. “So spiritual wisdom, a direct gift from God, overcomes formidable difficulties. Let us be like soldiers who are strong in the Lord and put on all of God’s armor (Ephesians 6:10). The victory is assured. The stronghold will be pulled down.” (Bridges)

Proverbs 21:23

Whoever guards his mouth and tongue
Keeps his soul from troubles.

a. Whoever guards his mouth and tongue: What we say is important, and some of the instruments of speech are the mouth and tongue. It is good to guard what we say and not to speak everything that comes to mind.

b. Keeps his soul from troubles: Unguarded words can bring a lot of trouble. Having the wisdom to guard the mouth and tongue will keep us from many troubles.

Proverbs 21:24

A proud and haughty man—“Scoffer” is his name;
He acts with arrogant pride.

a. A proud and haughty man: Of the many types of fools, the scoffer is one of the worst. He is known to be proud and haughty, thinking himself better than others and even better than God.

b. He acts with arrogant pride: The proud and haughty man will be known by his actions. His life will be marked with great pride, arrogant pride.

i. “To say the proud act with pride is not tautology (a logical problem), but a rhetorical means of intensification, as in ‘boys will be boys.’ The proverb does not aim as much to define the mocker as to explain that his fury against God and humanity stems from his exaggerated opinion of his self-importance.” (Waltke)

ii. “This is a vivid picture of Pharaoh, who in a proud and arrogant way asked who the Lord was that he should obey him (Exodus 5:2).” (Bridges)

Proverbs 21:25

The desire of the lazy man kills him,
For his hands refuse to labor.

a. The desire of the lazy man kills him: The lazy man has desire; he just doesn’t have the initiative or the energy to fulfill it. His life of unfulfilled desire is unsatisfying and feels as if it kills him. This is a death to self, but not in the good and blessed way described by Jesus for His disciples (Matthew 10:38, Luke 9:23).

i. John Trapp explained that mere desire wasn’t enough. “Balaam wished well to heaven; so did the young Pharisee in the gospel, that came to Christ hastily, but went away heavily. Herod for a long time desired to see Christ, but never stirred out of doors to see him. Pilate asked Christ, What is truth? but never stayed his answer.”

b. For his hands refuse to labor: Having the desire for good and blessing and prosperity, but not the desire to work, the lazy man lives a life of constant frustration and disappointment. He does not know the satisfaction of earned achievement.

i. “Living in a world of wishful thinking and not working will bring ruin…the verse teaches that doing rather than desiring brings success.” (Ross)

Proverbs 21:26

He covets greedily all day long,
But the righteous gives and does not spare.

a. He covets greedily all day long: The reference is likely to the lazy man of the previous proverb. With his desire, that lazy man covets greedily, and he does it all day long – yet the desire is unfulfilled because he does not work towards it.

b. The righteous gives and does not spare: The lazy man experiences constant disappointment, but the righteous man – who, by implication, works hard – he has so much that he gives and does not spare. He is so blessed that he has enough for himself and to give generously.

Proverbs 21:27

The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination;
How much more when he brings it with wicked intent!

a. The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination: God said, to obey is better than sacrifice (1 Samuel 15:22). Religious ceremonies do not cover over a wicked life, and God may regard those religious ceremonies as an abomination.

i. “I have read of one that would haunt the taverns, theatres, and whore houses at London all day; but he durst not go forth without private prayer in the morning, and then would say at his departure, Now devil do thy worst. The Circassians are said to divide their life between rapine and repentance.” (Trapp)

b. How much more when he brings it with wicked intent: The religious ceremonies of the wicked are bad enough; they are even worse when made with wicked intent. When a sacrifice is offered, the priest or observers may not be able to see wicked intent, but God certainly can.

i. With wicked intent: “It is abominable for any man who is living wrongly to make an offering to God in the way of worship. That abomination becomes worse when the offering of the wicked comes from an ulterior motive. For a wicked man to give for his own pleasure is an evil thing; but if he hopes by his gift to win some spiritual favor while he continues in sin, that is a still deeper evil.” (Morgan)

Proverbs 21:28

A false witness shall perish,
But the man who hears him will speak endlessly.

a. A false witness shall perish: God is against all liars, but a false witness is a special type of liar. The primary idea is of one who lies in court, such as those who gave false witness at the trial of Jesus (Matthew 26:60).

b. The man who hears him will speak endlessly: The second like of this proverb has in mind another kind of injustice in the court – the judge or lawyer in the court who hears the false witness and may speak endlessly about the matter without ever coming to a just and fair verdict.

Proverbs 21:29

A wicked man hardens his face,
But as for the upright, he establishes his way.

a. A wicked man hardens his face: One characteristic of the wicked is that they may be unsympathetic to others. Their face is hard and unfriendly to others, especially towards those in need.

i. Hardens his face: “He thinks to make good one lie by another; to outface the truth, to overbear it with a bold countenance. It seems to be a metaphor from a traveller that sets his face against the wind and weather, and holds on his journey, though he be taking long strides towards destruction.” (Trapp)

ii. “Here a bold front, which has no shame and does not blush in the presence of sin, is a dreadful manifestation of a hardened heart. Cain stood boldly in God’s presence while his hands dripped with his brother’s blood. The traitor had the effrontery to kiss the sacred cheeks of our Lord. What a bold front these evil men had!” (Bridges)

b. As for the upright, he establishes his way: The upright man or woman does not face the same self-made obstacles the wicked man faces. His way is established and made sure.

i. “Kidner summarizes the verse to say that a bold front is no substitute for sound principles.” (Ross)

Proverbs 21:30

There is no wisdom or understanding
Or counsel against the LORD.

a. There is no wisdom or understanding or counsel against the LORD: To fight against God is to fight a losing battle. One can never succeed against the sovereign of the universe.

i. This means, God wins and ultimately all His purposes will be accomplished. “Oftentimes as we have watched, we have trembled; so subtle, so clever, so cunning are the ways of this underworld of antagonism to Jehovah. Yet look again. Just as persistent in human history, the futility, the feebleness, the failure of this antagonism has been manifested.” (Morgan)

ii. “Therefore it is true, full and finally, that ‘There is no wisdom nor understanding nor counsel against Jehovah.’ And thus it becomes true that, ‘To them that love God, all things work together for good.’ Here, then, is the place of our rest; here is the secret of our confidence; here is the inspiration of songs in the darkest night.” (Morgan)

b. Wisdom or understanding or counsel: These are three similar terms used to express wisdom and right knowledge. God is the God of all wisdom and understanding and counsel, so those things are always for Him and never against the LORD.

i. “The proverb drives home the vast and unbridgeable gulf between the best of human wisdom and the Lord’s sovereignty.” (Waltke)

Proverbs 21:31

The horse is prepared for the day of battle,
But deliverance is of the LORD.

a. The horse is prepared for the day of battle: In the days these proverbs were written, the effective use of the horse in the war could be overwhelming against the enemy. These horses had to be trained; it was wise to prepare the horse for the day of battle.

b. But deliverance is of the LORD: Though it is wise to make the best preparations for battle, ultimately one should not trust in horses or preparation, but in God Himself. Deliverance is of the LORD, not only of horses and preparation.

i. “We often give the credit of a victory to man, when they who consider the circumstances see that it came from God.” (Clarke)

ii. “He gives it to which side he pleaseth, as he did to the Israelites in the conquest of Canaan, though they had no horses to help them, as their adversaries had, and chariots too, both Egyptians and Canaanites.” (Trapp)

iii. “Use the means, but do not idolize them. Those who put their trust in them will fall. Those who remember that their safety is in the Lord will stand upright. When it comes to spiritual warfare, it is even more important to exercise active faith and dependence on God.” (Bridges)

Proverbs 20

August 8, 2017/in Old Testament, Proverbs/by David Guzik

Proverbs 20 – Wisdom, Weights, and Wickedness

Proverbs 20:1

Wine is a mocker,
Strong drink is a brawler,
And whoever is led astray by it is not wise.

a. Wine is a mocker, strong drink is a brawler: This is true in at least two senses. First, alcohol mocks and fights with those who abuse it in any sense. Second, alcohol leads one to be a mocker and a brawler. Many men and women have had their lives dominated by the mockery and brawling of alcohol.

i. “It mocks the drunkard, and makes a fool of him, promising him pleasure, but paying him with the stinging of an adder, and biting of a cockatrice, Proverbs 23:32.” (Trapp)

ii. A mocker: “It deceives by its fragrance, intoxicates by its strength, and renders the intoxicated ridiculous.” (Clarke)

iii. Trapp defined strong drink: “All kinds of drink that will alienate the understanding of a man and make him drunk, as ale, beer, cider.”

b. Whoever is led astray by it is not wise: Wisdom is displayed by the ability to not be led astray by alcohol. For many, this means not drinking alcohol at all (especially pastors and church leaders). For others, this will mean the decided, evident moderation in their use of alcohol.

i. Led astray: “So mighty is the spell that the overcome slave consents to be mocked again and again.” (Bridges)

ii. Is not wise: “For when the wine is in the wit is out. They have a practice of drinking the Outs, as they call it – all the wit out of the head, all the money out of the purse.” (Trapp)

iii. “Moreover, given the ease with which one may make a habit of this, it is wise to avoid alcohol entirely. In the Old Testament the use of alcohol was not prohibited; in fact, it was regularly used at festivals and celebrations. But intoxication was considered out of bounds for a member of the covenant community (see Proverbs 23:20-21, 29-35; 31:4-7).” (Ross)

iv. “These two aspects of wine, its use and its abuse, its benefits and its curse, its acceptance in God’s sight and its abhorrence, are interwoven into the fabric of the Old Testament so that it may gladden the heart of man (Psalm 104:15) or cause his mind to error (Isaiah 28:7), it can be associated with merriment (Ecclesiastes 10:19) or with anger (Isaiah 5:11), it can be used to uncover the shame of Noah (Genesis 9:21) or in the hands of Melchizedek to honor Abraham (Genesis 14:18).” (Fitzsimmonds, cited in Waltke)

Proverbs 20:2

The wrath of a king is like the roaring of a lion;
Whoever provokes him to anger sins against his own life.

a. The wrath of a king is like the roaring of a lion: Using an image from a previous proverb (Proverbs 19:12), this proverb reminds us that those in power and leadership have potential for a great and fearful exercise of wrath.

b. Whoever provokes him to anger sins against his own life: Since in many ways the king held the power of life and death over his subjects, to provoke the king to anger was to endanger one’s own life. Knowing this principle should make us more reverent to the King of Kings, and happy that our King of Kings is rich in mercy and slow to anger (Psalm 103:8, 145:8).

Proverbs 20:3

It is honorable for a man to stop striving,
Since any fool can start a quarrel.

a. It is honorable for a man to stop striving: Many men feel that honor drives them to dispute and fight with others. This proverb reminds us that often times it is even more honorable for a man to stop striving.

i. “To stint it rather than to stir it; to be first in promoting peace and seeking reconciliation, as Abraham did in the controversy with Lot.” (Trapp)

b. Since any fool can start a quarrel: In many circumstances, it takes a man of honor to stop the fight, but any fool can start the quarrel and continue it.

i. “The wise are more concerned to bring peace than a desire to be right, but the fool cannot restrain himself and at the first opportunity explodes and shows his teeth.” (Waltke)

Proverbs 20:4

The lazy man will not plow because of winter;
He will beg during harvest and have nothing.

a. The lazy man will not plow because of winter: The lazy man always finds some excuse not to do his work. It is always too early or too late in the season to begin. It is always winter, and the ground is too hard for plowing. Any excuse will work when the heart is set on not working.

i. “Winter designates the Palestinian raining season from mid-October to April…. Since no sowing could have been done without plowing, the farmer waited for the first autumn rains to soften the ground. The sluggard, however, lacks the industry to plow from winter on, the only time that matters.” (Waltke)

ii. “The right time for planting was the rainy season (see Genesis 8:22). It was cold, wet, and unpleasant. Perhaps such discomfort was his excuse.” (Ross)

iii. “Suppose it were not cold; do’ you know what he would say? ‘Oh, it is so hot! I cannot plough; the perspiration runs down my cheeks. You wouldn’t have me ploughing this hot weather, would you?’ Supposing it were neither hot nor cold, why, then he would say, I believe, that it rained; and if it didn’t rain, he would say the ground was too dry, for a bad excuse, he holds, is better than none; and therefore he will keep on making excuses to the end of the chapter; anything will he do rather than go and do the work he does not like – that is, ploughing.” (Spurgeon)

b. He will beg during harvest and have nothing: The lazy man will work, after a fashion – he will do the work of begging. Having no reward from the work of his hands, he will even have to beg during harvest. Often his begging will go unrewarded (have nothing).

Proverbs 20:5

Counsel in the heart of man is like deep water,
But a man of understanding will draw it out.

a. Counsel in the heart of man is like deep water: Wisdom may lie deep within a man or woman, and not be immediately apparent. It may be a hidden reservoir, ready in the season of need.

i. “The metaphor is of a well whose waters are far beneath the surface of the ground so that one must use a bucket with a long rope to draw water to the surface. Thus a person’s real motives are ‘deep’ in that they are difficult to extract; one must be wary of the pretenses of others.” (Garrett)

b. A man of understanding will draw it out: Wisdom not only knows how to get and have wisdom; it also knows how to use it. The wise man – the man of understanding – knows how to draw wisdom out for practical and ready use.

i. Will draw it out: “By prudent questions and discourses, and a diligent observation of his words and actions.” (Poole)

ii. “Those who are wise can discern the motives of the heart.” (Ross)

Proverbs 20:6

Most men will proclaim each his own goodness,
But who can find a faithful man?

a. Most men will proclaim each his own goodness: It is true that most everyone feels they are good in their own eyes. Many are happy to proclaim it, wanting others to know all their supposed goodness.

b. Who can find a faithful man? True faithfulness in a man is different than self-advertised goodness. A faithful man doesn’t want or need to proclaim his own goodness. The quiet satisfaction of faithfulness to God and man is enough.

i. “The paucity of pious persons makes them precious.” (Trapp)

ii. “Look at yourself in the mirror of God’s Word. Does your neighbor or your friend find that you are a faithful friend? Do you often speak what you know will be accepted rather than what is true? Never underrate the importance of moral integrity.” (Bridges)

Proverbs 20:7

The righteous man walks in his integrity;
His children are blessed after him.

a. The righteous man walks in his integrity: For a righteous man or woman, their upright living and integrity will be actually lived out. They will walk in their integrity.

b. His children are blessed after him: The greatest gift a parent can give to a child is for that parent to be a righteous, upright person who walks in his integrity. That one will create a home and atmosphere that will be a blessing to the child.

i. “It answers the temptation to ‘get on’ at all costs ‘for the children’s sake’.” (Kidner)

Proverbs 20:8

A king who sits on the throne of judgment
Scatters all evil with his eyes.

a. A king who sits on the throne of judgment: In the ancient world kings did not only govern, they were also the highest court and judge in their kingdom. A faithful king would carry out this responsibility and sit on his throne of judgment.

i. “That makes it his great care and business to execute judgment and justice among his people, especially if he do this in his own person, as was usual in ancient times, and sees things with his own eyes.” (Poole)

ii. “Righteousness at the top was necessary to undergird the whole judicial system.” (Waltke)

b. Scatters all evil with his eyes: The presence alone of a king in judgment over his realm is enough to scatter all evil. When a people know that evil will be punished by godly and just leadership, it makes evil scatter.

i. “Certainly the principle stands that a just government roots out the evils of society.” (Ross)

ii. “The practised eye of a true ruler sifts the chaff from the wheat; still surer is the Spirit of the Lord: Isaiah 11:3; 1 Corinthians 2:15.” (Kidner)

Proverbs 20:9

Who can say, “I have made my heart clean,
I am pure from my sin”?

a. Who can say: It is part of human nature to overestimate and boast over one’s self. Many can say what this proverb says, but none with real humility and integrity.

i. “No man living upon earth can say this truly and sincerely. Compare 1 Kings 8:46; Job 14:4, 15:14; Ecclesiastes 7:20; 1 John 1:8. I am pure from my sin; I am perfectly free from all guilt and filth of sin in my heart and life.” (Poole)

ii. “This is the eternal challenge which has but one answer. When a man recognizes this he begins to inquire for a Saviour.” (Morgan)

b. I have made my heart clean, I am pure from sin: If meant in any ultimate sense, this is the boast or the claim of a fool. Sometimes there are claims to a clean heart or purity from sin by godly men in the Bible, but those are only true in a relative sense, such as the comparison between one’s self and one’s enemies.

i. “Only vain people can boast that they have pure hearts. But the boast, far from showing their goodness, demonstrates their blindness. Man is so depraved that he cannot understand his own depravity.” (Bridges)

ii. “No man. But thousands can testify that the blood of Jesus Christ has cleansed them from all unrighteousness. And he is pure from his sin, who is justified freely through the redemption that is in Jesus.” (Clarke)

Proverbs 20:10

Diverse weights and diverse measures,
They are both alike, an abomination to the LORD.

a. Diverse weights and diverse measures: God wants business and trading to be done fairly and justly. To have diverse weights and measures means that you will cheat both the buyer and the seller. God wants our weights and measures to be proper and consistent.

b. They are both alike, an abomination to the LORD: God feels so strongly about deceptive business practices that He used the strong word abomination to describe them. God Himself has fair weights and measures; He expects humanity made in His image to have them also.

i. “Traders used the scanty weights and measures for selling and the large ones for buying. Significantly, all the proverbs that denounce false scales and measures explicitly link the Lord’s name in the abomination formula with them (Proverbs 11:1; 20:10, 23).” (Waltke)

Proverbs 20:11

Even a child is known by his deeds,
Whether what he does is pure and right.

a. Even a child is known by his deeds: Especially in the realm of religion and faith, it is easy for us to think of ourselves only by what we believe, instead of also by what we do. We are more than what we do, but even a child is known by his deeds. We shouldn’t deny that others see and understand us by the measure of our deeds.

i. “We may easily learn from the child what the man will be. In general, they give indications of those trades and callings for which they are adapted by nature. And, on the whole, we cannot go by a surer guide in preparing our children for future life, than by observing their early propensities. The future engineer is seen in the little handicraftsman of two years old.” (Clarke)

b. Whether what he does is pure and right: The outside world, our own community, and God in heaven look at our deeds to see if they are pure and right.

i. “Certainly no child who says, ‘I am well behaved’ will find his or her words taken at face value. People will evaluate the child by how he or she behaves. The implication is that appearances and words can be deceiving; behavior is a better criterion of judgment.” (Garrett)

Proverbs 20:12

The hearing ear and the seeing eye,
The LORD has made them both.

a. The hearing ear and the seeing eye: God has given men and women remarkable capacity to see and understand the world around them. Our ability to hear and see should be for us gateways to wisdom.

i. “Listening and observing are important qualities of a good disciple and the sage regularly calls upon him to use them to read and hear his teaching.” (Waltke)

b. The LORD has made them both: Since our hearing and our sight are gifts from God, we should determine to use them for His honor and glory. It also reminds us that we can hear and see because we are made in God’s image; the LORD has a hearing ear and a seeing eye.

i. “Since God made the eyes and ears, he is the infallible judge. No one can deceive him with appearances.” (Garrett)

Proverbs 20:13

Do not love sleep, lest you come to poverty;
Open your eyes, and you will be satisfied with bread.

a. Do not love sleep, lest you come to poverty: To love sleep and the laziness connected to it is to bring one’s self to poverty.

i. “Immoderate sleep, or sloth, or idleness. Take sleep because necessity requires it, not from any love to it.” (Poole)

ii. “The number of hours one sleeps per day is not the point here. Love of sleep refers to laziness, but one can be lazy although sleeping very little.” (Garrett)

b. Open your eyes, and you will be satisfied with bread: It takes some initiative and energy to open your eyes, to get out of bed and get to work. But the reward is worth it; you will avoid poverty and you will be satisfied with bread. In God’s economic system, hard work is rewarded.

Proverbs 20:14

“It is good for nothing,” cries the buyer;
But when he has gone his way, then he boasts.

a. It is good for nothing: This is what the buyer cries out. In the game and competition of bargaining, the buyer always wants to speak less of what he wants to buy, hoping to get a better price from the seller.

i. “This may simply reflect normal procedure in a world where haggling for prices was common, but it may also be a warning to the inexperienced on how things are done.” (Ross)

b. When he has gone his way, then he boasts: The bargaining words of the buyer are empty. They are only a strategy for negotiation. This proverb reminds us that what people say isn’t always what they believe, and people will speak falsehood for their own advantage.

i. “How apt are men to decry the goods they wish to purchase, in order that they may get them at a cheaper rate; and, when they have made their bargain and carried it off, boast to others at how much less than its value they have obtained it! Are such honest men?” (Clarke)

Proverbs 20:15

There is gold and a multitude of rubies,
But the lips of knowledge are a precious jewel.

a. There is gold and a multitude of rubies: Solomon presents the picture of a large pile of gold and precious stones. We think of this pile and are impressed at its value.

b. But the lips of knowledge are a precious jewel: Now Solomon presented another treasure, the precious jewel of wise words (lips of knowledge). We immediately see the value of the pile of gold and rubies, but we need to better appreciate the value of wise words.

Proverbs 20:16

Take the garment of one who is surety for a stranger,
And hold it as a pledge when it is for a seductress.

a. Take the garment of one who is surety for a stranger: Exodus 22:26-27 says an Israelite could take someone’s outer garment as a deposit or a guarantee for a loan as long as they returned it each evening, so it could be used as a night covering or blanket. Solomon’s advice here is that if you loan to someone who has already foolishly agreed to be surety for a stranger, make sure you get the deposit or guarantee. If they were foolish enough to be surety for a stranger, they should be regarded as a credit risk.

i. “Take his garment means: ‘Don’t lend to him without security (Exodus 22:26); he is a bad risk!’” (Kidner)

ii. “People should be held to their obligations. Two synonymous lines teach that a person who foolishly becomes responsible for another person’s debts should be made to keep his word. Taking the garment was the way of holding someone responsible to pay debts.” (Ross)

b. Hold it as a pledge when it is for a seductress: Most translations favor stranger or foreigner instead of seductress. The idea seems to focus on someone outside the covenant community. One should demand more security for a loan to someone outside one’s knowledge and reference.

i. “The parallelism suggests ‘strangers’ is the correct reading, although theories have been presented with regard to the idea of the wayward woman.” (Ross)

ii. “Rather, the proverb emphasizes the stupidity of risking one’s life to an unknown creditor by becoming security for stranger.” (Waltke)

Proverbs 20:17

Bread gained by deceit is sweet to a man,
But afterward his mouth will be filled with gravel.

a. Bread gained by deceit is sweet to a man: Sin and transgression have their attraction. There is something in the nature of rebellion that can make bread gained by deceit even sweeter. It satisfied our desire to rebel, our desire for adventure, and our love of forbidden thrills. We might imagine that the forbidden fruit of Eden was delicious.

i. “Such a bitter-sweet was Adam’s apple, Esau’s mess, the Israelites’ quails, Jonathan’s honey, the Amalekites’ cakes after the sack of Ziklag, [1 Samuel 30:16] Adonijah’s dainties, [1 Kings 1:9] which ended in horror; ever after the meal is ended, comes the reckoning.” (Trapp)

b. Afterward his mouth will be filled with gravel: The sweetness of forbidden bread (or fruit) is short-lived. There is nothing sweet or pleasant about a mouth filled with gravel. If we really desire pleasure in a lasting, ultimate sense, then obedience is the pathway to it (Psalm 16:11).

i. Filled with gravel: “It shall be bitter and pernicious at last, like gritty bread, which offends the teeth and stomach. It will certainly bring upon him the horrors of a guilty conscience, and the wrath and judgments of the Almighty God.” (Poole)

Proverbs 20:18

Plans are established by counsel;
By wise counsel wage war.

a. Plans are established by counsel: There is help and wisdom in realizing our own limitations and seeking counsel. This often leads to our plans being established in the sense of coming to fulfillment.

b. By wise counsel wage war: This shows that wise counsel is even more important when great matters are involved – life and death matters, such as war. By spiritual analogy, we wage the spiritual warfare we must fight as believers with the wise counsel of God’s word and other believers (Ephesians 6:10-18).

i. By wise counsel: “This is necessary in every common undertaking, and much more in a thing of such high importance as war is.” (Poole)

ii. By wise counsel wage war: “Perhaps there is not a precept in this whole book so little regarded as this. Most of the wars that are undertaken are wars of injustice, ambition, aggrandizement, and caprice, which can have had no previous good counsel.” (Clarke)

Proverbs 20:19

He who goes about as a talebearer reveals secrets;
Therefore do not associate with one who flatters with his lips.

a. He who goes about as a talebearer reveals secrets: The man or woman who is a talebearer or gossip loves to reveal things that should more properly be concealed. There are certainly some things that should be revealed (Ephesians 5:11), but many things should be concealed out of love (1 Peter 4:8). Wisdom will know which approach is appropriate in each situation.

b. Therefore do not associate with one who flatters with his lips: The person who flatters with his lips will often speak against you as quickly as they speak for you. It is better to stay clear of such people (do not associate).

i. “The idea of ‘opens his lips’ is that such a one is always ready to talk; and if he is willing to talk to you about others, he will be willing to talk to others about you.” (Ross)

Proverbs 20:20

Whoever curses his father or his mother,
His lamp will be put out in deep darkness.

a. Whoever curses his father or his mother: The Bible commands us to honor our father and mother (Exodus 20:12). To curse one’s parents is to do the opposite of this command.

b. His lamp will be put out in deep darkness: God promised to bless those who keep the command to honor father and mother (Exodus 20:12, Ephesians 6:2). There is a corresponding principle that those who disobey and curse their father or mother will face the judgment of God.

Proverbs 20:21

An inheritance gained hastily at the beginning
Will not be blessed at the end.

a. An inheritance gained hastily at the beginning: When we get too much too soon, it often isn’t helpful for us. So, a large inheritance that comes hastily and towards the beginning of our life is a dangerous blessing.

i. “Gotten by speculation; by lucky hits; not in the fair progressive way of traffic, in which money has its natural increase. All such inheritances are short-lived; God’s blessing is not in them, because they are not the produce of industry; and they lead to idleness, pride, fraud, and knavery.” (Clarke)

ii. “The implication is that what is ‘quickly gained’ is either unlawful or unrighteous. The verb describes a hurried or hastened activity; perhaps a wayward son seizes the inheritance quickly (cf. Luke 15:12) or even drives out his parents (cf. Proverbs 19:26).” (Ross)

b. Will not be blessed at the end: This is often how it ends when someone gains too much, too soon, apart from their own work and initiative. When large amounts are freely received, it can work against blessing at the end.

i. “Easy money does not foster financial responsibility. The easily gained money is here not necessarily dishonestly gained, but even so, those who have amassed wealth slowly know better how to keep it.” (Garrett)

ii. “But this, as well as many other proverbs, are to be understood of the common course, although it admit of some exceptions. For sometimes merchants or others get great estates speedily by one happy voyage, or by some other prosperous event.” (Poole)

Proverbs 20:22

Do not say, “I will recompense evil”;
Wait for the LORD, and He will save you.

a. I will recompense evil: This is what the wise man or woman should not say. Wisdom and obedience to God teach us that vengeance belongs to the LORD (Romans 12:19).

i. “Vengeance belongs to God. Nobody else is fit to wield this. God is omniscient; our knowledge is at most partial. God’s judgment is perfect, while we are blinded by our prejudices and evil desires.” (Bridges)

b. Wait for the LORD, and He will save you: Wisdom teaches us to rely on God and trust in Him to recompense evil. This does not mean that wisdom is indifferent to evil and will never oppose it; it means that wisdom recognizes that there are many times – more than we think – when we should let go of any kind of recompense towards evil and wait for the LORD to save us.

Proverbs 20:23

Diverse weights are an abomination to the LORD,
And dishonest scales are not good.

a. Diverse weights are an abomination to the LORD: God is righteous in all His measurements. When He measures something in the physical or moral realm, His measurement is always true. God tells us to imitate Him in this aspect and to understand that He regards dishonest, diverse weights as an abomination.

i. “According to Proverbs 16:11 the Lord created the weighing apparatus, every deceitful practice touches him…. Life in the marketplace and religion are inseparable.” (Waltke)

b. Dishonest scales are not good: God cares that we do business honestly. The world often tells us that it doesn’t matter how we make our money, but God warns us that dishonest scales are not good.

Proverbs 20:24

A man’s steps are of the LORD;
How then can a man understand his own way?

a. A man’s steps are of the LORD: Men and women rightly make their plans, but God guides steps according to His own will and wisdom. He certainly doesn’t leave it all up to the choices and plans of men and women.

b. How then can a man understand his own way? This proverb teaches us humility in regard to our life choices and path. We should not think or act as if it were all in our control or all according to our planned steps.

Proverbs 20:25

It is a snare for a man to devote rashly something as holy,
And afterward to reconsider his vows.

a. It is a snare for a man to devote rashly something as holy: This has in mind the practice of dedicating things to God for His use alone. When it comes to promises of dedication to God, we should avoid the snare of emotional, rash promises.

i. “To pronounce a thing sacred is to dedicate it. Here, then, is an impulsive man, pledging more than he seriously intends.” (Kidner)

ii. Solomon also dealt with this matter in Ecclesiastes 5:4-7. These passages show us that a commonly overlooked and unappreciated sin among God’s people is the sin of broken vows – promising things to God and failing to live up to the vow. Those who honor God:

· Will not be quick to make vows to God.

· Will be serious about fulfilling vows made.

· Will regard broken vows as sins to be confessed and to be repented of.

b. And afterward to reconsider his vows: When a promise to God is made foolishly, it forces us to reconsider our vows – something wisdom would have protected us from to begin with.

i. “Leviticus 27 explains that Israelites could buy themselves out of rash vows—it was expensive.” (Ross)

Proverbs 20:26

A wise king sifts out the wicked,
And brings the threshing wheel over them.

a. A wise king sifts out the wicked: An earthly ruler understands how important it is to administer justice, and part of that is to carefully examine (sifts out) the wicked. If it is wise for an earthly ruler to do this, we can expect that God also does it, and does it perfectly.

b. And brings the threshing wheel over them: A wise earthly ruler not only knows how to carefully examine the wicked, but then also to bring whatever punishment is appropriate, to use what is wise and necessary to separate the evil from the good (as a threshing wheel separates the chaff from the wheat grain).

i. And brings: “He brings back (literally, ‘causes to return,’ see Proverbs 1:23) represents the wheel of the cart going over the heads of grain many times to thresh it thoroughly.” (Waltke)

Proverbs 20:27

The spirit of a man is the lamp of the LORD,
Searching all the inner depths of his heart.

a. The spirit of a man is the lamp of the LORD: There are mysteries and truths of the inner man (the spirit of a man) that only the lamp of the LORD can expose. In this respect, we can think of God’s word as a lamp and a light (Psalm 119:105).

i. Spirit: “The nesamah is that inner spiritual part of human life that was inbreathed at the Creation (Genesis 2:7) and that constitutes humans as spiritual beings with moral, intellectual, and spiritual capacities.” (Ross)

ii. “Within the mystery of the spirit-nature of every man there is light. It is the instrument of God. It illuminates life. It is that by which man is constantly kept face to face with truth. Let us make no mistake about it: the most evil men know that their works are evil.” (Morgan)

b. Searching all the inner depths of his heart: The lamp of the LORD – God’s word – can search the depths of a man’s heart like nothing else. This is because God’s word is living and active (Hebrews 4:12).

i. “Conscience has aptly been called ‘God in man.’ God brings the searching light of his lamp into the darkness.” (Bridges)

ii. “God has given to every man a mind, which he so enlightens by his own Spirit, that the man knows how to distinguish good from evil; and conscience, which springs from this, searches the inmost recesses of the soul.” (Clarke)

Proverbs 20:28

Mercy and truth preserve the king,
And by lovingkindness he upholds his throne.

a. Mercy and truth preserve the king: Any earthly king may be preserved by God’s mercy and truth shown to the king, and by the mercy and truth the king shows to others.

i. “The principle of the proverb, which is the complement of Proverbs 20:26, applies with equal force to lesser forms of authority.” (Kidner)

i. “In the Davidic covenant (cf. 2 Samuel 7:11-16) God promised not to take his covenant love (hesed) from the king (cf. Proverbs 20:15) but to make his house stable.” (Ross)

b. By lovingkindness he upholds his throne: This is hesed, the great covenant love God shows to His people and they should show to others. Men often assume that thrones are upheld by armies and raw power, but God has a better way to establish and uphold a king and his kingdom.

i. “When our queen, that stuck fast to her principles, was not more loved of her friends than feared of foes, being protected by God beyond expectation. Our King John thought to strengthen himself by gathering money, the sinews of war; but meanwhile he lost his people’s affections, those joints of peace, and came, after endless turmoils, to an unhappy end.” (Trapp)

ii. “The proverb finds its final fulfillment in Jesus Christ (see Psalm 72:1, 2, 4; Isaiah 16:4b-5).” (Waltke)

Proverbs 20:29

The glory of young men is their strength,
And the splendor of old men is their gray head.

a. The glory of young men is their strength: God has so designed human development that young men excel in physical strength, and this is a glory to them. It is wise and suitable for young men to take on tasks that fit this glory.

b. The splendor of old men is their gray head: What the old men lack in physical strength, they should make up for in wisdom that is appropriate for those who have a gray head.

i. “A proverb to lift the reader above the unfruitful attitudes of envy, impatience and contempt which the old and the young may adopt towards each other. Each age has its appointed excellence, to be respected and enjoyed in its time.” (Kidner)

ii. “Let youth and old age both beware of defacing their glory. Each takes the precedence in some things and gives way in others. Let them not, therefore, envy or despise each other’s prerogatives. The world, the state, and the church needs them both, the strength of youth for energy and the maturity of the old for wisdom.” (Bridges)

Proverbs 20:30

Blows that hurt cleanse away evil,
As do stripes the inner depths of the heart.

a. Blows that hurt cleanse away evil: Pain is a burden, but it can bring a benefit. If we allow the unpleasant fire of pain to refine and cleanse away evil, then our sorrow and pain were not wasted. Something was gained.

i. “In context this is not parental discipline but beatings administered by the king’s officers as punishment for crime. Yahweh can peer directly into a person’s innermost being (Proverbs 20:27), but the king can touch the criminal’s soul by harsh retribution.” (Garrett)

ii. “Some must be beaten black and blue ere they will be better; neither is wit anything worth with them till they have paid well for it.” (Trapp)

b. As do stripes the inner depths of the heart: Solomon probably used stripes here in a symbolic sense for the chastening that comes in life. If we receive such discipline with wisdom, it will purify us in the inner depths of the heart.

i. “Physical punishment may prove spiritually valuable.” (Ross)

ii. As do stripes: “The paradox of Isaiah 53:5 stands out sharply against this background: that with his stripes we are healed.” (Kidner)

Proverbs 19

August 7, 2017/in Old Testament, Proverbs/by David Guzik

Proverbs 19 – Fools and Family Life

Proverbs 19:1

Better is the poor who walks in his integrity
Than one who is perverse in his lips, and is a fool.

a. Better is the poor who walks in his integrity: Previous proverbs have been critical of the poor, but here Solomon recognized that not all poverty is caused by moral failure or weakness. There are definitely poor people who walk in their integrity.

i. “Often men put under their feet those whom God carries in his heart. Man honors the perverse for their riches and despises the poor because of their poverty.” (Bridges)

b. Than one who is perverse in his lips, and is a fool: The Book of Proverbs is honest about the disadvantages of poverty. Yet it also recognizes that being poor is in no way the worst thing a person can be. It is far worse to be a fool who speaks twisted, perverse things.

i. “Once again a proverb correlates poverty with piety and wealth with impiety. The poor may be miserable for the moment, but the unethical rich are miserable for eternity. Thus the proverb teaches the pilgrim to walk by faith, not by sight.” (Waltke)

Proverbs 19:2

Also it is not good for a soul to be without knowledge,
And he sins who hastens with his feet.

a. It is not good for a soul to be without knowledge: When a person (a soul) has no wisdom (is without knowledge), it is never good. It may be common, but it is not good.

b. And he who sins hastens with his feet: Solomon listed a second thing that was not good – the one who rushes toward sin (hastens with his feet). On this side of eternity, we will also struggle with sin, but we don’t have to run towards it. We should be those who battle against sin, not run towards it.

Proverbs 19:3

The foolishness of a man twists his way,
And his heart frets against the LORD.

a. The foolishness of a man twists his way: it is true that a fool is foolish because they are twisted, crooked. Yet it also true that the foolish man finds his way more and more twisted. Foolishness leads to more twistedness.

b. His heart frets against the LORD: God intended us to be at peace with Him, but because of rebellion (both inherited and chosen), we are in many ways against the LORD. The foolish man or woman has no peace in God; their heart frets against the LORD. They are angry and perhaps bitter against God for their twisted way.

i. “Fools will try to blame God when they ruin their lives…The fool is not willing to accept failure as his own. Of course, to blame God is also folly.” (Ross)

ii. “Such is the pride and blasphemy of a proud spirit. The criminal blames the judge for his righteous sentence.” (Bridges)

Proverbs 19:4

Wealth makes many friends,
But the poor is separated from his friend.

a. Wealth makes many friends: When a person is wealthy, it draws many people to them in friendship. Yet these friendships may not be sincere or meaningful.

i. “Although a crowd, each one forms the friendship out of what he can gain, not for what he can give. The proverb anticipates the Lord’s teaching to use of money to win friends and an eternal reward in the kingdom of God (Luke 18:1-9).” (Waltke)

b. The poor is separated from his friend: The wealthy man has advantages and draws many friends, but the poor man does not have these advantages. Their would-be friends find it easy to separate from them.

Proverbs 19:5

A false witness will not go unpunished,
And he who speaks lies will not escape.

a. A false witness will not go unpunished: The first idea in this proverb is probably that of the law court, and in the court, it is essential that the false witness be punished. Justice depends upon it. This principle extends beyond the court of law into our daily life. God loves the truth and wants us to speak the truth.

b. He who speaks lies will not escape: Among men, sometimes the falsewitness and liars escape the discovery and penalty of their sin. With God, he who speaks lies will not escape. Jesus said our every word would be held to account (Matthew 12:36).

i. “This is a statement made in faith, for perjurers may escape human justice. Even the stern law of Deuteronomy 19:18-21 availed nothing for Naboth—or for Jesus.” (Kidner)

Proverbs 19:6

Many entreat the favor of the nobility,
And every man is a friend to one who gives gifts.

a. Many entreat the favor of the nobility: When someone is of high status and importance (of the nobility), many people want their favor. There are advantages in having the favor of influential people.

b. Every man is a friend to the one who gives gifts: Many people who offer friendship do so out of selfish motives. They want the benefit of the favor of the nobility and the gifts that others may offer.

Proverbs 19:7

All the brothers of the poor hate him;
How much more do his friends go far from him!
He may pursue them with words, yet they abandon him.

a. All the brothers of the poor hate him: To be poor is often to be rejected by men, even by brothers and friends. What a contrast to Jesus, who Himself became poor (2 Corinthians 8:9) to draw near to us in our poverty and need.

b. He may pursue them with words, yet they abandon him: By nature, people run from the poor person, even when he tries to persuade and pursue them with words. In contrast, God pursues the poor and needy.

Proverbs 19:8

He who gets wisdom loves his own soul;
He who keeps understanding will find good.

a. He who gets wisdom loves his own soul: The possession and pursuit of wisdom is so good and helpful to us that we can and should get wisdom simply out of self-interest. In so doing we love our own soul, our own life.

i. Loves his own soul:“Or loveth himself, because he procures great good to his soul, or to himself, as it follows; as sinners, on the contrary, are said to hate their souls, Proverbs 29:24, because they bring mischief upon them.” (Poole)

b. He who keeps understanding will find good: Wisdom isn’t just something to get; it is also something to keep. We find good when we keep understanding.

Proverbs 19:9

A false witness will not go unpunished,
And he who speaks lies shall perish.

a. A false witness will not go unpunished: The words and sense of this proverb were previously presented in Proverbs 19:5. The repetition reminds us that this is an important principle. In the law court and in daily life, God wants us to be people of the truth and so He promised that a false witness will not go unpunished.

b. He who speaks lies shall perish: This speaks to the certainty of God’s justice towards those who lie. Revelation 21:8 warns that liars are among those who will have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.

Proverbs 19:10

Luxury is not fitting for a fool,
Much less for a servant to rule over princes.

a. Luxury is not fitting for a fool: The sense is that there are some wisdom-rejecting fools who enjoy luxury, but it doesn’t seem right. It isn’t fitting for a fool to live in luxury.

b. Much less for a servant to rule over princes: Solomon spoke according to the wisdom of the natural man, which places great trust in nobility and family lineage. This is one of the proverbs that the gospel and the new covenant turn on its head, where those who would be great should be as servants and not as princes (Matthew 20:26 and 23:11).

i. “The slave, who is incompetent both by disposition and training, will be drunk from the feeling of power and his rulership will develop into unbearable despotism. The consequences for the community are only incompetence, mismanagement, abuse of power, corruption, injustice; in brief, social chaos (cf. Ecclesiastes 10:5-7).” (Waltke)

ii. “The slave has the same rational power as his sovereign. But lesser habits of mind make him unfit to rule. There are, however, exceptions to this, as in the case of Joseph.” (Bridges)

Proverbs 19:11

The discretion of a man makes him slow to anger,
And his glory is to overlook a transgression.

a. The discretion of a man makes him slow to anger: It isn’t necessarily weakness or lack of courage that makes a man slow to anger. It may be wisdom, here described as discretion.

b. His glory is to overlook a transgression: A wise man or woman knows that they have been forgiven much, and this shapes how they deal with others. They don’t act as if they must hold everyone accountable for every transgression but know when to overlook a transgression.

i. “The virtue which is indicated here is more than a forgiving temper; it includes also the ability to shrug off insults and the absence of a brooding hypersensitivity.” (McKane, cited in Ross)

ii. “The manlier any man is, the milder and readier to pass by an offence. This shows that he hath much of God in him (if he do it from a right principle), who bears with our evil manners, and forgives our trespasses, beseeching us to be reconciled.” (Trapp)

Proverbs 19:12

The king’s wrath is like the roaring of a lion,
But his favor is like dew on the grass.

a. The king’s wrath is like the roaring of a lion: The roar of a lion is terrifying in itself, even without the understanding that destruction will swiftly follow. The same is true for the wrath of a king or any other influential person. It is much truer regarding the wrath of God or the wrath of the Lion of the Tribe of Judah (Revelation 5:5).

i. “Hebrew, Of a young lion, which, being in his prime, roars more terribly; sets up his roar with such a force that he amazeth the other creatures whom he hunteth, so that, though far swifter of foot than the lion, they have no power to fly from him.” (Trapp)

ii. “There is nothing more dreadful than the roaring of this tyrant of the forest. At the sound of it all other animals tremble, flee away, and hide themselves. The king who is above law, and rules without law, and whose will is his own law, is like the lion.” (Clarke)

b. His favor is like the dew on the grass: This means the king’s favor is refreshing and life-giving; it also means that it is fleeting, as the dew on the grass. The favor of God is certainly refreshing and life-giving, but it is not fleeting, as if God were an impossible-to-please tyrant.

i. “Dew, which in the climatic conditions of Palestine was essential to the survival of vegetation in the hot, dry summer, is a gift from God.” (Waltke)

ii. “This proverb would advise the king’s subjects to use tact and the king to cultivate kindness.” (Ross)

Proverbs 19:13

A foolish son is the ruin of his father,
And the contentions of a wife are a continual dripping.

a. A foolish son is the ruin of his father: It is grieving to any parent to have a foolish son or daughter. This may run from grief to ruin as the grief destroys the father’s health and life, or as the father ruins himself to rescue the foolish son.

b. The contentions of a wife are a continual dripping: This proverb of sympathy for a man’s problems as a father now looks at a man’s potential problem as a husband. A wife who often contends (fights, argues) with her husband is like a continual dripping in at least three ways.

· It is an always-present annoyance and trouble.

· It wastes and destroys, eroding good and valuable things.

· It points to some underlying, more basic problem.

i. “The man who has got such a wife is like a tenant who has got a cottage with a bad roof, through every part of which the rain either drops or pours. He can neither sit, stand, work, nor sleep, without being exposed to these droppings. God help the man who is in such a case, with house or wife!” (Clarke)

ii. “Like as a man that hath met with hard usage abroad thinks to mend himself at home, but is no sooner sat down there but the rain, dropping through the roof upon his head, drives him out of doors again. Such is the case of him that hath a contentious wife – a far greater cross than that of ungracious children, which yet are the father’s calamities and heart breaks.” (Trapp)

iii. “Delitzsch passes on an Arab proverb told him…‘Three things make a house intolerable: tak (the leaking through of rain), nak (a wife’s nagging) and bak (bugs).’” (Kidner)

Proverbs 19:14

Houses and riches are an inheritance from fathers,
But a prudent wife is from the LORD.

a. Houses and riches are an inheritance from fathers: There are good things a man may receive as an inheritance, including material things such as houses and riches. A man is blessed to have such things.

b. A prudent wife is from the LORD: A gift beyond the inheritance one may receive from fathers is this gift from God – a prudent wife. A wife of wisdom, self-control, and appropriate living is a greater gift than houses and riches. A wife who is not prudent may waste whatever wealth a man has. Every man with a prudent, wise wife should give thanks to the LORD.

i. From the LORD: “Nature makes a woman, election a wife; but to be prudent, wise, and virtuous is of the Lord. A good wife was one of the first real and royal gifts bestowed on Adam.” (Trapp)

ii. “Thus the proverb instructs the disciple to look to God (Proverbs 15:8, 29; 16:3; cf. Genesis 24:14) and find his favor through wisdom to obtain from him a competent wife (Proverbs 8:35; 18:22)…. As a result, when a man has a competent wife, he praises God, not himself.” (Waltke)

iii. “The verse does not answer questions about unhappy marriages or bad wives; rather, it simply affirms that when a marriage turns out well, one should credit God.” (Ross)

Proverbs 19:15

Laziness casts one into a deep sleep,
And an idle person will suffer hunger.

a. Laziness casts one into a deep sleep: There are many problems with laziness, and one of them is that it leads to more laziness, sending the lazy man into a deep sleep. There is no work to be done from a deep sleep.

i. “Laziness plunges him into a state of being so deep in sleep that he is totally unconscious of his situation. Unaware of his tragic situation and unable to arouse himself, the sluggard neglects his source of income and so hungers. His fate is similar to that of drunkards and the gluttons (Proverbs 23:21).” (Waltke)

b. An idle person will suffer hunger: There is a great price to be paid from laziness, one of those prices is the hunger one suffers as one’s needs are not met through hard work. The lazy man or woman puts themselves in a trap of sleep and hunger.

Proverbs 19:16

He who keeps the commandment keeps his soul,
But he who is careless of his ways will die.

a. He who keeps the commandment keeps his soul: Obedience to the word and commandment of God is of real, practical benefit. Obedience guards and keeps the life, the soul of the wise man or woman who lives according to God’s word.

b. He who is careless of his ways will die: To abandon wisdom and live careless in our ways is to invite death. God gave His commandment to give us life and to keep us from death.

Proverbs 19:17

He who has pity on the poor lends to the LORD,
And He will pay back what he has given.

a. He who has pity on the poor lends to the LORD: When we give to the poor (expressing our love and pity towards them), we aren’t wasting our money. It is like lending money to the LORD Himself.

i. “Their just and gracious Creator takes it upon himself to assume their indebtedness and so he will repay the lender in full.” (Waltke)

b. He will pay back what he has given: God will never be in debt to any man. He will never be in a position where He owes anything as a matter of debt. Therefore, to lend to the LORD is to ensure blessing in return. God will certainly pay back what we give in compassion to the poor. God promises that we will never be the loser for generous and compassionate giving.

i. “God will never be in your debt. He is exact and punctilious in His repayment. No man ever dared to do His bidding in respect to any case of need, and found himself the poorer…. Was not Ruth’s love to Naomi well compensated?” (Meyer)

ii. “O what a word is this! God makes himself debtor for every thing that is given to the poor! Who would not advance much upon such credit? God will pay it again. And in no case has he ever forfeited his word.” (Clarke)

iii. “This promise of reward does not necessarily signify that he will get his money back; the rewards in Proverbs involve life and prosperity in general.” (Ross)

Proverbs 19:18

Chasten your son while there is hope,
And do not set your heart on his destruction.

a. Chasten your son while there is hope: There is not an endless window of opportunity to chasten and wisely discipline our children. Age and circumstances limit the opportunity for effective training, so it must be done while there is hope. There may come the time when you wish you had done much more to chasten your son or daughter.

i. “It is far better that the child should cry under healthy correction than that parents should later cry under the bitter fruit to themselves and their children of neglected discipline.” (Bridges)

b. Do not set your heart on his destruction: To fail to chasten your son in the opportune season is to actually work for his destruction. Many parents bring much destruction to their children through neglect, not outright abuse.

i. “Psychologically healthy parents do not consciously desire to kill their children. But if they do not employ the God-given means of verbal reproof to prevent acts of folly and corporal punishment to prevent their repetition, they are in fact unwittingly party to the worst punishment, his death.” (Waltke)

Proverbs 19:19

A man of great wrath will suffer punishment;
For if you rescue him, you will have to do it again.

a. A man of great wrath will suffer punishment: Out of control anger brings many problems and costs. Among the fruit of the spirit is self-control (Galatians 5:23), and wisdom does not lead a person to be of great wrath.

i. “He punishes himself. Wounded pride and resentment leave the wretched criminal brooding in his room. He suffers an intolerable burden of self-inflicted punishment.” (Bridges)

b. For if you rescue him, you will have to do it again: The person who can’t control their anger will run into trouble again and again. To rescue them once isn’t enough, because the problem is more in them than in the circumstances that they blame for their anger. It is better for them to face the consequences of their action and hope they learn something from it.

i. “An ungovernable temper will repeatedly land its owner in fresh trouble.” (Kidner)

Proverbs 19:20

Listen to counsel and receive instruction,
That you may be wise in your latter days.

a. Listen to counsel and receive instruction: One of the first marks of wisdom is the readiness to receive more wisdom. A teachable person, one who will listen to counsel and receive instruction, has already made much progress on the path of wisdom.

b. That you may be wise in your latter days: The bad effects of the foolish rejection of wisdom may not be seen for many years. Yet in the latter days of a man or woman’s life, it will be clear whether or not they learned wisdom’s lessons and if they did listen to counsel. If you want to be wise later in life, start now.

Proverbs 19:21

There are many plans in a man’s heart,
Nevertheless the LORD’s counsel—that will stand.

a. There are many plans in a man’s heart: It is in the nature of men (and women) to plan and prepare for the future. Some of the plans may be wise and some may be foolish, but there are many plans in a man’s heart.

b. Nevertheless, the LORD’s counsel – that will stand: Man makes his plans, and he should. Yet every plan should be made with an appreciation of God’s overall wisdom, work, and will.

i. James would later explain this principle this way: Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, spend a year there, buy and sell, and make a profit”; whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away. Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we shall live and do this or that.” (James 4:13-15)

ii. “This is a perfectly self evident assertion, but, as such, important as to warrant a pause in reading it. The one thing in the heart that may be depended upon is the counsel or guidance of Jehovah.” (Morgan)

Proverbs 19:22

What is desired in a man is kindness,
And a poor man is better than a liar.

a. What is desired in a man is kindness: It is not that kindness is the highest or only virtue for the people of God. Yet, in many ways, it is the one most desired by others, especially in a modern world.

b. A poor man is better than a liar: This proverb shows that kindness, though valuable, is not the only virtue. To be a man or woman of truth – to not be a liar – is also of great value. This proverb reminds us that though we should pursue and value kindness, we should not treat it as the only valued virtue among God’s people.

Proverbs 19:23

The fear of the LORD leads to life,
And he who has it will abide in satisfaction;
He will not be visited with evil.

a. The fear of the LORD leads to life: Since the fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, it wonderfully leads to life. If we want life, we should begin with this honor, reverent awe and submission to God.

b. He who has it will abide in satisfaction: When we have, and walk in, the fear of the LORD, it leads to a life of satisfaction. The world, the flesh, and the devil want to convince us that a life founded on fear of the LORD leads to misery, but the opposite is true. It brings satisfaction and keeps us from a future of evil.

i. Will not be visited with evil: “When one lives a life of piety, the Lord provides a quality of life that cannot be disrupted by such evil.” (Ross)

Proverbs 19:24

A lazy man buries his hand in the bowl,
And will not so much as bring it to his mouth again.

a. A lazy man buries his hand in the bowl: Solomon pictured a lazy man sitting at his food, with his hand buried in his bowl of food.

i. “This humorous portrayal is certainly an exaggeration. It probably was meant more widely for anyone who starts a project but lacks the energy to complete it.” (Ross)

ii. In the bowl: “The same word in 2 Kings 21:13 leaves no doubt of its meaning. The scene is thus a meal, and the example comically extreme.” (Kidner)

b. And will not so much as bring it to his mouth again: In this humorous, exaggerated picture, the lazy man has so little energy and initiative that he won’t even bring his hand from the bowl to his mouth. This exaggerated picture establishes a principle made elsewhere in proverbs: the lazy man will go hungry.

i. Will not so much as bring it to his mouth again: “To wit, to feed himself; he expects that the meat should drop into his mouth.” (Poole)

ii. “Is it possible to find anywhere a more graphic or sarcastic description of absolute laziness?” (Morgan)

Proverbs 19:25

Strike a scoffer, and the simple will become wary;
Rebuke one who has understanding, and he will discern knowledge.

a. Strike a scoffer, and the simple will become wary: When a determined fool and opponent of wisdom (a scoffer) is punished, others will learn. The more innocent fool (the simple) may learn from this.

i. “Smite him never so much, there is no beating any wit into him. Pharaoh was not a button the better for all that he suffered; but Jethro, taking notice of God’s heavy hand upon Pharaoh, and likewise upon the Amalekites, was thereby converted, and became a proselyte, as Rabbi Solomon noteth upon this text.” (Trapp)

b. Rebuke one who has understanding: The rebuke of the scoffer seems to do the scoffer no good, though it may benefit the simple. Yet when someone who values wisdom (one who has understanding) is corrected, he learns. He grows in his ability to discern knowledge.

i. “Here are three varieties of mind: closed [scoffer]…empty (the simple—he must be startled into attention), and open [understanding] (…he accepts even a painful truth).” (Kidner)

Proverbs 19:26

He who mistreats his father and chases away his mother
Is a son who causes shame and brings reproach.

a. He who mistreats his father and chases away his mother: The Bible commands honor your father and your mother (Exodus 20:12). This proverb considers the person who does the opposite of Exodus 20:12.

i. “When the father and his household lies in ruin, the mother (see Proverbs 1:8) is left in a tragic situation without the provision and protection and of her husband. By ruining his father, the imbecile (cf. Proverbs 17:2) leaves his mother as good as a defenseless widow.” (Waltke)

b. Is a son who causes shame and brings reproach: One cannot disobey God and the standards of human society without paying a price. One price to be paid from the mistreatment of parents is to bring shame and reproach upon one’s self.

Proverbs 19:27

Cease listening to instruction, my son,
And you will stray from the words of knowledge.

a. Cease listening to instruction, my son: Solomon continued to give wisdom to his children, and here warned of the danger of ceasing to listen to instruction, to wisdom.

b. And you will stray from the words of knowledge: This shows us that attention and effort must be given to remain on the path of wisdom. If one does cease listening to instruction, then they will stray from the words of knowledge. One must set themselves on the path of wisdom and, with God’s help, determine that they will stay upon in.

i. “The meaning here is that it is better not to learn than to learn to refuse to obey.” (Morgan)

ii. “Without constant attention to wisdom depraved human beings unconsciously stray from it. Even Solomon, ancient Israel’s paragon of wisdom, strayed when he ceased listening to his own proverbs.” (Waltke)

Proverbs 19:28

A disreputable witness scorns justice,
And the mouth of the wicked devours iniquity.

a. A disreputable witness scorns justice: The witness who is not committed to truth doesn’t care about the workings of justice. Great harm comes upon society and its legal system when there is not care and promotion of the truth and the disreputable witness is not punished.

i. “The perjurers in the lawsuit against Naboth are called beliyyaal (1 Kings. 21:10, 13), a story that illustrates the lying witnesses’ lethal power.” (Waltke)

b. The mouth of the wicked devours iniquity: The words of the wicked (coming from the mouth) love iniquity so much that they devour it, as a hungry man devours food. This is the kind of person who scorns justice and tears down society.

Proverbs 19:29

Judgments are prepared for scoffers,
And beatings for the backs of fools.

a. Judgments are prepared for scoffers: Those who reject wisdom with hostility (scoffers) will not escape penalty. Judgments are prepared for them.

i. Are prepared for: “For these scorners (that promise themselves impunity) are judgments, not one, but many, not appointed only, but prepared long since, and now ready to be executed.” (Trapp)

b. Beatings for the backs of fools: Those who disregard wisdom, bound in their folly (fools) will also have their penalty. Correction will come to them in its appointed way, and sadly – the correction will do little good for them.

i. “Profane and wicked men expose themselves to the punishments denounced against such by just laws. Avoid, therefore, both their company and their end.” (Clarke)

Proverbs 18

August 6, 2017/in Old Testament, Proverbs/by David Guzik

Proverbs 18 – Wisdom in Getting Along with Others

Proverbs 18:1

A man who isolates himself seeks his own desire;
He rages against all wise judgment.

a. A man who isolates himself seeks his own desire: To cut one’s self off from family, friends, and community is often to express a selfish desire. It shows an unwillingness to make the small (and sometimes large) sacrifices to get along with others.

i. “The Mishnah uses this passage to teach the necessity of not separating from the community, because people have responsibilities as social beings (Aboth 2:4).” (Ross)

b. He rages against all wise judgment: God designed us after His own triune nature; He designed us to live in community. The instinct many have for isolation must not be over-indulged; it is against all wise judgment.

i. “The protest of this proverb is against the self-satisfaction which makes a man separate himself from the thoughts and opinions of others. Such a one finally ‘rages against,’ or ‘quarrels with all sound wisdom.’” (Morgan)

Proverbs 18:2

A fool has no delight in understanding,
But in expressing his own heart.

a. A fool has no delight in understanding: The wise man or woman has great satisfaction in knowledge, understanding, and wisdom. This is not so with the fool; they find no delight in wisdom.

i. “He is wilful, and so stands as a stake in the midst of a stream; lets all pass by him, but he stands where he was. It is easier to deal with twenty men’s reasons, than with one man’s will.” (Trapp)

b. But in expressing his own heart: What does delight the fool is expressing his own heart. If he asks questions it is to show how clever he is rather than to learn. He is focused on self instead of God, and his folly flows from this wrong priority and wrong place to find delight.

i. “It is a fact that most vain and foolish people are never satisfied in company, but in showing their own nonsense and emptiness.” (Clarke)

ii. Expressing his own heart: “The verb occurs in Hithpael elsewhere only in connection with the drunken Noah indecently uncovering himself (Genesis 9:21; cf.).” (Waltke)

Proverbs 18:3

When the wicked comes, contempt comes also;
And with dishonor comes reproach.

a. When the wicked comes, contempt comes also: The wicked brings contempt with them; the proud, superior attitude that thinks itself better than others and looks at those thought to be lesser with scorn. Yet it can also be said that contempt follows the wicked because God will scorn those who scorn others.

b. With dishonor comes reproach: The wicked bring insults (reproach) upon those they consider dishonorable.

Proverbs 18:4

The words of a man’s mouth are deep waters;
The wellspring of wisdom is a flowing brook.

a. The words of a man’s mouth are deep waters: The idea isn’t that everyone’s speech is deep and meaningful. Instead, the idea is that we reveal the depths of our heart by the words of our mouth.

i. “That is, the wise sayings of a wise man are like deep waters; howsoever much you pump or draw off, you do not appear to lessen them.” (Clarke)

b. The wellspring of wisdom is a flowing brook: When the wellspring of a man’s being is rooted in wisdom, it will then flow out from their words.

i. Deep waters…flowing brook: “Fitly are the words of the wise resembled to waters, saith one, inasmuch as they both wash the minds of the hearers, that the foulness of sin remain not therein, and water them in such sort that they faint not, nor wither by a drought and burning desire of heavenly doctrine.” (Trapp)

Proverbs 18:5

It is not good to show partiality to the wicked,
Or to overthrow the righteous in judgment.

a. It is not good to show partiality to the wicked: This is obvious to the person with a moral compass. Yet there are many reasons why someone might be tempted to show partiality to the wicked. They may do it out of misplaced compassion, out of a desire to please others, because of some kind of bribe, or many other reasons.

i. “We must not, in judicial cases, pay any attention to a man’s riches, influence, friends, offices, etc., but judge the case according to its own merits. But when the wicked rich man opposes and oppresses the poor righteous, then all those things should be utterly forgotten.” (Clarke)

b. Or to overthrow the righteous in judgment: When one shows partiality to the wicked, they will overthrow the righteous in judgment whether they intend to or not. Each aspect of injustice is sin.

i. “For justice to happen, the cause must be heard, not the person. Let the person be punished for his wickedness, not the wickedness be covered for the person’s sake. When one is partial to the wicked, the rights of God are despised, and the claims of his justice are thrown away.” (Bridges)

Proverbs 18:6

A fool’s lips enter into contention,
And his mouth calls for blows.

a. A fool’s lips enter into contention: It is in the nature of the fool to argue. Their words often bring them into contention.

b. His mouth calls for blows: The contentious words of the fool invite punishment, and sometimes this punishment will be physical correction, the blows of the rod of correction.

Proverbs 18:7

A fool’s mouth is his destruction,
And his lips are the snare of his soul.

a. A fool’s mouth is his destruction: The words of the fool show his folly, but they also work towards his destruction. Many a fool has been ruined because of his foolish words.

b. His lips are the snare of his soul: As in most places in Proverbs, snare here speaks of the life of being of the fool. It includes the inner spiritual self but is not restricted to it. The fool’s life is trapped – caught in a snare – by his foolish words.

i. “It is most remarkable that the apostle Paul, when analyzing man’s depravity, focuses on the little member and all that is linked to it—the throat, the tongue, the lips, and the mouth (Romans 3:13-14).” (Bridges)

Proverbs 18:8

The words of a talebearer are like tasty trifles,
And they go down into the inmost body.

a. The words of a talebearer are like tasty trifles: The gossip and evil reports brought by the talebearer are almost impossible to resist. Those who should know better find it difficult to tell the talebearer to stop talking. The importance of this proverb is expressed in its repetition, being repeated in Proverbs 26:22.

i. Yet the damage the talebearer brings is great. “He that takes away a man’s good name kills him alive, and ruins him and his posterity; being herein worse than Cain, for he, in killing his brother, made him live for ever, and eternalised his name.” (Trapp)

ii. “Unlike the fool’s insolent speech that hurts himself in hurting others, gossip destroys the relationship of others, even the closest friends.” (Waltke)

iii. “The words of a gossip [talebearer] in an unguarded moment may inflict irreparable injury. This evil may be welcomed in certain circles that thrive on scandal. But that does not alter the real character of a gossip, who is detested by both God and man.” (Bridges)

b. They go down into the inmost body: When we receive the words of a talebearer, they normally have an effect on us. The words go down into us and often change the way we think and feel about people, even if what the talebearer says isn’t true or isn’t confirmed. God gave a strong word regarding the confirmation of testimony (Deuteronomy 19:15, 2 Corinthians 13:1, 1 Timothy 5:19).

i. Once we start eating these tasty trifles, it is hard to stop. “When such tasty bits are taken into the innermost being, they stimulate the desire for more.” (Ross)

ii. Instead of eating the tasty trifles of the talebearer, “Jeremiah sets a better model: he ate God’s word and delighted in it (Jeremiah 15:16; cf. Colossians 3:12-20).” (Waltke)

Proverbs 18:9

He who is slothful in his work
Is a brother to him who is a great destroyer.

a. He who is slothful in his work: There are times of entertainment or leisure where perhaps laziness can be excused. There is never an excuse to be lazy or slothful in work. As previously noted at Proverbs 15:19:

· Laziness is theft – you live off the work of others.

· Laziness is selfishness – you live for yourself and comfort.

· Laziness is neglect of duty – you don’t do what you should.

b. Is a brother to him who is a great destroyer: We often think of laziness as a fairly innocent sin, but it is not. The lazy man is a close associate (brother) to the one who brings great destruction.

i. “It means that in life there can be no neutrality. Every man lives in the midst of a conflict between good and evil. He must and does take part therein. If he is not helping Jehovah against the mighty, he is helping the mighty against Jehovah” (Morgan). Morgan also noted this principle in other Biblical passages.

· “It was in the mind of Deborah when she cursed Meroz for not coming to the help of Jehovah against the mighty.”

· “It found explicit statement when our Lord said: ‘He that gathereth not with me scattereth’”

· “James recognized it when he wrote: ‘To him that knoweth to do good and doeth it not, to him it is sin.’”

ii. “This proverb applies this principle to work. Constructive work is the law of human life and progress. There· is an active principle of destruction operating in the history of man; and· he who is a slacker at his work, who does not put into it all his strength, is a brother to the man who in wickedness sets himself to the activity of destruction. No living being can be merely a spectator. Each works or wastes. Not to work well, is to aid the process of waste.” (Morgan)

iii. If a person is given management over a large estate and ruins it through vandalism and outright destruction, it is easy to see them as a great destroyer. Yet if the same person allows it to fall into disrepair and uselessness through neglect and laziness, they also are a great destroyer – they just did it another way. Laziness destroys.

Proverbs 18:10

The name of the LORD is a strong tower;
The righteous run to it and are safe.

a. The name of the LORD is a strong tower: God provides a wonderful and strong defense. This is rooted not in a magical saying of His name as if it were a charm or a spell, but in the name of the LORD as a declaration of His character, His person. In all that He is and all that He stands for, Yahweh (the LORD) is a strong tower.

i. “This is the only place in Proverbs where ‘the name of the LORD’ is found; it signifies the attributes of God, here the power to protect (cf. Exodus 34:5-7).” (Ross)

ii. Because the name of Yahweh represents His character in all its aspects, the believer can think about the aspects of God’s character and find a strong, safe refuge in them. It can be as simple as this:

· Lord, You are a God of love – so I find refuge in Your love.

· Lord, You are a God of mercy – so I find refuge in Your mercy.

· Lord, You are a God of strength – so I find refuge in Your strength.

· Lord, You are a God of righteousness – so I find refuge in Your righteousness.

iii. “Numberless are those castles in the air to which men hasten in the hour of peril: ceremonies lift their towers into the clouds; professions pile their walls high as mountains, and works of the flesh paint their delusions till they seem substantial bulwarks; but all, all shall melt like snow, and vanish like a mist.” (Spurgeon)

iv. A strong tower: “Within these walls, which of us needs to worry that the sharpest arrow can harm us? We realize our security from external trouble as we exercise our faith. We are safe from God’s avenging justice, from the curse of the law, from sin, from condemnation, from the second death.” (Bridges)

b. The righteous run to it and are safe: God invites all to find refuge in His name; whoever calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved (Joel 2:32, Acts 2:21, and Romans 10:13). Those who humbly run to God and find refuge with Him are His righteous ones, so it is the righteous who run to it.

i. “All creatures run to their refuges when hunted….Run therefore to God, by praying and not fainting. [Luke 18:1] This is the best policy for security.” (Trapp)

ii. Run to it: “This running appears to me to imply, that they have nothing to carry. A man who has a load, the heavier the load may be, the more will he be impeded in his flight. But the righteous run, like racers in the games, who have thrown off everything, their sins they leave to mercy, and their righteousness to the moles and bats.” (Spurgeon)

Proverbs 18:11

The rich man’s wealth is his strong city,
And like a high wall in his own esteem.

a. The rich man’s wealth is his strong city: In contrast to the righteous who find their strong tower in God and His character, the rich man (here used in the sense of the man who trusts in his riches, who is only rich and nothing else) finds refuge in his wealth.

i. Such a man who trusts in his own riches has no refuge when they fail. “A wicked man beaten out of earthly comforts is as a naked man in a storm, and an unarmed man in the field, or a ship tossed in the sea without an anchor, which presently dasheth upon rocks, or falleth upon quicksands.” (Trapp)

b. Like a high wall in his own esteem: The rich man sees his wealth as safe and sure as a high wall around a strong city. Yet this is only in his own esteem; both the LORD and the wise know that wealth is not a truly strong city and not a high wall.

i. “Wealth does afford a measure of protection, but the danger of wealth is precisely that it gives its possessor the illusion of greater security than it can provide.” (Garrett)

Proverbs 18:12

Before destruction the heart of a man is haughty,
And before honor is humility.

a. Before destruction the heart of man is haughty: Since pride leads the way to destruction (Proverbs 16:18), we should expect that the haughty heart is ready to receive its just destruction.

i. “There is no wisdom in a self-exaltation. Other vices have some excuse, for men seem to gain by them; avarice, pleasure, lust, have some plea; but the man who is proud sells his soul cheaply. He opens wide the flood-gates of his heart, to let men see how deep is the flood within his soul; then suddenly it floweth out, and all is gone – and all is nothing, for one puff of empty wind, one word of sweet applause – the soul is gone, and not a drop is left.” (Spurgeon)

b. And before honor is humility: Wise people know that humility leads the way to honor. If you want destruction, be haughty; if you want honor, show humility.

i. “It is not humility to underrate yourself. Humility is to think of yourself, if you can, as God thinks of you.” (Spurgeon)

ii. “Very likely the most humble man in the world won’t bend to anybody. John Knox was a truly humble man, yet if you had seen him march before Queen Mary with the Bible in his hand, to reprove her, you would have rashly said, ‘What a proud man!’ (Spurgeon)

iii. “The humility and exaltation of Jesus provides the classic example of this truth (see Isaiah 52:13-53:12; Philippians 2:1-10).” (Ross)

Proverbs 18:13

He who answers a matter before he hears it,
It is folly and shame to him.

a. He who answers a matter before he hears it: It is common to give a quick, impulsive answer to questions and problems. We respond without thinking, or without hearing the full story, sometimes more interested in what we hope to say than what the matter before us really is.

i. This is “a special snare of the self-important.” (Kidner)

b. It is folly and shame to him: To whatever extent we do this, it is foolish and shameful. It is folly because a wrong or misguided answer is likely; it is shame because we do not represent ourselves well in doing so.

i. “There are many also that give judgment before they hear the whole of the cause, and express an opinion before they hear the state of the case. How absurd, stupid, and foolish!” (Clarke)

Proverbs 18:14

The spirit of a man will sustain him in sickness,
But who can bear a broken spirit?

a. The spirit of a man will sustain him in sickness: Many who have labored long under sickness have felt themselves sustained – sometimes miraculously so – by the strength of their spirit.

i. “Christian principle strengthens natural strength. Outward troubles are bearable, yes, more than bearable, if there is peace within.” (Bridges)

b. Who can bear a broken spirit? When the spirit is broken, instead of giving life it proves to be something few people can bear.

i. “In physical sickness one can fall back on the will to live; but in depression the will to live may be gone, and there is no reserve for physical strength. The figure of a ‘crushed’ spirit suggests a broken will, loss of vitality, despair, and emotional pain. Few things in the human experience are as difficult to cope with as this.” (Ross)

ii. “There are some who have been greatly wounded, no doubt, through sickness. A wounded spirit may be the result of diseases which seriously shake the nervous system. Let us be very tender with brethren and sisters who got into that condition. I have heard some say, rather unkindly, ‘Sister So-and-so is so nervous, we can hardly speak in her presence.’ Yes, but talking like that will not help her; there are many persons who have had this trying kind of nervousness greatly aggravated by the unkindness or thoughtlessness of friends. It is a real disease, it is not imaginary. Imagination, no doubt, contributes to it, and increases it; but, still, there is a reality about it. There are some forms of physical disorder in which a person lying in bed feels great pain through another person simply walking across the room. ‘Oh!’ you say, ‘that is more imagination ‘Well, you may think so, if you like; but if you are ever in that painful condition, – as I have been many a time, – I will warrant that you will not talk in that fashion again.” (Spurgeon)

Proverbs 18:15

The heart of the prudent acquires knowledge,
And the ear of the wise seeks knowledge.

a. The heart of the prudent acquires knowledge: The wise desire more wisdom and know how to get it. They show their prudence (wisdom) by seeking and getting more knowledge.

b. The ear of the wise seeks knowledge: Wise men and women seek after wisdom with all their being – their heart and their ear are given over to the pursuit of more wisdom.

i. “By paralleling ‘heart’ and ‘ears,’ the verse stresses the full acquisition of knowledge: the ear of the wise listens to instruction, and the heart of the wise discerns what is heard to acquire knowledge.” (Ross)

Proverbs 18:16

A man’s gift makes room for him,
And brings him before great men.

a. A man’s gift makes room for him: A previous proverb (Proverbs 17:8) spoke of a present in the sense of a bribe, but a different word is used here. This proverb is a simple recognition of fact: generosity and politeness open many doors.

i. “Matan (‘gift’) is more general than ‘bribe’ (soh ad as in Proverbs 17:8, 23)…. Here the proverb simply says that a gift can expedite matters but says nothing about bribing judges.” (Ross)

ii. “This Jacob [Genesis 43:11] knew well, and therefore bade his sons take a present for the governor of the land, though it were but of every good thing a little. So Saul, [1 Samuel 9:7] when to go to the man of God to inquire about the asses.” (Trapp)

iii. “It can also be an innocent courtesy or eirenicon [gift to reconcile], like the present (minhah) sent to the captain in 1 Samuel 17:18, or to Esau or Joseph (Genesis 32:20; 43:11).” (Kidner)

b. And brings him before great men: It is true that a gift can be effective in gaining an audience of even great men. We are grateful that no gift is required to come before the greatest Man, the Man Christ Jesus who offers His work as mediator without cost (1 Timothy 2:5, Romans 5:1-2).

i. “Blessed be God! We do not lack any gifts to bring before him. Our welcome is free. The door of access is forever open. Our treasure of grace in his unchanging favor is unfathomable.” (Bridges)

Proverbs 18:17

The first one to plead his cause seems right,
Until his neighbor comes and examines him.

a. The first one to plead his cause seems right: This is a strong and familiar principle. When we hear the first side of a dispute or a debate, we often think the first one to plead his cause seems right, and we are quick to take their side against the other.

b. Until his neighbor comes and examines him: The judgment is very different when the other side is heard from his neighbor. The second voice may confront the first one to plead his cause and give both sides of the story.

i. “Any man may, in the first instance, make out a fair tale, because he has the choice of circumstances and arguments. But when the neighbour cometh and searcheth him, he examines all, dissects all, swears and cross-questions every witness, and brings out truth and fact.” (Clarke)

ii. “Thus the proverb teaches the equality of disputants and instructs the disciple not only to hear both sides of an argument but to demand direct cross-examination before rendering a decision (cf. Deuteronomy 19:16-18).” (Waltke)

iii. With this principle in mind, it is important that we argue for and defend Biblical truth in a way that can stand before the examination of others. Giving arguments that sound convincing but can be easily exposed or answered by an adversary do no good in defending and advancing God’s kingdom.

Proverbs 18:18

Casting lots causes contentions to cease,
And keeps the mighty apart.

a. Casting lots causes contentions to cease: When there is an argument or dispute, appealing to an outside authority to solve the matter can make contentions to cease. In this case, the outside authority is the casting of lots, but the principle can be applied to other agreed-upon authorities.

i. “Proverbs 18:18 speaks of a practice that was widely practiced and highly regarded in ancient Israel, the casting of lots to settle disputed matters. The intent is to give the controversy over to God.” (Garrett)

ii. “Today God’s word and spiritual leaders figure prominently in divine arbitration (1 Corinthians 6:1-8).” (Ross)

b. And keeps the mighty apart: When an outside authority settles the contention, it can keep mighty warriors from fighting and killing each other.

Proverbs 18:19

A brother offended is harder to win than a strong city,
And contentions are like the bars of a castle.

a. A brother offended is harder to win than a strong city: There is a price to pay in offending a brother. To win him back to friendship and cooperation is difficult, more than we often think. Therefore, we avoid offending our brother, doing so only if necessary and doing all we can to be blameless so that whatever offense is taken is because of him and not us.

i. “If we take the words according to the common version, we see them express what, alas! we know to be too generally true: that when brothers fall out, it is with extreme difficulty that they can be reconciled. And fraternal enmities are generally strong and inveterate.” (Clarke)

ii. “It is as if the closer the relationship, the wider the breach. The thread, once snapped, is not easily joined.” (Bridges)

b. Contentions are like the bars of a castle: The conflict and contentions that come from a brother offended can be as difficult to break as the bars of a castle. They also may imprison those caught in the contentions.

i. “The proverb so understood is a forceful warning of the strength of the invisible walls of estrangement, so easy to erect, so hard to demolish.” (Kidner)

ii. “Chrysostom gives this rule: ‘Have but one enemy, the devil. With him never be reconciled; with your brother never fall out.’” (Bridges)

Proverbs 18:20

A man’s stomach shall be satisfied from the fruit of his mouth;
From the produce of his lips he shall be filled.

a. A man’s stomach shall be satisfied from the fruit of his mouth: For some, it is possible for them to make their living by what they say. They satisfy their stomach and perhaps that of their family from the fruit of the mouth.

b. From the produce of his lips he shall be filled: What he says shall fill his stomach and fulfill his financial obligations.

i. At the same time, this proverb “forces the thought that whatever a person dishes out, whether beneficial or harmful, he himself will feed on it to full measure through what his audience in return dishes out to him.” (Waltke)

Proverbs 18:21

Death and life are in the power of the tongue,
And those who love it will eat its fruit.

a. Death and life are in the power of the tongue: The previous proverb said how what a man speaks could provide for his stomach. Here the idea is extended to remind us that the tongue not only has the power of provision but also of death and life.

i. “The Midrash mentions this point, showing one way it can cause death: ‘The evil tongue slays three, the slanderer, the slandered, and the listener’ (Midrash Tehillim 52:2).” (Ross)

ii. “Solomon doth vary his words: he speaketh sometimes of the ‘mouth,’ sometimes of the ‘lips,’ sometimes of the ‘tongue,’ as Proverbs 18:21, to show that all the instruments or means of speech shall have, as it were, their proper and just reward.” (Trapp)

b. Those who love it will eat its fruit: Those who are wise enough to love and appreciate the power of what a man says will be blessed and will eat the pleasant fruit of wise and effective speech.

Proverbs 18:22

He who finds a wife finds a good thing,
And obtains favor from the LORD.

a. He who finds a wife finds a good thing: God brought together the first husband and wife in Genesis 2:21-25. In this God gave marriage between a man and woman as a gift to humanity, both as a whole and a blessing on an individual level.

i. Some commentators believe that this proverb implies finds a good wife (such as John Trapp and Allen Ross); others insist it does not (such as Matthew Poole and Adam Clarke).

ii. “Although it does not say it, the verse clearly means a ‘good’ wife.” (Ross)

iii. “For a wife, though she be not the best of her kind, is to be esteemed a blessing, being useful both for society of life, Genesis 2:18, and for the mitigation of a man’s cares and troubles, and for the prevention of sins.” (Poole)

iv. “Marriage, with all its troubles and embarrassments, is a blessing from God; and there are few cases where a wife of any sort is not better than none…. As to good wives and bad wives, they are relatively so, in general; and most of them that have been bad afterwards, have been good at first; and we well know the best things may deteriorate, and the world generally allows that where there are matrimonial contentions, there are faults on both sides.” (Clarke)

b. And obtains favor from the LORD: In Genesis 2:18 God said that it was not good for man to be alone. His gift of Eve to Adam was a demonstration of God’s favor, and He still gives that gift of favor. In the modern western world, the cultural incentives for marriage seem to become weaker year by year, but God’s declaration of good and the giving of His favor doesn’t depend on cultural incentives.

i. “As with the first man, the Creator gives each fractured male with whom he is pleased one wife to complete the abundant life he intended.” (Waltke)

ii. “The wording, especially in the Hebrew, strikingly resembles that of Proverbs 8:35, and so suggests that after wisdom itself, the best of God’s blessings is a good wife.” (Kidner)

Proverbs 18:23

The poor man uses entreaties,
But the rich answers roughly.

a. The poor man uses entreaties: It is sadly true that often, when a person is poor in money or influence, all they can do is beg for favor and justice.

i. “Speaks supplications; comes in a submissive manner; uses a low language, as a broken man. How much more should we do so to God…creeping into his presence with utmost humility and reverence.” (Trapp)

b. The rich answers roughly: The rich man or woman can speak boldly – even rudely – because they have resources of money and influence. Solomon here described the world as it is, not as it should be. We sense in this proverb a quiet plea to make a better world than what is described in the proverb.

i. Answers roughly: “Speaketh proudly and scornfully, either to the poor, or to others that converse with him, being puffed up with a conceit of his riches, and of his self-sufficiency.” (Poole)

ii. “The well-bred man of the world, who is all courtesy and refinement in his own circle, is often insufferably rude to those who are under him.” (Bridges)

iii. “Was Jesus not as considerate to blind Bartimaeus as to the nobleman of Capernaum? All classes of people alike shared in his tenderest sympathy.” (Bridges)

Proverbs 18:24

A man who has friends must himself be friendly,
But there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.

a. A man who has friends must himself be friendly: This is a basic but often ignored principle. If you want friends, you should be friendly to others.

b. There is a friend who sticks closer than a brother: Even when a man has friends, there is something that will disappoint in human friendship. The flesh and blood friends of this world are important and a blessing, but we need the friend who sticks closer than a brother – Jesus Christ Himself, who called us no longer servants but friends (John 15:14-15).

i. “The bond of real friendship is often closer than the natural tie. The friendship between David and Jonathan is such an example.” (Bridges)

ii. The transition between the plural (friends) and the singular (a friend) is significant. “It is better to have one good, faithful friend than numerous unreliable ones.” (Ross)

iii. We apply this to Jesus our Friend as a spiritual principle; it is likely that Solomon did not have the Messiah in mind. “In many cases the genuine friend has shown more attachment, and rendered greater benefits, than the natural brother. Some apply this to God; others to Christ; but the text has no such meaning.” (Clarke)

iv. “The friend whose loyalty transcends the solidarity of blood is realized in Jesus Christ (cf. John 15:12-15; Hebrews 2:11, 14-18).” (Waltke)

v. “Now I have a question to ask: that question I ask of every man and every woman in this place, and of every child too – Is Jesus Christ your friend? Have you a friend at court – at heaven’s court? Is the Judge of quick and dead your friend? Can you say that you love him, and has he ever revealed himself in the way of love to you? Dear hearer, do not answer that question for thy neighbor; answer it for thyself. Peer or peasant, rich or poor, learned or illiterate, this question is for each of you, therefore, ask it. Is Christ my friend?” (Spurgeon)

Proverbs 17

August 6, 2017/in Old Testament, Proverbs/by David Guzik

Proverbs 17 – Wisdom, Justice, and Family

Proverbs 17:1

Better is a dry morsel with quietness,
Than a house full of feasting with strife.

a. Better is a dry morsel with quietness: There is nothing appealing about a dry morsel. Yet the blessing of quietness and peace is so great, that it can make a dry morsel seem better than the alternative presented.

i. “Peace and contentment, and especially domestic peace, are beyond all other blessings.” (Clarke)

ii. “Ponder every thought that may disturb contentment. If you have fewer comforts than you used to have, or fewer comforts than other people have, or fewer comforts than you desire, do you not still have more than you deserve?” (Bridges)

b. Than a house full of feasting with strife: A home full of feasting would be wonderful; but not with constant strife. Peace and quietness in the home are so valuable that they make up for many other comforts denied.

i. “Its precise antithetic parallels contrasts a dinner party consisting of a dry bite of bread that had not been dipped into a dish of savory sauce of oil, vinegar or the like (cf. Proverbs 19:24), but nevertheless enjoyed in security, with an unlimited royal banquets but plagued with strife.” (Waltke)

ii. “Abundance often brings a deterioration of moral and ethical standards as well as an increase in envy and strife.” (Ross)

Proverbs 17:2

A wise servant will rule over a son who causes shame,
And will share an inheritance among the brothers.

a. A wise servant will rule over a son who causes shame: It is natural that a son should rule; the trust one has in family is often greater than the trust one has in servants. Yet, should a son cause shame, God knows how to replace that son with a wise servant. The son has his natural place, but God does not see that natural place as giving absolute right to lead and may give leadership to a wise servant instead.

b. And will share an inheritance among the brothers: Should the son prove to cause shame and if it is in God’s will, God is able to even lift up a wise servant to a place of leadership and inheritance among the brothers.

i. “Contrary to judicial law and custom, one’s virtue, not the privilege of birth, ultimately counts for more in social and economic standing.” (Waltke)

Proverbs 17:3

The refining pot is for silver and the furnace for gold,
But the LORD tests the hearts.

a. The refining pot is for silver and the furnace for gold: There are appropriate places where things are tested and purified. Silver and gold each have their place of refining and purification.

b. The LORD tests the hearts: The most appropriate place for the human heart to be tested and purified is with the LORD Himself. His word and His truth give a wise, loving standard that will both examine and refine the inner man or woman.

i. “Two important thoughts are suggested by this proverb. First, that the heart will yield to no force other than that of God. Dross in metal may be discovered and expurged by fire, but evil in the heart can be discovered and dealt with only by God. Second, Jehovah does try the heart.” (Morgan)

ii. “He therefore tries us, that he may make us know what is in us, what dross, what pure metal; and that all may see that we are such as, for a need, can ‘glorify him in the very fires,’ [Isaiah 24:15].” (Trapp)

Proverbs 17:4

An evildoer gives heed to false lips;
A liar listens eagerly to a spiteful tongue.

a. An evildoer gives heed to false lips: When it comes to lies spoken by false lips, evil people not only spread them, they also receive them. They seem to love to embrace a lie.

i. “It is an ill sign of a vicious nature to be apt to believe scandalous reports of godly men. If men loved not lies, they would not listen to them.” (Trapp)

ii. “An evil heart is disposed and ever ready to receive evil; and liars delight in lies.” (Clarke)

iii. “Evil words die without a welcome; and the welcome gives us away.” (Kidner)

b. A liar listens eagerly to a spiteful tongue: Those who lie love to listen to lies as well as speak them. It should concern us if we love to hear lies and gossip about others.

i. “This proverb contains a comparison between an evil-doer and an evil-speaker, and showeth their agreement in the same sinful practice of being greedy to hear false and wicked speeches.” (Poole)

ii. “Both the liar and his willing audience have no taste for truth.” (Waltke)

iii. “Taking gossip seriously is itself a form of malice practiced by those who have no respect for the truth.” (Garrett)

Proverbs 17:5

He who mocks the poor reproaches his Maker;
He who is glad at calamity will not go unpunished.

a. He who mocks the poor reproaches his Maker: Some people find it easy to mock the poor. They love to think of themselves as better than those who have less than they do. Such people should understand that when they mock the poor, they despise (reproach) the One who made both the poor and themselves. The fact that both the poor and the well-off have the same Maker should give the richer person greater sympathy and greater sense.

i. “The first part of this proverb does not teach, as is so often stated, that poverty is from God. Rather, it recognizes the inherent rights of every man in God, notwithstanding his poverty.” (Morgan)

b. He who is glad at calamity will not go unpunished: To be glad at anyone’s calamity shows an unloving, unsympathetic heart. Anyone who despises their fellow man this way should expect God to answer and defend the weaker one.

i. “He who is pleased to hear of the misfortune of another will, in the course of God’s just government, have his own multiplied.” (Clarke)

ii. John Trapp relates in his commentary how cruelly some take joy in the persecution, suffering, and death of innocent people – and how certainly judgment will come upon such.

Proverbs 17:6

Children’s children are the crown of old men,
And the glory of children is their father.

a. Children’s children are the crown of old men: Grandchildren are like a crown of glory for a grandparent. They can give an almost indescribable sense of pleasure and satisfaction.

i. “The proverb pictures them gathered around the aged parent like a crowning diadem.” (Waltke)

b. The glory of children is their father: This is true both as a fact and as an aspiration. It is natural for children to glory in their father, and fathers should live and parent in such a way that would cause their children to glory in them.

i. “Behind this apparently innocuous proverb is a profound assertion of the psychological interdependence of the generations. Elders derive a sense of pride from their descendants, and children get their self-worth from parents. On the other hand, one generation can cause shame and a sense of worthlessness in another.” (Garrett)

ii. “These fine family fruits need cultivating and protecting. A neglected crop, riddled with mutual antipathy, is seen in Isaiah 3:5; Micah 7:6; 2 Timothy 3:2-4.” (Kidner)

Proverbs 17:7

Excellent speech is not becoming to a fool,
Much less lying lips to a prince.

a. Excellent speech is not becoming to a fool: It isn’t that excellent speech is not desired from the fool, but that it is such an unexpected surprise. Since people usually express their wisdom or folly by what they say, it seems strange and almost inappropriate if a fool should say something wise and eloquent.

i. “God likes not fair words from a foul mouth. Christ silenced the devil when he confessed him to be the Son of the most high God.” (Trapp)

b. Much less lying lips to a prince: Any leader (a prince) should be so known for truthfulness that it is regarded as a strange surprise that they would lie. This is a lofty and rarely reached standard among leaders, especially political leaders.

i. “A dishonest leader is worse than an arrogant fool. A comparison shows which of two things is worse.” (Ross)

Proverbs 17:8

A present is a precious stone in the eyes of its possessor;
Wherever he turns, he prospers.

a. A present is a precious stone in the eyes of its possessor: It is human nature to regard a present as something precious. In this context the present may be a bribe, because the same Hebrew word is used. This proverb may simply state the fact that a bribe usually works.

i. “The proverb is expressing this reality from the viewpoint of the one giving the bribe—it works.” (Ross)

b. Wherever he turns, he prospers: The gain one receives from a gift (or bribe) so delights them that it accomplishes the purpose of the gift.

i. “In the latter clause there is an evident allusion to cut stones. Whithersoever you turn them, they reflect the light, are brilliant and beautiful.” (Clarke)

Proverbs 17:9

He who covers a transgression seeks love,
But he who repeats a matter separates friends.

a. He who covers a transgression seeks love: There is a time and a place for the exposure of sin (Ephesians 5:11), but often the sins of others should be tactfully and lovingly covered. The exposure of all belongs to God, not man (Luke 12:3).

b. He who repeats a matter separates friends: To uncover someone’s sin by repeating it to others will ruin relationships and divide friendships.

i. Repeats“…may indicate either tale-telling or…harping on a matter.” (Kidner)

Proverbs 17:10

Rebuke is more effective for a wise man
Than a hundred blows on a fool.

a. Rebuke is more effective for a wise man: Because a wise man or woman will respond to rebuke and learn from it, it can be truly effective for him or her.

b. Than a hundred blows on a fool: Correction may be administered deeply and repeatedly to the fool, yet they will not receive it. The problem is not in the correction itself (though the fool will likely blame it); the problem is in the fool.

i. “The finer the disposition, the less is needed to correct it.” (Morgan)

Proverbs 17:11

An evil man seeks only rebellion;
Therefore a cruel messenger will be sent against him.

a. An evil man seeks only rebellion: The instinctive response of rebellion belongs to the evil, not to the wise. Those who seek only rebellion can offer nothing wise and good to replace that which they rebel against.

b. A cruel messenger will be sent against him: Repeated rebellion invites cruel retaliation. The evil man should not be surprised when it comes.

i. “This expression could refer to a pitiless messenger that the king would send; but it also could refer to storms, pestilence, or any misfortune that was God’s messenger of retribution.” (Ross)

Proverbs 17:12

Let a man meet a bear robbed of her cubs,
Rather than a fool in his folly.

a. Let a man meet a bear robbed of her cubs: A mother bear is notoriously angry and dangerous when she is robbed of her cubs. No sensible person would want to meet a mother bear under such conditions.

b. Rather than a fool in his folly: A foolish man in the midst of his foolish actions can be more dangerous than a mother bear who lost her cubs. The wise man or woman will stay away from such a fool in his folly.

i. “The human, who is supposed to be intelligent and rational, in such folly becomes more dangerous than the beast that in this case acts with good reason.” (Ross)

Proverbs 17:13

Whoever rewards evil for good,
Evil will not depart from his house.

a. Whoever rewards evil for good: It is plainly wrong to give evil to those who deserve good. It discourages those who do good and encourages those who do not. It upsets God’s moral order to have good punished.

i. “To render good for evil is divine, good for good is human, evil for evil is brutish, evil for good is devilish.” (Trapp)

b. Evil will not depart from his house: God sees when His moral order is offended and will answer it. The one who gives evil to the good can expect their own home to be troubled by evil.

i. “As many persons are guilty of the sin of ingratitude, and of paying kindness with unkindness, and good with evil, it is no wonder we find so much wretchedness among men; for God’s word cannot fail; evil shall not depart from the houses and families of such persons.” (Clarke)

ii. “This proverb was very near the bone: both parents of Solomon had so repaid the devoted Uriah, and had duly received the sentence of line 2: see 2 Samuel 12:10ff.” (Kidner)

Proverbs 17:14

The beginning of strife is like releasing water;
Therefore stop contention before a quarrel starts.

a. The beginning of strife is like releasing water: The nature of liquid water makes it difficult to restrain. Once it is released it will go in unexpected and uncontrolled ways. This is like the beginning of strife. Once an argument or battle has begun, it is difficult to control its course, and like uncontrolled water, it can cause great damage.

i. “The verse likens the beginning of a bitter conflict involving the pent up arrogance and anger of a fool to a person who digs a hole in a dam or opens a sluice. The seepage starts from a small aperture, but under built up pressure it quickly bursts open and the small leak turns into a raging, uncontrolled cataclysm that gets out of hand and does irreparable damage.” (Waltke)

ii. “Opening such a sluice lets loose more than one can predict, control or retrieve.” (Kidner)

b. Therefore stop contention before a quarrel starts: Because strife and contention are difficult to control and cause great damage, wisdom sees that it is much better to stop contention before it ever starts.

i. “Do therefore here as the Dutchmen do by their banks; they keep them with little cost and trouble, because they look narrowly to them, and make them up in time. If there be but the least breach, they stop it presently, otherwise the sea would soon flood them.” (Trapp)

Proverbs 17:15

He who justifies the wicked, and he who condemns the just,
Both of them alike are an abomination to the LORD.

a. He who justifies the wicked, and he who condemns the just: This is the same kind of upset of God’s moral order as mentioned previously in Proverbs 17:13. Justice requires the opposite outcome – that the wicked are condemned and that the just are justified.

b. Both of them alike are an abomination to the LORD: God sees the violation of justice on both sides. God never thinks that all should be equally condemned or justified; but that the appropriate answer be given to both the wicked and the just.

i. “A self-evident statement, and yet one that needs to be made, for in every age there have been those who fall into both forms of wrong.” (Morgan)

ii. “The proverb corrects the popular misconception that it is better to set free ten guilty persons than to condemn one innocent person. Both are an abomination to the Lord.” (Waltke)

Proverbs 17:16

Why is there in the hand of a fool the purchase price of wisdom,
Since he has no heart for it?

a. Why is there in the hand of a fool the purchase price of wisdom: Wisdom has a price, and Solomon imagined a fool who was ready to pay that price. We might say that the price of wisdom begins with the fear of the LORD. The price of wisdom also involves humility and willingness to receive correction.

i. “The fool has no interest in obtaining wisdom in the way that it must be obtained.” (Ross)

b. Since he has no heart for it: It would be strange to find the price of wisdom in the hand of a fool, because then that person would no longer be a fool. The nature of the fool requires that they have no heart to pay the price of wisdom.

Proverbs 17:17

A friend loves at all times,
And a brother is born for adversity.

a. A friend loves at all times: A true friend will not only love when it is easy, but at all times. What used to be called fair-weather friends – those who are friends only when the weather is pleasant and fair – are not true friends at all.

i. “Ahithophel has deserted David, and Judas has sold his Lord. The greatest of kings who have been fawned upon by their courtiers while in power, have been treated as if they were but dogs in the time of their extremity.” (Spurgeon)

ii. “That eminent servant of God, Jonathan Edwards, when he was at his last, said, ‘Where is Jesus of Nazareth, my old and faithful friend? I know he will be with me now that I need his help,’ and so he was, for that faithful servant died triumphant.” (Spurgeon)

b. A brother is born for adversity: A true brother (here used in a sense beyond the literal blood relation) will show himself in a time of adversity.

i. Morgan on the principle of this proverb: “Let it be applied. Then two startling questions will arise. First, a question as to whether I am really a friend to anyone; and second, a question as to how many real friends I have.”

ii. Charles Bridges had an even better application: “We must look to our Lord for the best example in this matter. We see the Son of God taking on our nature so that he might be our friend and brother (Hebrews 2:14). The mystery of this friendship is beyond our imagination.”

iii. “The ancient Jews applied this proverb to Christ, adducing it as a testimony that the divine Messiah would by his incarnation become the Brother of man.” (Bridges)

Proverbs 17:18

A man devoid of understanding shakes hands in a pledge,
And becomes surety for his friend.

a. A man devoid of understanding shakes hands in a pledge: Wisdom guards us against foolish partnerships.

b. And becomes surety for his friend: It is responsibility enough to honor our own debts. Wisdom warns us against taking responsibility for the debts of others.

Proverbs 17:19

He who loves transgression loves strife,
And he who exalts his gate seeks destruction.

a. He who loves transgression loves strife: There are those who love both transgression and strife. They love it when God’s laws are sinfully transgressed and when there is conflict.

b. He who exalts his gate seeks destruction: Those who exalt the leadership of those who love transgression and strife are promoting destruction. Such people should never sit in the gate of respect, leadership, and authority.

i. “The man who builds a high gate exalts himself above his neighbor and assumes a lifestyle beyond his rank.” (Bridges)

ii. “Possibly gate is here taken for the mouth; and the exalting of the gate may mean proud boasting and arrogant speaking, such as has a tendency to kindle and maintain strife. And this interpretation seems to agree better with the scope of the context.” (Clarke)

Proverbs 17:20

He who has a deceitful heart finds no good,
And he who has a perverse tongue falls into evil.

a. He who has a deceitful heart finds no good: The one filled with deceit will only find corruption and deceit in others.

b. He who has a perverse tongue falls into evil: Wicked and foolish words not only display the evil of someone’s heart, they also lead them into greater evil.

Proverbs 17:21

He who begets a scoffer does so to his sorrow,
And the father of a fool has no joy.

a. He who begets a scoffer does so to his sorrow: To be the parent of a foolish scoffer (one who foolishly doubts and rejects the truth) is to have sorrow. Parents should do all they can to not raise scoffers, beginning with believing and living out the truth themselves.

b. The father of a fool has no joy: There is no pleasure in seeing that your child is a fool. There is both the pain of the consequences of the child’s folly and the regret of wondering if one parented effectively.

i. “No more than William the Conqueror had in his ungracious children, or Henry II, who, finding that his sons had conspired against him with the king of France, fell into a grievous passion, cursing both his sons, and the day wherein himself was born; and in that distemperature departed the world, which himself had so oft distempered.” (Trapp)

Proverbs 17:22

A merry heart does good, like medicine,
But a broken spirit dries the bones.

a. A merry heart does good, like medicine: It has been said – no doubt based on this proverb – that laughter is the best medicine. Truly, a cheerful and merry heart is good for more than the personality; it is good for the body.

b. A broken spirit dries the bones: Those who are defeated and broken in spirit will see the effect in their health and experience of life. It will feel to them that their life has withered and dried up. This was the feeling David described in Psalm 32:1-4.

i. “‘Bones’ figuratively represents the body (encased in the bony frame): fat bones means a healthy body (Proverbs 3:8; 15:30; 16:24), but dry bones signify unhealthiness and lifelessness (cf. Ezekiel 37:1-14).” (Ross)

ii. “A broken spirit in an evangelical sense is God’s precious gift. It is stamped with his special honor. But here a crushed spirit describes a brooding spirit of despondency that always looks on the dark side of things. If this is linked to religion, it flows from a narrow and perverted view and a spurious humility centered on the self. It has the effect of drying up the bones.” (Bridges)

Proverbs 17:23

A wicked man accepts a bribe behind the back
To pervert the ways of justice.

a. A wicked man accepts a bribe behind the back: It is wrong to receive a bribe, an illegal and unjust payment to get around normal laws and procedures and to buy favor from officials. This shows a fundamental corruption and lack of integrity.

i. “The corrupt official defies God who has placed him over the community to protect the poor. He shows he is conscious of his guilt by accepting the sly bribe, which is concealed from public scrutiny and opprobrium, but it is not concealed from God.” (Waltke)

b. To pervert the ways of justice: When favor and a desired outcome depends on bribe money and not fairness and righteousness, justice is perverted. Then, no one can or should have confidence in the system of laws and ways of justice.

Proverbs 17:24

Wisdom is in the sight of him who has understanding,
But the eyes of a fool are on the ends of the earth.

a. Wisdom is in the sight of him who has understanding: The sense seems to be that the wise see things in the light of their wisdom. Their wisdom makes everything else clearer and able to be understood.

b. The eyes of a fool are on the ends of the earth: The fool doesn’t see things with the eyes of wisdom. They have their eyes everywhere (the ends of the earth) except where they should be.

i. “Wisdom is within the sight and reach at every man: but he whose desires are scattered abroad, who is always aiming at impossible things, or is of an unsteady disposition, is not likely to find it.” (Clarke)

ii. “The contrast here is between ‘before the face of him’ and ‘the ends of the earth.’ While it is a sure sign of weakness to see only the things that are near, it is a yet surer sign of folly to be forever looking at far-off things, to the neglect of those close at hand.” (Morgan)

iii. “As a student who is hearing nothing of what his teacher says might let his eyes rove to every corner of the classroom, so the fool who is inattentive to the instruction of Wisdom is said to have his eyes on the ends of the earth.” (McKane, cited in Ross)

iv. “His eyes are on the ends of the earth, rolling and wandering from one object to another. His thoughts are scattered. He has no definite objective, no certain way of life. Talent, cultivation of mind, and improvement of opportunity are all frittered away. He cares about those things that are furthest from him and with which he has the least concern.” (Bridges)

v. “This diversion is a great friend to the enemy. Our enemy’s great object is to turn the mind away from what is immediate to what is indefinite, from what is plain and important to what is unsearchable, from what is personal to what is irrelevant. Many trifles take the place of the one thing that is needful.” (Bridges)

Proverbs 17:25

A foolish son is a grief to his father,
And bitterness to her who bore him.

a. A foolish son is a grief to his father: The thought in this proverb is similar to that in Proverbs 17:21. Parents may find great grief in the foolish character of their children.

b. And bitterness to her who bore him: Because of the maternal instinct and bond, there is a special pain and bitterness that belongs to the mother of a foolish son or daughter.

Proverbs 17:26

Also, to punish the righteous is not good,
Nor to strike princes for their uprightness.

a. To punish the righteous is not good: God’s moral order insists that the righteous be rewarded and the wicked be punished. To upset this or reverse it is not good.

b. Nor to strike princes for their uprightness: If a leader is upright, he should never be punished – especially by striking. Uprightness should be rewarded and honored, not punished.

Proverbs 17:27

He who has knowledge spares his words,
And a man of understanding is of a calm spirit.

a. He who has knowledge spares his words: Both wisdom and folly are often revealed by one’s words. Yet, in the case of wisdom, it may be revealed by the knowledge of when to keep quiet. We should never think that the wise man or woman reveals their wisdom by talking a lot.

b. A man of understanding is of a calm spirit: The peace and contentment that properly come to the wise is described here as a calm spirit. To be constantly agitated and upset is a mark of folly, not wisdom.

Proverbs 17:28

Even a fool is counted wise when he holds his peace;
When he shuts his lips, he is considered perceptive.

a. Even a fool is counted wise when he holds his peace: This continues the idea from the previous proverb. There is a wonderful way that even a fool can be considered wise – to not speak.

i. Is counted wise: “The dry advice of 28 is not purely ironical: the fool who takes it is no longer a complete fool.” (Kidner)

b. When he shuts his lips, he is considered perceptive: If the fool cared about being considered perceptive, this gives an easy way for it to happen.

i. One is reminded of Abraham Lincoln’s witty saying: “It is better to keep your mouth shut and let them think you a fool than to open your mouth and remove all doubt.”

Proverbs 16

August 6, 2017/in Old Testament, Proverbs/by David Guzik

Proverbs 16 – Of Righteousness and Kings

Proverbs 16:1

The preparations of the heart belong to man,
But the answer of the tongue is from the LORD.

a. The preparations of the heart belong to man: God plans and prepares, and because man is made in the image of God (Genesis 1:27), it is in the nature of man to make preparations of the heart.

b. But the answer of the tongue is from the LORD: When wisdom is given voice (the answer of the tongue), it is from the LORD – beyond the preparations of man’s heart.

i. “A somewhat obscure proverb which recognizes that man has to exercise his own reason in making his plans, but that he is dependent on the Lord for the answer of the tongue.” (Morgan)

Proverbs 16:2

All the ways of a man are pure in his own eyes,
But the LORD weighs the spirits.

a. All the ways of a man are pure in his own eyes: By instinct, men and women justify themselves and see their own ways as pure. Some of the most criminal and violent people have thought themselves pure in their own eyes.

i. “They who are best acquainted with mankind will tell you that self- righteousness is not the peculiar sin of the virtuous, but that most remarkably, it flourishes best where there appears to be the least soil for it.” (Spurgeon)

b. But the LORD weighs the spirits: Despite the constant self-justification of men and women, God fairly and accurately weighs the spirits of all. God knows and God measures.

i. “The conclusion of the matter is that we deceive ourselves so easily and therefore cannot fully evaluate ourselves. God, by his Spirit and through his Word, provides the penetrating evaluation.” (Ross)

Proverbs 16:3

Commit your works to the LORD,
And your thoughts will be established.

a. Commit your works to the LORD: Every man and woman should commit their works to the LORD. They should depend on God in their works and they should do those works as unto the LORD (Colossians 3:23).

i. Commit your works: “Hebrew, Roll, etc., as a man rolls a burden to another, which is too heavy for himself, imploring his help. Refer all thy actions and concerns to God, and to his glory.” (Poole)

ii. “The admonition commit to (golel, literally ‘roll to/upon’ cf. Genesis 29:3, 8, 10; Psalm 22:8 37:5) connotes a sense of finality; roll it unto the Lord and leave it there.” (Waltke)

iii. “Our activities and plans (thoughts) will be no less our own for being his: only less burdensome (commit is literally ‘roll’, as in Psalm 37:5), and better made.” (Kidner)

b. Your thoughts will be established: Usually, we think of committing our thoughts or plans to the Lord, then committing our works to Him. Here Solomon reversed that order, and told us to first commit our works, then trust that our thoughts and plans will be established.

Proverbs 16:4

The LORD has made all for Himself,
Yes, even the wicked for the day of doom.

a. The LORD has made all for Himself: God, as creator of all things, has the right to claim all things for Himself.

b. Yes, even the wicked for the day of doom: God’s plan and providence includes the destiny of the wicked. He has appointed them for the day of doom.

i. “The general meaning is that there are ultimately no loose ends in God’s world: everything will be put to some use and matched with its proper fate. It does not mean that God is the author of evil.” (Kidner)

ii. “He does not make the wicked or ungodly man; but when man has made himself such, even then God bears with him. But if he repent not, when the measure of his iniquity is filled up, he shall fall under the wrath of God his Maker.” (Clarke)

iii. John Trapp was among those who believed that this proverb did not teach the predestination of the damned: “For God may, to show his sovereignty, annihilate his creature; but to appoint a reasonable creature to an estate of endless pain, without respect of his desert, cannot agree to the unspotted justice of God.”

Proverbs 16:5

Everyone proud in heart is an abomination to the LORD;
Though they join forces, none will go unpunished.

a. Everyone proud in heart is an abomination to the LORD: God resists the proud (James 4:6 and 1 Peter 5:5) and regards them as an abomination. The proud man or woman imitates Satan in his proud rebellion against God (Isaiah 14:12-15).

b. Though they join forces, none will go unpunished: One proud man or woman cannot succeed against God, but neither can many proud men or women. Even if they join forces against God as they did at Babel (Genesis 11:1-9), they will not go unpunished, even as at Babel.

Proverbs 16:6

In mercy and truth
Atonement is provided for iniquity;
And by the fear of the LORD one departs from evil.

a. In mercy and truth atonement is provided: God in His mercy and truth has provided atonement for iniquity. God’s mercy prompted the great sacrifice of Jesus Messiah on the cross, and His truth made it necessary to make atonement in a way that honored the righteousness of God.

i. “This may be misunderstood, as if a man, by showing mercy and acting according to truth, could atone for his own iniquity. The Hebrew text is not ambiguous: bechesed veemeth yechapper avon; ‘By mercy and truth he shall atone for iniquity.’ He – God, by his mercy, in sending his son Jesus into the world, – ‘shall make an atonement for iniquity’ according to his truth – the word which he declared by his holy prophets since the world began.” (Clarke)

ii. To paraphrase a thought from Bridges: Mercy engages; truth fulfills. The ransom is provided by mercy and accepted by truth. Both sat together in the eternal council. In Jesus, both entered into the world together.

iii. Some commentators believe that this refers to man’s mercy and truth but are careful to point out that it does not teach the idea of self-atonement or self-salvation. “The second line indicates that the mercy (hesed) and truth (better, loyalty and faithfulness, Revised Standard Version) are man’s here, not God’s…. This is not a denial of grace, but a characteristic demand for ‘fruits that befit repentance’.” (Kidner)

b. By the fear of the LORD one departs from evil: The great principle of the fear of the LORD is not only the beginning of wisdom (Proverbs 1:7, 9:10), it is also the foundation of a God-honoring life. To live in the fear of the LORD is to depart from evil.

Proverbs 16:7

When a man’s ways please the LORD,
He makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.

a. When a man’s ways please the LORD: It is possible for a man or woman to live a life that pleases God. This isn’t the idea that we can be perfectly pleasing to God before our salvation is completed in resurrection and glorification. Instead, the idea is that in general, a man or woman can honor and please the LORD with their life.

b. He makes even his enemies to be at peace with him: One of God’s blessings on the man or woman who pleases Him is to give them peace with others, even extending to their enemies.

i. “God is the guardian and defence of all that fear and love him; and it is truly astonishing to see how wondrously God works in their behalf, raising them up friends, and turning their enemies into friends.” (Clarke)

ii. “A lifestyle pleasing to God disarms social hostility.” (Ross)

Proverbs 16:8

Better is a little with righteousness,
Than vast revenues without justice.

a. Better is a little with righteousness: Sometimes those who are righteous in this world have little of the material comforts of this world.

b. Than vast revenues without justice: Someone who has great wealth (vast revenues) but little righteousness is worse off than the righteous man or woman who has little materially in this world. Vast revenues without justice can never give a peaceful conscience, freedom from guilt and sin, the love and joy of God, and a hundred other things the righteous enjoy.

i. It isn’t that the only two options in life are to have either little with righteousness or vast revenues without justice. It’s that when those two options are compared, the first is clearly better.

ii. “Was not the widow of Zarephath richer with her scanty fare than Jezebel in her royal attire?… If godliness is great riches in this life, what will it be in eternity?” (Bridges)

Proverbs 16:9

A man’s heart plans his way,
But the LORD directs his steps.

a. A man’s heart plans his way: This is not a bad thing. We, as the God in whose image we are made, think about and plan our way. Many people would do well to more carefully plan their way.

b. But the LORD directs his steps: We plan as we can and should, but we should never think that our ability to plan makes us lord over our lives. It is the LORD who directs our steps. Every plan we make should be held in humility before God and in surrender to His ultimate will.

i. “A man may plan his road to the last detail, but he cannot implement his planning, unless it coincides with Yahweh’s plan for him.” (Waltke)

ii. “A man can and does devise his own way under the direction of his heart. If desire be evil, the way devised is evil. If desire be good, the way devised is good. But that is not all the truth about life. This is also true: ‘Jehovah directeth his steps’…. That is to say that no man can step outside the government of God, no man can devise a way that enables him to escape from God.” (Morgan)

iii. This is true with both good and bad plans. “The point is the contrast between what we actually plan and what actually happens—God determines that. As Paul later said, God is able to do abundantly more than we ask or think (Ephesians 3:20).” (Ross)

iv. “As rational agents we think, consult, act freely. We are dependent agents, and the Lord exercises his own power in permitting, overruling, or furthering our actions. Thus man proposes, and God disposes.” (Bridges)

Proverbs 16:10

Divination is on the lips of the king;
His mouth must not transgress in judgment.

a. Divination is on the lips of the king: The word divination is used here not in the sense of seeking occult or demonic guidance. It is used simply in the sense of wise guidance, the wisdom that should be on the lips of the king.

i. “Hebrew, divination, which is sometimes taken in a good sense for prudence, as it is Isaiah 3:2. A great sagacity and piercing judgment to discern dubious and difficult cases.” (Poole)

ii. Divination: “The word qesem is used throughout the Bible in the negative sense of ‘divination’; here it seems merely to mean his words from an oracular sentence, as if he speaks for God (see Numbers 22:7; 23:23; and, for a popular opinion of such, 2 Samuel 14:20).” (Ross)

b. His mouth must not transgress in judgment: The same lips that must speak wisdom and discernment should not also be used to go beyond God’s wisely appointed boundaries of judgment.

i. “The Old Testament lends no support to the idea that the king can do no wrong; rather, he is a man under authority: Deuteronomy 17:18-20.” (Kidner)

Proverbs 16:11

Honest weights and scales are the LORD’s;
All the weights in the bag are His work.

a. Honest weights and scales are the LORD’s: Fair business and measures are so pleasing to God that it can be said that honest measures belong to Him. All of God’s measurements and assessments are fair and true. The proper measure does not come from the king, nor does it belong to the king. The right measure comes from God and belongs to Him.

i. “Balance [weights] refers to a stationary balance with beams and bolts, and scale (see Proverbs 11:1) possibly refers to the hand-held balance.” (Waltke)

b. All the weights in the bag are His work: This assumes that the weights in the bag are those mentioned in the previous line – honest weights and scales. Fair and honest business is God’s business, His work.

i.“Proverbs 16:11 does not mention the king and is theologically important in that, using the concrete image of scales and measures, it teaches that the principle of justice is derived from God. Equity is not a human invention, and thus kings do not have the authority to suspend or violate the laws of fairness.” (Garrett)

Proverbs 16:12

It is an abomination for kings to commit wickedness,
For a throne is established by righteousness.

a. It is an abomination for kings to commit wickedness: Solomon admitted that it was possible for kings to commit wickedness. Some think that because someone is a king or leader all they do is justified. Sadly, Solomon became a king who committed wickedness (1 Kings 11:1-10).

b. A throne is established by righteousness: The righteous life of a king invites God’s blessing upon his life and reign. Because of this great potential and influence, it is an even greater sin for kings to commit wickedness.

i. “If this proverb had been written later, after the monarchy had disintegrated, there would have been a greater variance between the ideal and the real. But coming from the golden age of Solomon, the ideal was still credible.” (Ross)

Proverbs 16:13

Righteous lips are the delight of kings,
And they love him who speaks what is right.

a. Righteous lips are the delight of kings: In their positions of authority, it is important for kings to hear from those who speak honestly and wisely. Therefore, they find delight in righteous lips.

i. It is always important for kings and leaders to hear the truth from others and not mere flattery. “Most princes are held by their parasites, who soothe them up in their sins, and smooth them up with fair words, which soak into them as oil doth into earthen vessels.” (Trapp)

b. They love him who speaks what is right: Even when a man speaks what may be difficult for the king to hear, the one who speaks what is right will gain the love and respect of those who are in authority.

Proverbs 16:14

As messengers of death is the king’s wrath,
But a wise man will appease it.

a. As messengers of death is the king’s wrath: When a king or man of authority is angry, his reaction can bring death or a death-like fear to others. This is true of earthly kings; it is much truer of the King of Kings. To be the target of His wrath is to receive messengers of death.

i. “Solomon’s kingdom is said to be established only after he rid his realm of the wrongdoers (1 Kings 2:22-46).” (Waltke)

ii. “Queen Elizabeth was so reserved, that all about her stood in a reverent awe of her very presence and aspect, but much more of her least frown or check; wherewith some of them, who thought they might best presume of her favour, have been so suddenly daunted and planet stricken that they could not lay down the grief thereof but in their grave.” (Trapp)

b. But a wise man will appease it: Wisdom can help us have the right reaction even in the difficult moments when a king or person of authority is angry and shows their wrath. The wise man or woman will especially know how to appease the wrath of the King of Kings – not by their own works and merits, but by receiving what God has provided in the person and work of Jesus Messiah.

Proverbs 16:15

In the light of the king’s face is life,
And his favor is like a cloud of the latter rain.

a. In the light of the king’s face is life: The approval and favor of an earthly king could mean success or failure for anyone in his kingdom. To have his shining countenance give approval (the light of the king’s face) meant you were safe in the king’s favor and had life.

i. “The saying describes the benefits of having a king who is pleased with his subjects. The king’s brightened face signifies his delight and thus means life for those around him (as opposed to his wrath).” (Ross)

b. His favor is like a cloud of the latter rain: The welcome and approval of a king is like life-giving rain, especially the latter rain which ensured a good harvest. This proverb is especially true regarding the King of Kings. The favor of His countenance is a blessing to receive (Numbers 6:25) and it gives light and life.

i. “As acceptable as those clouds which bring the latter rain, whereby the fruits are filled and ripened a little before the harvest; of which see Deuteronomy 11:14, Job 29:23, James 5:7.” (Poole)

ii. “The early rains prepare the ground for plowing and sowing and the latter rains provide the last bit of moisture on which the cereal harvest depends.” (Waltke)

Proverbs 16:16

How much better to get wisdom than gold!
And to get understanding is to be chosen rather than silver.

a. How much better to get wisdom than gold: The riches of this world have their uses, but it is better to have wisdom than gold. Wisdom is much more helpful and useful in this life, and it is far more profitable for the life to come.

i. “Who believes this, though spoken by the wisest of men, under Divine inspiration?” (Clarke)

b. To get understanding is to be chosen rather than silver: One should make the main pursuit of one’s life to gain wisdom and understanding in the fear of the Lord. This has value far more than gold or silver, but it also often leads to material prosperity as it did for Solomon (1 Kings 3:5-15).

i. “Wisdom and wealth are not incompatible; but this comparison is between wealth without wisdom and wisdom without wealth.” (Ross)

Proverbs 16:17

The highway of the upright is to depart from evil;
He who keeps his way preserves his soul.

a. The highway of the upright is to depart from evil: The upright man or woman knows that the path of their life – their highway – should move away from evil, not towards it or with it.

b. He who keeps his way preserves his soul: The one who walks well upon the right way will find his life preserved. He will stay away from the evil way that may cost him his life, his soul.

Proverbs 16:18

Pride goes before destruction,
And a haughty spirit before a fall.

a. Pride goes before destruction: God is opposed to the proud (James 4:6 and 1 Peter 5:5) and the proud man or woman is an abomination to God (Proverbs 16:5). With God so set against the proud, no wonder that pride goes before destruction.

i. “The special evil of pride is that it opposes the first principle of wisdom (the fear of the Lord) and the two great commandments.” (Kidner)

ii. “A bulging wall is near a downfall. Swelling is a dangerous symptom in the body; so is pride in the soul.” (Trapp)

iii. “So far as any man is proud, he is kin to the devil, and a stranger to God and to himself.” (Baxter, cited in Bridges)

b. And a haughty spirit before a fall: One of the many ways that pride is evident is in a haughty spirit – an attitude that communicates superiority over other people. Those who think themselves higher than others are ready to fall under the fair judgment of God.

i. “The proverb gives the strong impression of saying the same thing twice…. In this way its truth is underscored and clarified; the proud are defined more precisely as the haughty in spirit.” (Waltke)

Proverbs 16:19

Better to be of a humble spirit with the lowly,
Than to divide the spoil with the proud.

a. Better to be of a humble spirit with the lowly: Because pride is an abomination to God (Proverbs 16:5) and leads to destruction (Proverbs 16:18), it isn’t so bad to live among the lowly and to have a humble spirit.

b. Than to divide the spoil with the proud: A humble life among the lowly is better than having reward (spoil) among the proud. This is because proud people are not pleasant company, and because it is never good to join those whom God is set against.

i. “A humble man is worth his weight in gold; he hath far more comfort in his losses than proud giants have in their rapines and robberies.” (Trapp)

Proverbs 16:20

He who heeds the word wisely will find good,
And whoever trusts in the LORD, happy is he.

a. He who heeds the word wisely will find good: Obedience to God – to heed His word and to do it wisely – will always bring good. This thought also suggests that there are unwise or foolish ways to heed the word, perhaps as the religious leaders in Jesus’ day could strain out a gnat and swallow a camel (Matthew 23:24).

b. Whoever trusts in the LORD, happy is he: The good that the obedient will find also comes because they have a true and confident trust in God. They can happily and calmly rest in the good God who loves and cares for them.

i. “I have read a story of an old Doctor of the Church, who, going out one morning, met a beggar, and said to him, ‘I wish you a good day.’ ‘Sir,’ said he, ‘I never had an ill day in any life.’ ‘But,’ said the Doctor, ‘your clothes are torn to rags, and your wallet seems to be exceedingly empty.’ Said he, ‘My clothes are as good as God wills them to be, and my wallet is as full as the Lord has been pleased to make it, and what pleases him pleases me.’ ‘But,’ said the Doctor, ‘suppose God should cast you into hell?’ ‘Indeed, sir,’ said he, ‘but that would never be; but if it were, I would be contented, for I have two long and strong arms – faith and love – and I would throw these about the neck of my Savior, and I would never let him go, so that if I went there, he would be with me, and it would be a heaven to me.’ Oh, those two strong arms of faith and love! if you can but hang about the Savior’s neck, indeed, you may fear no ill weather.” (Spurgeon)

Proverbs 16:21

The wise in heart will be called prudent,
And sweetness of the lips increases learning.

a. The wise in heart will be called prudent: Those who are wise in heart will demonstrate it in their life. Others will see it and call them prudent or wise. This is another reminder that true wisdom is demonstrated in life; it isn’t only having good or true thoughts in one’s mind.

b. The sweetness of the lips increases learning: The phrase sweetness of the lips doesn’t have to do with good tasting food or pleasant kisses. Like many proverbs, it refers to wise and well-spoken words, perhaps with a touch of eloquence. Such speaking increases learning, both in the speaker and those who hear him or her.

i. The sweetness of the lips: “Eloquence added to wisdom; the faculty of expressing a man’s mind fitly, and freely, and acceptably.” (Poole)

ii. “Wise teachers choose their words carefully and in so doing enhance the learning experience for their students. The wisdom of the true sage not only benefits the disciples morally but is a joy to receive as well.” (Garrett)

Proverbs 16:22

Understanding is a wellspring of life to him who has it.
But the correction of fools is folly.

a. Understanding is a wellspring of life to him who has it: Wisdom (understanding) brings life to the wise man or woman. It is like a continually flowing wellspring of life.

b. The correction of fools is folly: Wisdom brings life, but it is usually foolish to try to correct a fool. As soon as a fool decides to receive correction, they have started not being a fool and leaving their folly.

Proverbs 16:23

The heart of the wise teaches his mouth,
And adds learning to his lips.

a. The heart of the wise teaches his mouth: Our wisdom is shown by what we speak, and by the control we have over the words that come from our mouths. Godliness and wisdom are evident when they teach the mouth what to say and not say.

b. And adds learning to his lips: Wisdom is shown by a heart and mind that are continually learning. When learning is added to the lips (the words one says), then a person truly has wisdom and is growing in it.

Proverbs 16:24

Pleasant words are like a honeycomb,
Sweetness to the soul and health to the bones.

a. Pleasant words are like a honeycomb: There is wonderful power in our words to bring blessing and pleasantness to others. In ancient Biblical culture, nothing was as sweet as honey from the honeycomb, and pleasant words can be just as sweet and wonderful.

i. Like a honeycomb: “One might recall, in line with the use of this imagery, how Jonathan’s eyes brightened when he ate the honeycomb (1 Samuel 14:27); such is the uplifting effect of pleasant words.” (Ross)

b. Sweetness to the soul and health to the bones: Encouraging and pleasant words bring enjoyment to the whole person (the soul) and health to the body (the bones).

Proverbs 16:25

There is a way that seems right to a man,
But its end is the way of death.

a. There is a way that seems right to a man: Some people walk a path of life that they know is wrong, and many proverbs speak to that person. Others walk a path of life that seems right to them, and they are mistaken. It isn’t enough to feel good about our path or to follow our heart on life’s way. God’s revelation and word are always truer and safer than what seems right to a man.

b. But its end is the way of death: Taking the wrong way – even if it seems right to a man – isn’t an innocent mistake. This is because the wrong path ends in death. The end of the wrong path isn’t temporary trouble or inconvenience; its end is the way of death.

i. The repetition of this proverb (also at Proverbs 14:12) emphasizes its greatness and importance. “And think not this a vain repetition; but know that it is thus redoubled, that it may be the better remarked and remembered. Nothing is more ordinary or more dangerous than self-delusion…. To warn us therefore of this greatest wickedness, it is that this sentence is reiterated.” (Trapp)

Proverbs 16:26

The person who labors, labors for himself,
For his hungry mouth drives him on.

a. The person who labors, labors for himself: The Bible recognizes the principle of personal property (Exodus 20:15) and that the reward of work properly belongs to the worker (labors for himself). This argues against schemes of forced communal living, either on a small or national scale. It also argues against excessive taxation, because it does not say the person who labors, labors for his government.

b. For his hungry mouth drives him on: When people are rewarded with the benefit of their own work, they know that their work can fill their hungry mouths. When it isn’t necessary to work in order to fill a hungry mouth, much less work will be done.

i. “That is to say that hunger will make a man work when nothing else will. This is in harmony with the apostolic principle, ‘If a man will not work, neither let him eat.’” (Morgan)

ii. “A worker’s appetite works for him; his mouth urges him on…this is welcome realism (cf. 2 Thessalonians 3:10-12), though it is not the last word on incentives: cf. Ephesians 4:28; 6:7.” (Kidner)

iii. “Though work is tiring and frustrating in this fallen world, nevertheless the drive to gratify his appetites prods the diligent person to productive efforts…. God and the wise do not frustrate these primal, productive drives and appetites by denying them gratification (Proverbs 10:3) or by gratifying them apart from work (cf. Proverbs 3:27; 10:3a; 1 Thessalonians 4:11; 2 Thessalonians 3:10).” (Waltke)

Proverbs 16:27

An ungodly man digs up evil,
And it is on his lips like a burning fire.

a. An ungodly man digs up evil: The sense is that for the ungodly man, the evil he casually finds isn’t enough to satisfy his desire. He digs up evil, finding the effort to pursue evil.

i. Digs up evil: “A wicked man labours as much to bring about an evil purpose, as the quarryman does to dig up stones.” (Clarke)

ii. John Trapp relates how the enemies of both Augustine and Beza dug up their old sins and tried to discredit them on account of those sins.

b. It is on his lips like a burning fire: When an ungodly man digs up evil, he can’t keep it to himself. He has to spread it to others, so he casts it from his lips as if it were a burning fire.

i. “What he finds he spreads; his speech is like scorching fire—the simile speaks of the devastating effect of his words.” (Ross)

Proverbs 16:28

A perverse man sows strife,
And a whisperer separates the best of friends.

a. A perverse man sows strife: Twisted, perverse people love to sow strife the way a farmer sows seeds. When there is much strife, there is some perverse person sowing the strife.

i. Sows: “It is, appropriately, the word used of the release of flaming foxes in the Philistines’ corn, Judges 15:5.” (Kidner)

b. A whisperer separates the best of friends: This is one way that the perverse man sows strife – by whispering gossipy words. The strife they sow is so powerful that it can separate the best of friends. Often, such people show they are perverse because they count it a victory and an accomplishment to sow such strife and to separate even the best of friends.

i. Whisperer: “…denotes a malicious gossip who misrepresents a situation and by his calumny aims to besmirch and to defame others behind their backs. In Proverbs 17:9 the talebearer also implicitly repeats a matter without confronting the wrong doer directly.” (Waltke)

Proverbs 16:29

A violent man entices his neighbor,
And leads him in a way that is not good.

a. A violent man entices his neighbor: The violent man may do this by encouraging partnership in his violent works, or by inviting a violent response from his neighbor.

b. Leads him in a way that is not good: Violence often leads to a way that is not good. Sometimes the threat or presence of strength is necessary to prevent violence, but often violence leads to a way that is not good.

Proverbs 16:30

He winks his eye to devise perverse things;
He purses his lips and brings about evil.

a. He winks his eye to devise perverse things: This is likely connected to the previous verse. The violent man of Proverbs 16:29 may entice his neighbor as he winks his eye, treating it as a light and clever thing to devise perverse things.

i. “The winking eye and pursed lips of Proverbs 16:30 may be taken either as signals among conspirators or as a general statement of shiftiness in the facial mannerisms of scheming people.” (Garrett)

ii. To devise perverse things: “Wicked men are great students; they beat their brains and close their eyes that they may revolve and excogitate mischief with more freedom of mind. They search the devil’s skull for new devices, and are very inventive to invent that which may do harm.” (Trapp)

b. He purses his lips and brings about evil: With expressions of contempt, the violent man brings about evil. He does not seriously consider the bad effects of his actions.

i. Winks his eye…purses his lips: “Often people who are planning wicked things betray themselves with malicious expressions. Two expressions are depicted here: winking the eye and pursing the lips. Facial expressions often reveal whether someone is plotting something evil.” (Ross)

Proverbs 16:31

The silver-haired head is a crown of glory,
If it is found in the way of righteousness.

a. The silver-haired head is a crown of glory: The cultural setting of its time, there was nothing unusual about this statement. Ancient cultures were sensible enough to honor and value the wisdom and experience of old age. They saw the white hair of the elderly as a crown of glory.

i. Silver-haired head: “It is often considered a blessing (Genesis 15:15; 25:8), but not always (Hosea 7:9), and is treated with respect (Leviticus 19:32).” (Waltke)

b. If it is found in the way of righteousness: This is a helpful and necessary follow-up statement to the first line of this proverb. It isn’t age itself that brings a crown of glory to a person, but age in the way of righteousness. The sad truth is that age itself does not make all people better and certainly not godlier.

i. “There is something commendable about old age that can remember a long walk with God through life and can anticipate unbroken fellowship with him in glory.” (Ross)

Proverbs 16:32

He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty,
And he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city.

a. He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty: There is someone better than the mighty man who can defeat many others on the field of combat. It is the man (or woman) who has control over his own anger, who can (when it is wise and necessary) be slow to anger.

i. “There have been many kings who had conquered nations, and yet were slaves to their own passions. Alexander, who conquered the world, was a slave to intemperate anger, and in a fit of it slew Clytus, the best and most intimate of all his friends, and one whom he loved beyond all others.” (Clarke)

ii. “A great conflict and a glorious victory are set out here. The heart is the field of battle. All its evil and powerful passions are deadly foes. They must be met and triumphed over in God’s strength.” (Bridges)

b. And he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city: Under God’s wisdom and strength, to rule one’s own spirit is a greater accomplishment than to conquer a city. Some who can conquer cities should first be concerned with conquering self.

i. Matthew Poole thought of three reasons why he who rules his spirit was better than he who takes a city.

· He conquers though he fights a stronger enemy.

· He conquers by his own hands, and not through other people.

· He conquers without the injury and ruin of others.

ii. “How much better Valentinian the emperor, who said, upon his deathbed, that among all his victories one only comforted him; and being asked what that was, he answered, I have overcome my worst enemy, mine own naughty heart.” (Trapp)

iii. “This is a proverb that is constantly quoted, and very little believed. If men only recognized that there is more valor and heroism in self-control than in doughty deeds which others acclaim in song and story, how different our world would be.” (Morgan)

Proverbs 16:33

The lot is cast into the lap,
But its every decision is from the LORD.

a. The lot is cast into the lap: This was something similar to the rolling of dice. To cast the lot was to use some tool of chance to make a choice. The lot was used to divide the land of Israel among the tribes (Numbers 26:55, Joshua 14:2) and to arrange the workers for the temple (1 Chronicles 24:5). The disciples used lots to fill the vacancy left by Judas (Acts 1:26).

b. Its every decision is from the LORD: The idea is not that every single event in life is a message from God, nor is it that we should use games of chance to determine God’s will. To cast the lot was a way to commit the decision to God, and when we commit our decisions to Him, God guides us (Proverbs 3:5-6).

i. “The Old Testament use of the word lot shows that this proverb (and Proverbs 18:18) is not about God’s control of all random occurrences, but about his settling of matters properly referred to him.” (Kidner)

ii. Waltke connected Proverbs 16:33 back to Proverbs 16:32: “Ultimately, the Lord, not the disciple’s self-possession alone, rules his destiny, as illustrated by ‘the lot.’”

Proverbs 15

August 6, 2017/in Old Testament, Proverbs/by David Guzik

Proverbs 15 – The Words of the Wise

Proverbs 15:1

A soft answer turns away wrath,
But a harsh word stirs up anger.

a. A soft answer turns away wrath: When people come to us in wrath, we are often tempted to be harsh in response. Wisdom shows us the value of a soft answer, one without sharp edges or points. That kind of answer can actually turn away wrath.

i. “Soft speech is like oil on bruised skin to soften and heal it (cf. Judges 8:1-3); painful speech has the effect of oil poured on fire (cf. 1 Kings 12:1-16).” (Waltke)

ii. “Pride and passion on both sides strike together like two flints. We indulge in sarcasm as if we would rather lose a friend than miss scoring a point in the argument. All this the world excuses. But the Gospel sets before us our Savior’s example and imbues us with his spirit; so we should be careful not to provoke a chafed or wounded spirit.” (Bridges)

b. A harsh word stirs up anger: A harsh response to wrath often only stirs up more anger. It may feel good at the moment but ends up making the situation worse, not better.

i. “Many conflicts arise not because the issues separating the parties are so great but because of the temperaments people bring to a confrontation.” (Garrett)

ii. “How was Saul enkindled by Doeg, and David by Nabal’s currishness! Rehoboam, with one churlish breath, lost ten tribes.” (Trapp)

iii. “Gideon in Judges 8:1-3 is a classic example of the soft answer that brings peace, whereas Jephthah illustrates the harsh answer that leads to war (Judges 12:1-6).” (Ross)

Proverbs 15:2

The tongue of the wise uses knowledge rightly,
But the mouth of fools pours forth foolishness.

a. The tongue of the wise uses knowledge rightly: The wise man or woman will show their right use of knowledge by the words they say. The words of their tongue demonstrate their wisdom.

i. Uses knowledge rightly: “Expressing what he knows prudently and gracefully; taking due care both what, and when, and to whom, and in what manner he speaks.” (Poole)

ii. “This is very difficult to know: – when to speak, and when to be silent; what to speak, and what to leave unspoken; the manner that is best and most suitable to the occasion, the subject, the circumstances, and the persons…. Even wise counsel may be foolishly given.” (Clarke)

b. The mouth of fools pours forth foolishness: A fool will be revealed by their words. It isn’t enough for a man or woman to claim they have wisdom in their heart or mind; what they say proves either their wisdom or folly.

i. Pours forth: “Hebrew, Bubbleth it out; blurteth it out, as a fountain casteth out its waters, with a great force and swiftness.” (Trapp)

Proverbs 15:3

The eyes of the LORD are in every place,
Keeping watch on the evil and the good.

a. The eyes of the LORD are in every place: Wisdom understands that we are always under the eye of God. He sees us in every place, even when we are hidden to human eyes.

i. The eyes of the LORD: “The eyes of Christ are ‘as a flaming fire.’ [Revelation 1:14] And the school of nature teacheth that the fiery eye needs no outward light, that sees extra mittendo, by sending out a ray.” (Trapp)

ii. “So how will I meet these eyes? Will I meet them as a rebel or as a child?” (Bridges)

b. Keeping watch on the evil and the good: God takes note of both the evil and the good. He will deal with the evil according to His righteous judgment, and He will bless and reward the good. Among men, evil is often unpunished and good is often unrewarded – but God sees and notes all.

i. We might say that God has night vision and sees all that happens under the cover of darkness.

ii. Keeping watch: “The word employed describes a very active and purposeful seeing. The statement is far more than that God sees; it is that He is investigating, observing…. He is keeping watch upon the evil. It is never out of His sight. It loves the darkness rather than the light, but He sees as well in the darkness as in the light.” (Morgan)

iii. And the good: “The Lord’s eyes also see the good. He sees them in outward destitution, in secret retirement, in deep affliction. He pierces the prison walls. He is with them in the furnace and in the storm.” (Bridges)

Proverbs 15:4

A wholesome tongue is a tree of life,
But perverseness in it breaks the spirit.

a. A wholesome tongue is a tree of life: Good words are like a tree that continually brings life from its shade and fruit. Our words have the power to do far more good than we often think.

b. Perverseness in it breaks the spirit: If someone’s tongue is perverse (twisted, crooked, corrupt) instead of wholesome, their words will break the spirit of others. Our words have the power to do far more harm than we often think.

Proverbs 15:5

A fool despises his father’s instruction,
But he who receives correction is prudent.

a. A fool despises his father’s instruction: Proverbs is written as advice from a father to his children. A fool would despise the wisdom that comes from a godly parent and God’s word.

i. “One’s attitude toward parental teaching will determine one’s lifelong attitude toward authority and instruction.” (Garrett)

b. He who receives correction is prudent: Learning wisdom is more than learning facts; it is to receive correction. If what we learn only confirms what we already know, it probably isn’t wisdom we are learning.

Proverbs 15:6

In the house of the righteous there is much treasure,
But in the revenue of the wicked is trouble.

a. In the house of the righteous there is much treasure: Because wisdom and godliness tend to bring prosperity, this is generally true of material treasure. Thankfully, the treasure in the house of the righteous isn’t only material; the greater treasure is spiritual.

i. “Every righteous man is a rich man, whether he hath more or less of the things of this life.” (Trapp)

b. In the revenue of the wicked is trouble: Even what the wicked man or woman earns (the revenue) can be a problem. Instead of treasure, they have trouble.

i. Revenue of the wicked: “Though he may obtain great revenues, yet they are attended with much trouble and vexation; either because they are strangely blasted and taken from them, or because they are embittered to them by their own insatiable desires, or tormenting cares and fears, or the horrors of their guilty consciences, or by divers other ways.” (Poole)

Proverbs 15:7

The lips of the wise disperse knowledge,
But the heart of the fool does not do so.

a. The lips of the wise disperse knowledge: The wise man or woman will spread (disperse) knowledge and wisdom. It is within them and will be given to others by the words they say.

b. The heart of the fool does not do so: Since wisdom isn’t in the heart of the fool, it won’t be on their lips either. They are unable to spread the blessing of wisdom to others through their words.

Proverbs 15:8

The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the LORD,
But the prayer of the upright is His delight.

a. The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the LORD: Without godliness, religious ritual, such as sacrifice, can be an abomination to God. As Samuel said to Saul, Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice (1 Samuel 15:22).

b. The prayer of the upright is His delight: The godly man or woman delights God with their prayer. The wicked one goes to the trouble and expense of offering a sacrifice, but it does not delight God in the way the prayer of the upright does.

Proverbs 15:9

The way of the wicked is an abomination to the LORD,
But He loves him who follows righteousness.

a. The way of the wicked is an abomination to the LORD: God rejects the religious ceremonies of the wicked (Proverbs 15:8); therefore, much more does God consider the sinful life of the wicked as an abomination.

b. He loves him who follows righteousness: The one who lives and follows righteousness does so in surrender and love to God, and they do what Jude advised; they keep themselves in the love of God (Jude 1:21).

Proverbs 15:10

Harsh discipline is for him who forsakes the way,
And he who hates correction will die.

a. Harsh discipline is for him who forsakes the way: When a man or woman departs from God’s path (the way), in mercy God will send them harsh discipline. This discipline is a warning and opportunity to change one’s ways.

b. He who hates correction will die: The one who rejects God’s loving and merciful correction seals his own fate and sets his own course. They are on the way of death and will remain there.

i. “He that is embittered by rebukes, and not bettered by chastisements, shall die…they that will not obey that sweet command, ‘Come unto me all ye that labour and are heavy laden,’ shall one day have no other voice to obey but that terrible [word],‘Go ye cursed into everlasting flames.’” (Trapp)

ii. “The one who hates correction will die (see Proverbs 5:23; 10:21) an eternal death without God, the tragic and inevitable end of apostates who have become hardened against truth.” (Waltke)

Proverbs 15:11

Hell and Destruction are before the LORD;
So how much more the hearts of the sons of men.

a. Hell and Destruction are before the LORD: These two destinies are symbolically pictured as persons who are before the LORD to serve His purpose. The sobering truth is that God has a plan and a purpose for both Hell and Destruction.

i. “Sheol and Abaddon represent the remote underworld and all the mighty powers that reside there (see Proverbs 27:20; Job 26:6; Psalm 139:8; Amos 9:2; Revelation 9:11).” (Ross)

ii. God can see what we cannot. Hell and Destruction are presently invisible to us, but they are before the LORD. If we could see Hell and Destruction, we would think and live much differently. “We, silly fishes, see one another jerked out of the pond of life by the hand of death; but we see not the frying pan and the fire that they are cast into, that ‘die in their sins,’ and refuse to be reformed.” (Trapp)

iii. “God’s surveillance extends to the realm of the dead in the depths of the earth, as remote from heaven as possible, and he will be met in every corner of this pitch-black place shrouded in mystery and secrecy and of no apparent value to humanity or God.” (Waltke)

b. How much more the hearts of the sons of men: If God has a plan and a purpose for those two destinies, it is much more true that He has a plan and purpose for humanity (the sons of men).

i. “This is a simple method of drawing attention to God’s perfect knowledge of all the deepest and hidden things. If that which is most full of mystery to us is perfectly known to Him, how well He must know our hearts.” (Morgan)

ii. “And not only so, but we have known cases in which the thoughts of men have been revealed from the pulpit. I have sometimes seen persons nudge with their elbow, because they have got a smart hit, and I have heard them say, when they went out, ‘That is just what I said to you when I went in at the door.’ ‘Ah!’ says the other, ‘I was thinking of the very thing he said, and he told me of it.’ Now, if God thus proves his own Omniscience by helping his poor, ignorant servant, to state the very thing, thought and done, when he did not know it, then it must remain decisively proved that God does know everything that is secret, because we see he tells it to men, and enables them to tell it to others.” (Spurgeon)

Proverbs 15:12

A scoffer does not love one who corrects him,
Nor will he go to the wise.

a. A scoffer does not love one who corrects him: Because the fool and the scoffer hate correction, they will hate (not love) the one who brings it.

i. Does not love one who corrects him: “As Ahab did Micaiah; Herodias, John Baptist; the Pharisees, our Saviour.” (Trapp)

b. Nor will he go to the wise: In rejecting correction, the scoffer rejects wisdom and will remain trapped in his folly.

Proverbs 15:13

A merry heart makes a cheerful countenance,
But by sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken.

a. A merry heart makes a cheerful countenance: If someone has happiness and joy, it should be seen on their face. They should have a cheerful countenance.

i. “This cheerfulness, however, is very different from the noisy mirth of the ungodly. The word cheerful was often used by the old writers. It was Foxe’s favorite description of the holy joy of the martyrs.” (Bridges)

b. By sorrow of heart the spirit is broken: Those who have deep sorrow of heart will display their broken spirit. We can observe both the happy and the sad with understanding and sympathy for both the merry heart and those with sorrow of heart.

i. “The words used here stress the pain and the depression with a note of despair.” (Ross)

Proverbs 15:14

The heart of him who has understanding seeks knowledge,
But the mouth of fools feeds on foolishness.

a. The heart of him who has understanding seeks knowledge: The scoffer avoids wisdom’s correction (Proverbs 15:12), but the one with understanding and wisdom in his or her heart will seek after more wisdom.

i. Seeks knowledge: “As a hungry man seeks meat, or a covetous man gold, the more he hath, the more he desires.” (Trapp)

b. The mouth of fools feeds on foolishness: In this sense, the normal course of humanity is that the wise become wiser and that fools feed on more foolishness.

i. “Let fools feed on foolishness, as swine do on swill, as flies do on blotches, as carrion kites do on stinking carcasses.” (Trapp)

Proverbs 15:15

All the days of the afflicted are evil,
But he who is of a merry heart has a continual feast.

a. All the days of the afflicted are evil: To live in days of affliction is to know the trouble and evil of life and this fallen world.

b. He who is of a merry heart has a continual feast: When a merry heart instead of an afflicted heart marks our attitude towards life, there is a sense of continual bounty and enjoyment.

i. A continual feast: “Hath constant satisfaction and delight in all conditions, yea, even in affliction.” (Poole)

ii. “It is a full feast, a lasting feast; not for a day, as that of Nabal, not for seven days, as that of Samson, no, nor of hundred and eighty days, as that of Ahasuerus, but a durable continual feast, without intermission of solace, or interruption of society.” (Trapp)

Proverbs 15:16

Better is a little with the fear of the LORD,
Than great treasure with trouble.

a. Better is a little with the fear of the LORD: Especially in our materialistic and consumer age, we constantly want more, and we fear living with little. Yet life is better with little if lived with reverence and honor to God (the fear of the LORD).

i. “If saints be sad, it is because they are too busy here below, and, Martha-like, troubled about many things, with neglect of that one thing necessary.” (Trapp)

b. Than great treasure with trouble: To have great treasure and great trouble is not a good life. Because the fear of the LORD spares us from much trouble, it is better to have that than great treasure.

i. “Riches, though well got, are but as manna, those that gathered less had no want, and those that gathered more, it was but a trouble and annoyance to them.” (Trapp)

Proverbs 15:17

Better is a dinner of herbs where love is,
Than a fatted calf with hatred.

a. Better is a dinner of herbs where love is: The presence of love makes up for a lot. We can live on a humble diet but can never flourish without love.

i. “Riches and poverty are more in the heart than in the hand. He is wealthy who is contented. He is poor who wants more.” (Bishop Hall, cited in Bridges)

b. Than a fatted calf with hatred: One may enjoy the extravagant abundance of a fatted calf, but hatred will spoil it all. Nothing really makes up for a lack of love.

i. “A fattened ox (see Proverbs 7:22; 14:4) represents the king of domesticated animals at its very best and functions as a synecdoche for the finest foods (cf. Luke 15:23).” (Waltke)

Proverbs 15:18

A wrathful man stirs up strife,
But he who is slow to anger allays contention.

a. A wrathful man stirs up strife: When strife is stirred up, it doesn’t happen by accident. Usually, the cause is a wrathful man or woman who stirs up strife.

b. He who is slow to anger allays contention: The wise man or woman is slow to anger, and they have a way of bringing peace and smoothing over contention instead of stirring up strife.

Proverbs 15:19

The way of the lazy man is like a hedge of thorns,
But the way of the upright is a highway.

a. The way of the lazy man is like a hedge of thorns: Those who are lazy may not see it in themselves. Often, they may more easily see the result of their laziness, which is a life filled with constant trouble and irritations (like a hedge of thorns).

i. “Because he is slothful, he imagines ten thousand difficulties in the way which cannot be surmounted; but they are all the creatures of his own imagination, and that imagination is formed by his sloth.” (Clarke)

ii. Many times, Proverbs reminds us of what serious sin laziness is.

· Laziness is theft – you live off the work of others.

· Laziness is selfishness – you live for yourself and comfort.

· Laziness is neglect of duty – you don’t do what you should.

iii. In his sermon titled The Hedge of Thorns and the Plain Way, Charles Spurgeon used Proverbs 15:19 in a spiritual sense, speaking to those who are spiritually lazy: “The spiritual sluggard does not believe after that practical fashion. He says, ‘It is true;’ but he acts as if it were false. He is too much a sluggard to become an infidel; he is too lethargic to argue against the truth which condemns him; he nods assent, it is the nod of sleep.” Spurgeon went on to describe the life of the spiritually lazy man:

· His spiritual life is lived as if he were asleep.

· He once gave an effort to forsake sin but did not follow through.

· His spiritual life is a hard way, full of thorns.

· Spiritual things seem long and dreary.

· The Christian life is full of thorny perplexities, problems, and misery.

· He may find that his way to heaven is blocked.

b. The way of the upright is a highway: The wise man or woman – upright and hardworking before the LORD – does not know the same constant troubles and irritations of life that the lazy man must endure. Life for the upright is much smoother and more efficient in its progress.

i. “Unthinking persons suppose that the sluggard lives a happy life, and travels an easy road. It is not so…. Labour of a holy sort has ten thousand times more joy in it than purposeless leisure.” (Spurgeon)

Proverbs 15:20

A wise son makes a father glad,
But a foolish man despises his mother.

a. A wise son makes a father glad: A father is made glad by a wise son, both for the blessing of knowing there is good for the son, and because it vindicates the father’s trust in God and training of the son in wisdom.

b. A foolish man despises his mother: The foolish man or woman brings disgrace to his parents, and their rejection of the parents’ wisdom shows they despise their mother and father.

i. “Tragically the person who needs their instruction, out of his exaggerated opinion of his self-importance, feels that he is better than his godly parents and so is intractable and incorrigible.” (Waltke)

Proverbs 15:21

Folly is joy to him who is destitute of discernment,
But a man of understanding walks uprightly.

a. Folly is joy to him who is destitute of discernment: For the fool, his foolishness (folly) is something to take pleasure in. He only hates his folly when they have to pay the bitter consequences of it. Otherwise, it is joy to him.

b. A man of understanding walks uprightly: With wisdom, our life is ordered and upright. The wise man or woman finds joy in what is good and upright.

i. “His sincerity supplies him with serenity; the joy of the Lord, as an oil of gladness, makes him lithe and nimble in ways of holiness.” (Trapp)

Proverbs 15:22

Without counsel, plans go awry,
But in the multitude of counselors they are established.

a. Without counsel, plans go awry: The difference between success and failure can often be found in those who plan with or without counsel. Wisdom understands that other people also have wisdom.

i. “Our wisdom lies in self-distrust, or at least allowing for the possibility that we may often be wrong! So it is most expedient, especially in important matters, to seek experienced counsel.” (Bridges)

b. In the multitude of counselors they are established: Normally there is more insight from many people than from one. Getting many eyes to see and many minds to think about plans can often see those plans established and successful.

Proverbs 15:23

A man has joy by the answer of his mouth,
And a word spoken in due season, how good it is!

a. A man has joy by the answer of his mouth: Right and wise words have the potential and power to bring great joy to one’s self and to others.

b. A word spoken in due season, how good it is: The value in a good word is often not only found in its content but also in its timing. The right word at the right time (in due season) is a powerful force for good.

i. “This proverb sets forth the satisfaction of being able to say the right thing at the right moment.” (Morgan)

Proverbs 15:24

The way of life winds upward for the wise,
That he may turn away from hell below.

a. The way of life winds upward for the wise: One of the great benefits of a life of wisdom is that, generally, life gets better as the years go on. The progress of their life winds upward and not down; they move from glory to glory (2 Corinthians 3:18).

b. That he may turn away from hell below: The progress of a wise life isn’t just in what it heads toward (upward), but also in what it moves away from. Heaven becomes closer and hell becomes further distant behind.

i. Upward…below: “A recognition of the two forces of which man is ever conscious the upward pull and the downward pull with a declaration that wisdom consists in answering the upward.” (Morgan)

ii. From hell below: “Or, from the lowermost hell; not from the grave, as this word is elsewhere used, for no wisdom can prevent that; but from hell properly so called, as this word is elsewhere used, as hath been formerly observed.” (Poole)

Proverbs 15:25

The LORD will destroy the house of the proud,
But He will establish the boundary of the widow.

a. The LORD will destroy the house of the proud: Those who choose pride set themselves against God (James 4:6 and 1 Peter 5:5), and God will set Himself against them. They and their house will be targets of God’s destruction.

b. He will establish the boundary of the widow: The widow is the picture and representative of a humble, needy person who looks to and depends on God. She represents the opposite of the proud, and God takes special care of those who humbly depend on Him.

i. “When they were too weak to have a voice, God spoke for the poor and needy through Moses (cf. Deuteronomy 19:14; 27:17), the prophets (Hosea 5:10), and the sages (Job 24:2; Proverbs 15:25; 22:28).” (Waltke)

ii. “The story of Naboth (1 Kings 21) illuminates the saying; but it is relevant to all kinds of exploitation.” (Kidner)

Proverbs 15:26

The thoughts of the wicked are an abomination to the LORD,
But the words of the pure are pleasant.

a. The thoughts of the wicked are an abomination to the LORD: Wickedness doesn’t begin with actions; it begins in the heart and thoughts. There is certainly a sense in which our actions are more important than our thoughts, but our actions begin in our thoughts, so what we think is also important to God.

i. “How little most people think they are responsible for their thoughts. They live as if they were on their own and so can indulge themselves without any restraints.” (Bridges)

ii. “Thoughts…in the first line, mean ‘plans’, and the contrasted language of the second line emphasizes the fact that such plans are hateful to God even before they issue in words or deeds.” (Kidner)

b. The words of the pure are pleasant: Solomon knew that a person’s thoughts would be ultimately revealed by their words. God hears the words of the pure and is pleased, contrasting with the thoughts of the wicked.

Proverbs 15:27

He who is greedy for gain troubles his own house,
But he who hates bribes will live.

a. He who is greedy for gain troubles his own house: Many of those who are greedy for gain justify it with the excuse that they do it for their family. This is not wise, because being greedy for gain will ultimately bring trouble to one’s house.

i. “The ‘greedy man’ is the one who wants a big cut, who is in a hurry to get rich, and who is not particular how it happens.” (Ross)

ii. “The Papists propose rewards to such as shall relinquish the Protestant religion and turn to them…. Thus they tempted Luther, but he would not be hired to go to hell; and thus they tempted that noble Marquis of Vicum, nephew to Pope Paul V, who left all for Christ and fled to Geneva, but he cried out, Let their money perish with them that prefer all the world’s wealth before one day’s communion with Jesus Christ and his despised people.” (Trapp)

b. He who hates bribes will live: The one who hates bribes is set as a contrast to the one who is greedy for gain. The greedy man or woman will do anything for more money and loves bribes if they can bring more money. God’s blessing is on men and women of integrity who hate bribes and other dishonest ways of doing business.

Proverbs 15:28

The heart of the righteous studies how to answer,
But the mouth of the wicked pours forth evil.

a. The heart of the righteous studies how to answer: The idea behind the phrase “how to answer” is simply what one says in response. God’s righteous ones – men and women of wisdom – think beforehand what they should and will say. Their words are not based only on impulse and reaction.

b. The mouth of the wicked pours forth evil: There is little self-control when it comes to the mouth of the wicked. Evil words and ideas simply pour out of their mouth, with no wise thought beforehand.

i. “The advice is to say less but better things.” (Ross)

Proverbs 15:29

The LORD is far from the wicked,
But He hears the prayer of the righteous.

a. The LORD is far from the wicked: Men and women who are wicked do their best to separate themselves from God, and in this sense, God is far from them. There is another sense, especially in light of the work of Jesus, in which God draws near to the wicked to offer redemption and wisdom (Romans 5:8).

i. “But this farness or nearness respects not God’s essence, which is every where, but his gracious and helpful presence.” (Poole)

ii. “Proverbs does not envision the wicked as repenting; if they did, they would be righteous.” (Waltke)

b. He hears the prayer of the righteous: God draws near to those who draw near to Him (James 4:8). The prayer of the righteous man or woman is effective before God (James 5:16).

Proverbs 15:30

The light of the eyes rejoices the heart,
And a good report makes the bones healthy.

a. The light of the eyes rejoices the heart: The eyes are something like a lamp to the whole body (Matthew 6:22-23). When the eyes are full of light it brings happiness and contentment to the heart and the whole body.

i. “The light of the eyes may perhaps refer to the radiant face of a friend (cf. Proverbs 16:15); if so, the two lines of the proverb will be speaking of the heartwarming effect that persons and facts, respectively, can bring.” (Kidner)

b. A good report makes the bones healthy: Good news cheers the spirit and brings health to the body. The ultimate fulfillment of this is the gospel – the good news, the good report of what God did in Jesus Christ to demonstrate His love for us and to rescue us (1 Corinthians 15:1-8).

Proverbs 15:31

The ear that hears the rebukes of life
Will abide among the wise.

a. The ear that hears the rebukes of life: Not every ear will listen to correction, but there is a blessing to those that do. Also, life has its own rebukes for those who have the ear to hear. In general, life rewards wisdom and rebukes folly.

i. Hears the rebukes of life: “That receives it gratefully and obeys it. ‘Advice is for them that will take it,’ so says one of our own old proverbs; and the meaning here is nearly the same.” (Clarke)

ii. “The way we receive a rebuke tests our character. It reveals if we possess the graces of humility, sincerity, and self-knowledge.” (Bridges)

b. Will abide among the wise: One of the more important aspects of wisdom is the simple ability to hear and learn. If we can’t learn, we can never abide among the wise.

Proverbs 15:32

He who disdains instruction despises his own soul,
But he who heeds rebuke gets understanding.

a. He who disdains instruction despises his own soul: To refuse wisdom and the instruction that comes from wisdom is to hate one’s own soul. Those who reject wisdom hurt many people, but most of all themselves.

b. He who heeds rebuke gets understanding. To hear and heed rebuke is to get and grow in wisdom (understanding). Receiving rebuke is rarely pleasant, but it is worth it for the wisdom it brings.

i. Heeds rebuke: “Correction is infinitely preferable to the poison of sweet flattery.” (Bridges)

ii. Gets understanding: “Hebrew, possesseth an heart, which the Hebrews make the seat of wisdom.” (Poole)

Proverbs 15:33

The fear of the LORD is the instruction of wisdom,
And before honor is humility.

a. The fear of the LORD is the instruction of wisdom: A common and foundational theme in Proverbs is repeated here. Wisdom begins in the fear of the LORD, and true wisdom flows from it.

b. And before honor is humility: An essential aspect of the fear of the LORD is humility. To properly fear God is to see and recognize Him as He really is. When we see and recognize who we really are, humility comes.

i. Before honor is humility: “Luther observed that ever, for most part, before God set him upon any special service for the good of the church, he had some sore fit of sickness. Surely, as the lower the ebb, the higher the tide; so the lower any descend in humiliation, the higher they shall ascend in exaltation; the lower this foundation of humility is laid, the higher shall the roof of honour be overlaid.” (Trapp)

ii. “Humility; whereby men submit to God, and yield to men, which gains them love and respect; whereas pride procures them hatred and contempt from God and men.” (Poole)

iii. “Paradoxically, the one who grants himself no glory before the glorious God in the end is crowned with the glory and wealth that give him social esteem.” (Waltke)

Proverbs 14

August 6, 2017/in Old Testament, Proverbs/by David Guzik

Proverbs 14 – The Contrast Between Wisdom and Folly

Proverbs 14:1

The wise woman builds her house,
But the foolish pulls it down with her hands.

a. The wise woman builds her house: Wisdom builds. It looks at what is and wisely considers how to make it better. Many homes have been made by a godly, wise woman who looks after the home and builds it.

i. “By her prudent and industrious management she increases property in the family, furniture in the house, and food and raiment for her household. This is the true building of a house. The thriftless wife acts differently, and the opposite is the result.” (Clarke)

b. The foolish pulls it down: Folly tears down. Instead of supporting and building what is, folly shows its destructive nature. The woman of a home has tremendous power to make it a better or worse place.

i. With her hands: “As the husband is as the head from whom all the sinews do flow, so she is as the hands into which they flow, and enable them to do their office.” (Trapp)

ii. “Note the foolish woman—her idleness, waste, love of pleasure, lack of all forethought and care…. We see her house torn down in confusion. It would have been a sad result if this had been done by an enemy. But it is the doing, or rather undoing, of her own hands.” (Bridges)

Proverbs 14:2

He who walks in his uprightness fears the LORD,
But he who is perverse in his ways despises Him.

a. He who walks in his uprightness fears the LORD: One who is upright through their heritage, past habits, and general course of life still has the decision to walk in their uprightness. Doing this demonstrates that they do fear the LORD.

i. The first line of this proverb communicates the New Testament attitude towards Christian obedience. Our call is to be what we are. Jesus has made us new creatures in Christ; He has made us upright. Our duty is to walk in that uprightness.

b. He who is perverse in his ways despises Him: The disobedient man shows that he really despises God and His authority. They say, we will not have this Man to reign over us (Luke 19:14). This displays the sinfulness of sin; it is often not only weakness, it is deep-seated rebellion against God.

Proverbs 14:3

In the mouth of a fool is a rod of pride,
But the lips of the wise will preserve them.

a. In the mouth of a fool is a rod of pride: The fool deserves the rod of correction (Proverbs 10:13). In the word picture used here, the rod of correction is made of the fool’s pride, and it comes from his own mouth.

i. “The fool’s pride finds a rod in his mouth that lashes himself—he is his own worst enemy—and others.” (Waltke)

ii. “Here it is a rod of pride. Sometimes it strikes against God and sometimes against men…. Were this iron rod to rule the earth, who could tolerate it?” (Bridges)

b. The lips of the wise will preserve them: The mouth of a fool brings punishment to the fool, but the wise man or woman is rescued (preserved) by their own wise words.

Proverbs 14:4

Where no oxen are, the trough is clean;
But much increase comes by the strength of an ox.

a. Where no oxen are, the trough is clean: Where there is no work being accomplished, there is no mess or disorder to deal with. If you have oxen, they will bring a good measure of mess and work with them.

b. But much increase comes by the strength of an ox: Yet, the mess an ox brings is worth it. There is much good (increase) that comes from the impressive strength of an ox. Those who insist that there never be mess or disorder will miss the increase that comes from good things that can be a bit messy.

i. This is an important principle when it comes to church life and Christian community. There are some who, out of good intentions, are obsessed with making sure there is never any kind of “mess” to address among believers. Each and every expression of spiritual life must be hyper-regulated and suspiciously watched with the expectation of grave error. Not only is this an offense against Christian liberty, but it also creates an environment where, spiritually speaking, there is little increase – because no one will tolerate any mess in the trough.

ii. “Orderliness can reach the point of sterility. This proverb is not a plea for slovenliness, physical or moral, but for the readiness to accept upheaval, and a mess to clear up, as the price of growth. It has many applications to personal, institutional and spiritual life, and could well be inscribed in the minute-books of religious bodies, to foster a farmer’s outlook, rather than a curator’s.” (Kidner)

iii. Adam Clarke used this proverb to describe seven reasons why oxen were superior to horses as farm animals, concluding: “In all large farms oxen are greatly to be preferred to horses. Have but patience with this most patient animal, and you will soon find that there is much increase by the strength and labour of the ox.”

Proverbs 14:5

A faithful witness does not lie,
But a false witness will utter lies.

a. A faithful witness does not lie: This simple and straightforward statement has much spiritual instruction in it. Jesus called His followers to be His witnesses (Acts 1:8). One of the primary responsibilities of a witness is to simply tell the truth and to not lie. When we have a genuine faith and experience in the person and work of Jesus Christ, we can give simple, true witness to Him.

b. A false witness will utter lies: Again, this simple statement points to a great spiritual truth. We should never be a false witness for Jesus Christ and utter lies about who He is and what He has done in our life.

i. Will utter lies: “Is or will be a false witness, when occasion requires it. Having debauched his conscience by daily lying, he is thereby prepared and disposed to false witness-bearing.” (Poole)

Proverbs 14:6

A scoffer seeks wisdom and does not find it,
But knowledge is easy to him who understands.

a. A scoffer seeks wisdom and does not find it: When someone seeks wisdom and does not find it, it is evidence that they are likely a scoffer – someone whose pursuit of wisdom and the truth is cynical and superficial.

i. “Such may seek wisdom; but he never can find it, because he does not seek it where it is to be found; neither in the teaching of God’s Spirit, nor in the revelation of his will.” (Clarke)

b. Knowledge is easy to him who understands: Jesus promised, Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you (Matthew 7:7). This is a promise to the sincere seeker, the one who understands.

Proverbs 14:7

Go from the presence of a foolish man,
When you do not perceive in him the lips of knowledge.

a. Go from the presence of a foolish man: Earlier Proverbs (such as Proverbs 13:20) spoke of the danger of foolish friends. Here the encouragement is to avoid the presence of a foolish man altogether.

i. “One cannot increase in knowledge by associating with a fool—nothing comes from nothing, as many can affirm.” (Ross)

b. When you do not perceive in him the lips of knowledge: The fool and the wise man can almost always be known by their words. This is a wonderful and often neglected way to discern if someone is wise or a fool.

Proverbs 14:8

The wisdom of the prudent is to understand his way,
But the folly of fools is deceit.

a. The wisdom of the prudent is to understand his way: The prudent man or woman carefully considers and understands his way. They know the path they are on, their point upon the path, and their progress along the way.

i. The wisdom of the prudent: “It consists not in vain speculations, nor in a curious prying into other men’s matters, nor in cunning arts of deceiving others; but in a diligent study of his own duty, and of the way to true and eternal happiness.” (Poole)

b. The folly of fools is deceit: This explains one reason why folly and fools can be popular. Their attraction is based on deceit, in the same way that the bait deceives the fish into ignoring the hook.

Proverbs 14:9

Fools mock at sin,
But among the upright there is favor.

a. Fools mock at sin: This is in the nature of fools and their folly. They think sin is a light thing, worthy to be mocked. Their mockery of sin is connected with their lack of the fear of the LORD (Proverbs 1:29, 8:13).

i. “But he that makes a sport of sinning, will find it no sport to suffer the vengeance of an eternal fire.” (Clarke)

b. But among the upright there is favor: Those who are upright before God and man find favor among God and men.

i. “Fools do wrong and scoff at making reparations, but they find no divine or mutual favor and acceptance.” (Waltke)

Proverbs 14:10

The heart knows its own bitterness,
And a stranger does not share its joy.

a. The heart knows its own bitterness: There is pain and bitterness enough for every heart. The sense is that though one’s heart knows its own bitterness, it is difficult for anyone else to know the pain and bitterness of another’s heart.

i. “We may not judge our brethren as though we understood them, and were competent to give a verdict upon them. Do not sit down, like Job’s friends, and condemn the innocent.” (Spurgeon)

b. A stranger does not share its joy: What was true regarding the bitterness of life in the first line of this proverb is also often true regarding the joy of life. It can be difficult for someone else to truly share the joy of another’s heart.

i. “No less personal is the heart’s joy. It lies deep within. Michal could understand David’s bravery, but not his joy. She knew him as a man of war, not as a man of God.” (Bridges)

ii. Spurgeon listed and described many joys that are personal in nature, and therefore often a stranger does not share them.

· The joy of sin forgiven.

· The joy of sin conquered.

· The joy of restored relationship with God.

· The joy of accepted service.

· The joy of answered prayer.

· The joy of usefulness for God.

· The joy of peace in time of trouble.

· Highest of all: the joy of communion with God.

Proverbs 14:11

The house of the wicked will be overthrown,
But the tent of the upright will flourish.

a. The house of the wicked will be overthrown: Whatever is built on a poor foundation cannot stand, especially against the storm of God’s coming judgment.

b. The tent of the upright will flourish: The wicked man boasts of his great house and looks down upon his upright neighbor who lives in only a tent. Yet the tent of the upright is more secure than the house of the wicked.

i. “The tent is by no means used for any kind of dwelling but refers to a nomadic tent. It is a bell tent, supported in the middle by a wooden pole and composed of several dark, goatskin curtains. It was fastened down to pegs with cords.” (Waltke)

Proverbs 14:12

There is a way that seems right to a man,
But its end is the way of death.

a. There is a way that seems right to a man: Proverbs often speaks of the way, the path of life a man or woman walks upon. Solomon observed that this way often seems right to a man. His path of life seems fine to him, and he wonders why God or anyone else would have a different opinion.

i. “The issue then is how deceptive evil is. It might promise and deliver happiness, power, and the good life, but it cannot sustain what it gives.” (Ross)

b. But its end is the way of death: Though it seems right, it isn’t right – it leads to death. Wisdom understands that what may seem right to a man isn’t necessarily right; it can in fact be the way of death.

i. This proverb reminds us that the way of death is rarely clearly marked. “The safety and destiny of a road are not always as they appear (Matt. 7:13, 14). The deceptive road leads as certainly to death as the plainly marked one.” (Waltke)

ii. This makes plain our need for a revelation from God. We can’t entirely trust our own examination and judgment. To really know we are on the way of life (instead of the way of death), we need to fear the LORD and receive His wisdom, especially as revealed in His word.

iii. The principle of this proverb is so important that God repeated it again at Proverbs 16:25.

Proverbs 14:13

Even in laughter the heart may sorrow,
And the end of mirth may be grief.

a. Even in laughter the heart may sorrow: The person who often laughs is not always happy. The outward expression of laughter may be used to mask great sorrow in the heart.

i. “The design of the proverb is to declare the vanity of all worldly joys and comforts, and to teach men moderation in them, and to persuade us to seek for more solid and durable joys.” (Poole)

b. The end of mirth may be grief: Laughter and mirth may do more than mask sorrow; they may very well end in grief. We are grateful for laughter and godly mirth, but not if they keep us from the fear of the LORD and the wisdom associated with it.

Proverbs 14:14

The backslider in heart will be filled with his own ways,
But a good man will be satisfied from above.

a. The backslider in heart will be filled with his own ways: Those who decline in their relationship and obedience to God will suffer from it, even if their decline is only in heart. Their own backsliding ways will come upon them.

i. The backslider: “The first part of his name is ‘backslider.’ He is not a back runner, nor a back leaper, but a backslider, that is to say he slides back with an easy, effortless motion, softly, quietly, perhaps unsuspected by himself or anybody else.” (Spurgeon)

ii. “Every spot does not mean that you have leprosy. Every sin does not indicate that you are a backslider.” (Bridges)

iii. “What is implied in being filled with his own ways? Having his soul saturated with folly, sin, and disappointment.” (Clarke)

iv. “The story of Judas has been written over and over again in the lives of other traitors. We have heard of Judas as a deacon, and as an elder; we have heard Judas preach, we have read the works of Judas the bishop, and seen Judas the missionary. Judas sometimes continues in his profession for many years, but, sooner or later, the true character of the man is discovered.” (Spurgeon)

b. A good man will be satisfied from above: The wise ones who do good enjoy God’s blessing and the satisfaction that comes from Him.

i. “Which simply means that whatever may be within a man, in the deepest region of his personality, will sooner or later be wrought out into actual experience and visibility.” (Morgan)

Proverbs 14:15

The simple believes every word,
But the prudent considers well his steps.

a. The simple believes every word: The man or woman who lacks wisdom (the simple) has little ability to discern truth from falsehood. They believe everyone, especially if they seem sincere.

i. “To believe every word of God is faith. To believe every word of man is credulity…. An indiscriminate faith is, therefore, fraught with mischief. The world was ruined by this weakness (Genesis 3:1-6).” (Bridges)

b. The prudent considers well his steps: The wise man or woman doesn’t believe everything is as it first appears. While they do think carefully about others, they give even more consideration to their own steps.

Proverbs 14:16

A wise man fears and departs from evil,
But a fool rages and is self-confident.

a. A wise man fears and departs from evil: The wise man appreciates evil for what it is and keeps himself far from it. He does not overestimate or test his own strength in resisting evil; he departs from it.

b. A fool rages and is self-confident: Instead of godly fear, the fool rages with uncontrolled temper and outbursts. Despite his bad temper, he is self-confident. The self-confidence of fools is a mystery and a marvel.

Proverbs 14:17

A quick-tempered man acts foolishly,
And a man of wicked intentions is hated.

a. A quick-tempered man acts foolishly: In the previous proverb the fool raged; here his quick temper leads him to act out his foolishness. The wise man has the self-control to not react immediately and out of bad temper.

i. Quick tempered-man: “Ketsar appayim, ‘short of nostrils:’ because, when a man is angry, his nose is contracted, and drawn up towards his eyes.” (Clarke)

b. A man of wicked intentions is hated: The love that fools and wicked men have for each other is limited. The man of wicked intentions is understood to be untrustworthy and therefore hated.

Proverbs 14:18

The simple inherit folly,
But the prudent are crowned with knowledge.

a. The simple inherit folly: As someone gains an inheritance as that which is due to them, so the simple inherit folly. For those who willfully reject wisdom, folly is due.

b. The prudent are crowned with knowledge: A wise (prudent) man or woman enjoys the benefits of their wisdom. Knowledge sits upon them as a graceful and noble crown.

Proverbs 14:19

The evil will bow before the good,
And the wicked at the gates of the righteous.

a. The evil will bow before the good: In this present age, it often feels that the evil win and sometimes triumph over the good. With true wisdom, Solomon reminds us that ultimately evil will bow in submission before the good.

i. “Ultimately the wicked will acknowledge and serve the righteous. The figure used here is of a conquered people kneeling before their victors awaiting their commands.” (Ross)

ii. “The Egyptians and Joseph’s brothers bowed before Joseph. The proud Pharaoh and his people bowed before Moses. The saints will judge the world (1 Corinthians 6:2).” (Bridges)

b. The wicked at the gates of the righteous: As if they came in humble surrender to the leaders of the city, the wicked will bow at the gates of the righteous.

Proverbs 14:20

The poor man is hated even by his own neighbor,
But the rich has many friends.

a. The poor man is hated even by his own neighbor: This is another of the proverbs that honestly describes the benefits of wealth. When a person is poor, they don’t have as many friends and maybe their own neighbor may hate them.

i. “This is a humbling but common illustration of natural selfishness…. But Jesus was deliberately the poor man’s friend. How endearing is Jesus’ love!” (Bridges)

b. The rich has many friends: This is a simple fact of life. The friends of the rich might be insincere friends, but there are more of them.

Proverbs 14:21

He who despises his neighbor sins;
But he who has mercy on the poor, happy is he.

a. He who despises his neighbor sins: Men and women are made in the image of God, and therefore we are commanded to love our neighbor (Leviticus 19:18, Matthew 22:39). To despise is to hate, so to despise your neighbor is to sin.

b. He who has mercy on the poor, happy is he: The generous heart is the happy heart. The link between the first and second lines of this proverb shows that whoever has mercy on the poor should never do it in a superior manner that would show they despise the poor they say they help.

Proverbs 14:22

Do they not go astray who devise evil?
But mercy and truth belong to those who devise good.

a. Do they not go astray who devise evil? Doing evil is an obvious sin, but even the plotting and devising of evil leads us astray. God cares about our heart and mind as well as our outward actions (Matthew 5:21-32).

i. Devise evil: “Hebrew, That plough it and plot it, that dig it and delve it, that whet their wits and beat their brains about it – do not these err?” (Trapp)

b. But mercy and truth belong to those who devise good: The wicked will plot their evil, but wisdom leads us to devise good for others and ourselves. This will bring the blessings of mercy and truth into our lives.

i. “Wicked as it is to do evil, it is far more wicked to plot evil. Children of God, do you show the same diligence and determination in planning to do good?” (Bridges)

Proverbs 14:23

In all labor there is profit,
But idle chatter leads only to poverty.

a. In all labor there is profit: As a principle, hard work is always rewarded. Even if there is not an immediate profit from the work, there is reward from God and in the building and demonstration of character.

b. But idle chatter leads only to poverty: If labor leads to profit, then anything that distracts from labor – such as idle chatter – will keep profits away, and lead to poverty. We can imagine a group of employees gathered together with idle chatter and entertaining conversation leading to no profit for their employer.

i. “People should be more afraid of idle talk than of hard work. Or, to put it another way, do not just talk about it—Do it!” (Ross)

ii. “Great talkers are do-littles, for the most part…. And ‘why stand you looking upon one another? Get you down to Egypt,’ said Jacob to his sons. [Genesis 42:1-2]” (Trapp)

Proverbs 14:24

The crown of the wise is their riches,
But the foolishness of fools is folly.

a. The crown of the wise is their riches: Solomon was smart enough to know that riches can come in several ways. He knew that one of the ways riches came was through wisdom and hard work. When this is the case, those riches are like a crown of the wise, both evidence and reward of their wisdom.

b. The foolishness of fools is folly: For those who reject wisdom, the only crown they get is more folly. Their foolishness is multiplied.

Proverbs 14:25

A true witness delivers souls,
But a deceitful witness speaks lies.

a. A true witness delivers souls: This is true on an everyday life level, where truth brings light, blessing, and freedom. Where lies and false reports dominate, souls will be in darkness and bondage. This is also true on a spiritual or ministry level, where God will use the true witness of the preacher to rescue souls.

i. “A man who will trim the facts for you will trim them as easily against you; and a career or a life may hang on a word.” (Kidner)

b. A deceitful witness speaks lies: Those who spread such lies and false reports fail to do the good of a true witness and they practice the evil of their lies.

i. “This proverb appears to have legal proceedings in view. Honesty in court is not a mere fine point of law; people’s lives depend upon it.” (Garrett)

Proverbs 14:26

In the fear of the LORD there is strong confidence,
And His children will have a place of refuge.

a. In the fear of the LORD there is strong confidence: One might think that fear always leads to a loss of confidence. But that isn’t how it works with the fear of the LORD. Our honor, reverence, and sense of awe towards Him moves us from self-confidence and towards strong confidence in God’s love and greatness.

b. His children will have a place of refuge: God always provides Himself as a refuge for His children (God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble, Psalm 46:1).

Proverbs 14:27

The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life,
To turn one away from the snares of death.

a. The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life: One might think that fear always leads to less life, not more. But that isn’t how it works with the fear of the LORD. Proper fear of the LORD is rooted in understanding who God is and who we are in relation to Him. That itself is like a fountain of life.

b. To turn one away from the snares of death: There are many additional benefits that come from a proper fear of the LORD, and one of those is to have a greater measure of God’s watchful care and protection.

Proverbs 14:28

In a multitude of people is a king’s honor,
But in the lack of people is the downfall of a prince.

a. In a multitude of people is a king’s honor: Kings focus on the glory and strength useful and apparent in this world. With that focus, the more people the better. The greater the multitude of people, the greater is the king’s honor.

i. “A prince’s power varies with the size of his empire. This statement is generally true of empires; from a human viewpoint political power is based on the number of people in the party.” (Ross)

ii. Related to spiritual things and Christian ministry, the principle of this proverb shows the weakness of a worldly, humanistic view of ministry. It is of the carnal, worldly wisdom of kings to understand large crowds as the only real measure of success. We imagine that the Apostle Paul might rephrase this line: In a multitude of people is a king’s honor, but in love, faithfulness, and sacrificial service is an apostle’s honor. A multitude of people in ministry is never to be despised, but we should have a greater measure of success than that.

b. In the lack of people is the downfall of a prince: If there are no people to govern, there won’t be much governing. In the ancient world, rulers thought much about increasing the populations in their governed realm.

i. “The proverb, however, must be held in tension with the biblical teaching that large numbers are of little value with the Lord’s presence (e.g., Psalm 33:16-17).” (Waltke)

Proverbs 14:29

He who is slow to wrath has great understanding,
But he who is impulsive exalts folly.

a. He who is slow to wrath has great understanding: There is great wisdom in the ability to control one’s response to provoking situations. Being quick to wrath brings many regrets.

b. He who is impulsive exalts folly: The impulsive, uncontrolled person who quickly reacts without thinking lives in a way that exalts foolishness.

Proverbs 14:30

A sound heart is life to the body,
But envy is rottenness to the bones.

a. A sound heart is life to the body: If heart here meant the physical organ that beats in the chest, any medical doctor would agree. Yet Solomon had in mind heart as a metaphor for our innermost being. When we are sound on the inside, it brings health and life to the whole body.

b. Envy is rottenness to the bones: The presence of envy is presented as a contrast to a sound heart. Envy corrupts us from within and can poison many otherwise good things.

i. “The proverb teaches that to nurse a resentment is bad for body as well as soul: it is no sacrifice when we renounce it.” (Kidner)

Proverbs 14:31

He who oppresses the poor reproaches his Maker,
But he who honors Him has mercy on the needy.

a. He who oppresses the poor reproaches his Maker: To oppress the poor is to sin against them, but it is also to sin against and to insult God Himself. To oppress and despise the poor is to despise his Maker, the one in whose image all humanity was made.

b. He who honors Him has mercy on the needy: The one who honors and loves God will reflect God’s own mercy on the needy. A cold, mean heart towards the poor shows a lack of honor towards God.

i. “Proverbs 14:31 stands in the ancient Near Eastern tradition of warning rulers not to trample upon the rights of the poor; the king who ignores this advice will soon find himself without a nation.” (Garrett)

Proverbs 14:32

The wicked is banished in his wickedness,
But the righteous has a refuge in his death.

a. The wicked is banished in his wickedness: Godliness and wisdom are useful for many things, and one of their great benefits is the way that they make for good community. Yet the wicked will be banished, being of no benefit and of definite danger to the community.

b. The righteous has a refuge in his death: The righteous man or woman enjoys refuge in the community, but also even unto his death. God will demonstrate His care for the righteous.

i. The Old Testament in general and the Book of Proverbs in particular don’t have much specific information or confidence in the life to come. There are rare flashes of this confidence, and a refuge in his death is one of those. “Job and the Psalms show occasional glimpses, such as this, of what lies normally beyond their view.” (Kidner)

Proverbs 14:33

Wisdom rests in the heart of him who has understanding,
But what is in the heart of fools is made known.

a. Wisdom rests in the heart of him who has understanding: The idea is that wisdom finds a suitable home in the heart of those who have wisdom (understanding). It isn’t like a temporary visitor; it comes and rests in the heart.

i. “True wisdom sets its throne in the heart.” (Bridges)

b. What is in the heart of fools is made known: The wisdom of a wise man’s heart will be revealed; so will the folly of the fool’s heart. What we are is eventually evident in what we do.

Proverbs 14:34

Righteousness exalts a nation,
But sin is a reproach to any people.

a. Righteousness exalts a nation: Because righteousness is to follow God’s will and God’s way, it will always exalt a person, a family, a neighborhood, a city, a state, or even a nation. This is both because of the natural consequences of righteousness and because of God’s active response of blessing.

i. Many things may, in human perspective, exalt a nation. Military might, economic prosperity, status among nations, cultural influence, and athletic victory may each make a nation seem exalted. Yet ultimately, none of those things match righteousness as a way a nation is truly exalted. One might say that the most patriotic thing a citizen might do is repent of their sin and then receive and pursue God’s righteousness in their life.

b. But sin is a reproach to any people: When a people reject righteousness and choose sin, it will bring reproach and insult upon them. We never gain through our rejection of God and our embrace of sin.

i. “No nation is so low as not to sink even lower under sin. The strongest nations are given an indelible blot if they are overcome by sin. What an enemy an ungodly man is to his country. He may talk eloquently about his patriotism, but even if God should elevate him in his work, he will only bring disgrace on his people.” (Bridges)

Proverbs 14:35

The king’s favor is toward a wise servant,
But his wrath is against him who causes shame.

a. The king’s favor is toward a wise servant: On a human level, there is nothing greater than the favor of those in places of power and prestige such as kings. Having that favor is one of the rewards of wisdom.

i. “What will the solemn day of reckoning bring to me? May I, may we all be found to be wise servants to the best of Kings.” (Bridges)

b. His wrath is against him who causes shame: Kings are allergic to shame. Their power and presence rests upon the image of success and majesty. Therefore, to cause shame is to gain the wrath of the kings of this world.

i. Causes shame: “Both to himself, by his foolish management of the king’s affairs committed to him; and to the king, who made so foolish a choice of a servant.” (Poole)

ii. “The saying is a bracing reminder not to blame luck or favouritism but one’s own shortcomings, for any lack of recognition. Moffatt gives the sense well: ‘The king favours an able minister; his anger is for the incompetent.’” (Kidner)

iii. We are forever grateful that the King of Kings (1 Timothy 6:15 and Revelation 19:16) did not despise the shame of our sin, but bore it in Himself on the cross.

Proverbs 13

August 6, 2017/in Old Testament, Proverbs/by David Guzik

Proverbs 13 – The Value of Correction

Proverbs 13:1

A wise son heeds his father’s instruction,
But a scoffer does not listen to rebuke.

a. A wise son heeds his father’s instruction: The fact that Solomon delivered this proverb to his own son does not make it any less true. Children are wise to listen to instruction from their parents.

b. A scoffer does not listen to rebuke: The scoffer is fool enough to reject all guidance and therefore never learns.

i. Does not listen: “Or, Heareth and jeereth; – as Lot’s sons-in-law, as Eli’s sons, and afterwards Samuel’s.” (Trapp)

ii. Instruction…rebuke: “The change to a stronger word in the second line—(‘rebuke’)—shows that he does not respond to any level of discipline.” (Ross)

Proverbs 13:2

A man shall eat well by the fruit of his mouth,
But the soul of the unfaithful feeds on violence.

a. A man shall eat well by the fruit of his mouth: Wise and good speech brings blessings of many different kinds, including the blessing of prosperity.

b. The soul of the unfaithful feeds on violence: Those who are unfaithful to God and His wisdom may find themselves supported by or through violence.

i. Feeds on violence: “Shall have that violence and injury returned upon themselves, which they have offered to others in word or deed.” (Poole)

Proverbs 13:3

He who guards his mouth preserves his life,
But he who opens wide his lips shall have destruction.

a. He who guards his mouth preserves his life: Wise and good words can preserve life. This is true both in a moment of crisis and over a lifetime.

i. Guards his mouth: “As the guard keepeth the gates in a siege. God hath set a double guard of lips and teeth before this gate, and yet, unless he himself set the watch, and keep the door, all will be lost.” (Trapp)

ii. “The old Arab proverb is appropriate: ‘Take heed that your tongue does not cut your throat’.” (Ross)

b. He who opens wide his lips shall have destruction: To speak too much is usually to find trouble, leading to destruction. Wisdom will guard the mouth and the words it speaks.

i. “How often have the foolish, headstrong, and wicked, forfeited their lives by the treasonable or blasphemous words they have spoken! The government of the tongue is a rare but useful talent.” (Clarke)

ii. “It has often been remarked that God has, given us two EYES, that we may SEE much; two EARS, that we may HEAR much; but has given us but ONE tongue, and that fenced in with teeth, to indicate that though we hear and see much, we should speak but little.” (Clarke)

Proverbs 13:4

The soul of a lazy man desires, and has nothing;
But the soul of the diligent shall be made rich.

a. The soul of a lazy man desires: It isn’t that the lazy man or woman lacks desire; they wish for many things. Yet they have nothing because they cannot or will not apply themselves to the work required to take desires to reality.

i. “The sluggard craves the fruit of diligence without the diligence that gains it.” (Bridges)

ii. “Affection without endeavour is like Rachel – beautiful, but barren.” (Trapp)

b. The soul of the diligent shall be made rich: As in most places in Proverbs, soul here is used in the sense of “life,” without so much reference to the non-material aspect of one’s being. Yet, it is true that diligence in spiritual things leads to spiritual riches and blessing.

i. “We often hear many religious people expressing a desire to have more of the Divine life, and yet never get forward in it. How is this? The reason is, they desire, but do not stir themselves up to lay hold upon the Lord.” (Clarke)

Proverbs 13:5

A righteous man hates lying,
But a wicked man is loathsome and comes to shame.

a. A righteous man hates lying: The righteous man or woman doesn’t just love truth and avoid the lie; they actually hate lying. Being godly, they have some of the love of the truth and hatred of the lie that God Himself has.

b. A wicked man is loathsome: The implication is that wicked men and women love the lie, and this makes them loathsome and repulsive. This will surely bring them to shame.

i. Comes to shame: “Makes himself contemptible and hateful to all that know him; there being scarce any reproach which men more impatiently endure, and severely revenge, than that of being called or accounted a liar.” (Poole)

Proverbs 13:6

Righteousness guards him whose way is blameless,
But wickedness overthrows the sinner.

a. Righteousness guards him whose way is blameless: A blameless life – certainly not free of sin, but a life of general righteousness and integrity – is honored and blessed by God. It is both the righteousness of God Himself and the righteousness of the blameless that guards them.

b. Wickedness overthrows the sinner: Even as the blameless man or woman’s own righteousness guards them, so the sin of the sinner overthrows them. Deeds can reflect destiny.

i. The sinner: “Hebrew, the man of sin, who giveth up himself to wicked courses.” (Poole)

Proverbs 13:7

There is one who makes himself rich, yet has nothing;
And one who makes himself poor, yet has great riches.

a. There is one who makes himself rich, yet has nothing: Material riches and wealth may be of little account for happiness in this world and especially in the world to come. One may work hard to make himself rich yet find at the end of it all that he has nothing. Solomon wrote about these principles in Ecclesiastes.

i. “Our own age abounds with men who have made themselves rich, and yet have nothing. They have amassed great wealth, and yet it has no purchasing power in the true things of life. It cannot insure health, it brings no happiness, it often destroys peace.” (Morgan)

b. And one who makes himself poor, yet has great riches: There are those who willingly make themselves poor on a material level, and do so out of generosity to others or out of fixed spiritual priorities. Such ones have great riches in this life and in the life to come.

i. Morgan saw the key to this proverb in its use of self in both the first and second lines. “To make self rich, is to destroy the capacity for life. To make self poor, by enriching others, is to live.”

ii. The greatest occasion of anyone making himself poor, yet gaining great riches through it was that of Jesus Christ. For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich (2 Corinthians 8:9).

Proverbs 13:8

The ransom of a man’s life is his riches,
But the poor does not hear rebuke.

a. The ransom of a man’s life is his riches: A man’s life can be measured in many ways. One of those measurements – though by no means the best measurement – is his riches. In a time of crisis, a man’s riches may well ransom his life.

i. His riches: “They may help a man out at a dead lift, and get him a release out of captivity, or a lease of his life. ‘Slay us not,’ say they, [Jeremiah 41:8] ‘for we have treasures in the field. So he forebore, and slew them not among their brethren.’” (Trapp)

ii. The ransom of a man’s life: “But what can a person give in exchange for his soul (Matthew 16:26)? It is too precious to be redeemed with corruptible silver and gold (1 Peter 1:18). When all the treasures of earth were insufficient for this ransom, the riches of heaven were poured out (1 Peter 1:19; Hebrews 10:5-8).” (Bridges)

b. The poor does not hear rebuke: Most commentators take this in a positive sense, with the idea that the poor will never find himself in the same trouble as the rich man who must ransom his life with his riches.

i. Morgan explains the thought in the positive sense: “That is to say that if wealth has its advantages, so also has poverty. The rich man by his wealth may be able to conserve his life, but the poor man escapes the very dangers into which the rich are brought.”

ii. “Those who have riches have often much trouble with them; as they had much trouble to get them, so they have much trouble to keep them. In despotic countries, a rich man is often accused of some capital crime, and to save his life, though he may be quite innocent, is obliged to give up his riches; but the poor, in such countries, are put to no trouble.” (Clarke)

iii. If taken in a negative sense, then here Solomon considered those whose poverty comes from their moral failings. Certainly, not everyone who is poor is in that condition because of their unwillingness to hear rebuke, but some are. Their foolish rejection of wisdom leads them to poverty.

Proverbs 13:9

The light of the righteous rejoices,
But the lamp of the wicked will be put out.

a. The light of the righteous rejoices: Righteousness – godliness as expressed in real life – is associated with light and with rejoicing. There is something wrong with the person who claims to be righteous yet rarely has evidence of light and rejoicing.

b. The lamp of the wicked will be put out: The righteous are associated with light, but the wicked with darkness. The darkness conceived of here is one that is imposed by the judgment of a righteous God (will be put out).

i. “The proverb contrasts the enduring wealth of the righteous with the extinction of the wicked and implicitly their wealth.” (Waltke)

Proverbs 13:10

By pride comes nothing but strife,
But with the well-advised is wisdom.

a. By pride comes nothing but strife: Pride – excessive self-focus and self-regard – constantly generates strife. When people are focused on their own exaltation they will always attempt to advance themselves at the expense of others.

i. Nothing but strife: “Pride is a dividing distemper; gouty swollen legs keep at a distance; bladders blown up with wind spurt one from another, and will not close; but prick them, and you may pack a thousand of them in a little room.” (Trapp)

ii. “Perhaps there is not a quarrel among individuals in private life, nor a war among nations, that does not proceed from pride and ambition…. It was to destroy this spirit of pride, that Jesus was manifested in the extreme of humility and humiliation among men. The salvation of Christ is a deliverance from pride, and a being clothed with humility. As far as we are humble, so far we are saved.” (Clarke)

b. With the well-advised is wisdom: Those who listen to and receive the counsel of others walk in wisdom.

Proverbs 13:11

Wealth gained by dishonesty will be diminished,
But he who gathers by labor will increase.

a. Wealth gained by dishonesty will be diminished: This may be because God’s blessing is not upon wealth gained by dishonesty, or because such wealth was not gained by the habits of life that earn and retain wealth.

i. “The metaphor of getting money from a vapor suggests what English speakers call ‘easy money,’ including tyranny, injustice, extortion, lies, and windfalls, at the expense of others.” (Waltke)

ii. “Wealth that is not the result of honest industry and hard labour is seldom permanent. All fortunes acquired by speculation, lucky hits, and ministering to the pride or luxury of others, etc., soon become dissipated. They are not gotten in the way of Providence, and have not God’s blessing, and therefore are not permanent.” (Clarke)

b. He who gathers by labor will increase: This happens with God’s blessing on honest labor and in the practice of habits that normally earn, retain, and increase wealth.

Proverbs 13:12

Hope deferred makes the heart sick,
But when the desire comes, it is a tree of life.

a. Hope deferred makes the heart sick: The strength of hope sustains the heart; when hope’s fulfillment is long delayed (deferred), it can make the heart sick.

i. “How many see we lie languishing at hope’s hospital, as he at the pool of Bethesda!” (Trapp)

ii. “Plaut elaborates that people can bear frustration only so long; they must have encouragement to continue (p. 153). Perhaps believers should make it part of their task to help others realize their hopes whenever possible.” (Ross)

b. When the desire comes, it is a tree of life: When hope’s desire finally is fulfilled it brings long-sustained life. This principle reminds us that though hope’s delayed fulfillment may even make the heart sick, it is worth it to endure the sense of sickness for the goodness of the fulfillment when it comes.

Proverbs 13:13

He who despises the word will be destroyed,
But he who fears the commandment will be rewarded.

a. He who despises the word will be destroyed: This principle may be fulfilled through the direct judgment of God upon those who commit the terrible sin of despising His word, or by the natural consequences of such folly.

b. He who fears the commandment will be rewarded: The one who not only understands and obeys but also properly respects and reverences God’s word (fears the commandment) will be rewarded both in this life and the life to come.

i. Word and commandment: “The use of these two terms has religious significance: they most often refer to Scripture. Kidner says that their use is a ‘reminder that revealed religion is presupposed in Proverbs.’” (Ross)

ii. Fears the commandment: “As Queen Elizabeth I…who, when the Bible was presented to her as she rode triumphantly through London after her coronation, received the same with both her hands, and kissing it, laid it to her breast, saying that it had ever been her delight, and should be her rule of government.” (Trapp)

Proverbs 13:14

The law of the wise is a fountain of life,
To turn one away from the snares of death.

a. The law of the wise is a fountain of life: God’s word (the law of the wise) is a continual source of life for all who will receive it.

b. To turn one away from the snares of death: This is one way that God’s word brings life. Understanding and obeying God’s word will keep one away from many things that trap and destroy, both spiritual and material.

i. Snares of death: “Suggests that death is like a hunter.” (Ross)

ii. The snares of death: “There is only one fountain of life, but there are many snares of death (cf. 2 Tim. 2:24-26).” (Waltke)

Proverbs 13:15

Good understanding gains favor,
But the way of the unfaithful is hard.

a. Good understanding gains favor: This happens both from the blessing of God and simply from the way people relate and socialize with each other. Men and women of good understanding are more welcome among others because of the way they deal with people.

b. The way of the unfaithful is hard: Those who reject wisdom, and live lives unfaithful to God and man, will find life hard. They find many more obstacles and difficulties in their path and receive less help from others along the way.

i. This recalls a contemporary proverb, supposedly attributed to the actor John Wayne: Life is hard; it’s harder when you’re stupid.

ii. The way of the unfaithful is hard: “They dream of a flowery path, but they make for themselves a hard way…‘I was held before conversion,’ said Augustine, ‘not with an iron chain, but with the obstinacy of my own will.’” (Bridges)

iii. “Never was a truer saying; most sinners have more pain and difficulty to get their souls damned, than the righteous have, with all their cross-bearings, to get to the kingdom of heaven.” (Clarke)

Proverbs 13:16

Every prudent man acts with knowledge,
But a fool lays open his folly.

a. Every prudent man acts with knowledge: The wise and prudent man or woman not only has knowledge, but they act with it. Wisdom is more than in their mind, it is in their life.

b. A fool lays open his folly: The folly of the fool is plain for the world to see. It is open before God and man.

i. “Lacking this prudence, a fool exposes his folly. He pours out his wrath, vaunts his vanity, exposes his thoughtlessness, and exercises no judgment.” (Bridges)

Proverbs 13:17

A wicked messenger falls into trouble,
But a faithful ambassador brings health.

a. A wicked messenger falls into trouble: It could be often said that the wicked person falls into trouble, but this is even more so of the messenger, who has the responsibility to relay the message. This is a warning to those who are, or wish to be, messengers of God’s truth.

i. “The messenger is an example of a person charged with a serious responsibility. Those who are reliable are appropriately rewarded, but those who are not soon find themselves in serious trouble.” (Garrett)

ii. “‘The professional courier had to be courageous and bold and his training must have included the study of military strategy and tactics.’ They also enjoyed an extraordinary status that entitled them to privileged treatment: ‘Their names are amongst those of the very few names of officials which have come down to us in the literature.’ They were authorized to speak in the ‘I’ style of the client.” (Waltke)

b. A faithful ambassador brings health: An ambassador is a special kind of messenger, and those who are faithful in that duty bring goodness to others and to themselves. This is a blessing for those who are, or wish to be, ambassadors of God.

Proverbs 13:18

Poverty and shame will come to him who disdains correction,
But he who regards a rebuke will be honored.

a. Poverty and shame will come to him who disdains correction: We all make mistakes, but the man or woman who cannot be corrected will remain in their mistakes and never learn from them. This often leads to poverty and shame.

i. Waltke observed that Proverbs shows us that “There are many causes of poverty: laziness (Proverbs 10:4-5; 12:24; 13:4; 15:19; 19:15; 20:4, 13; 21:25), love of pleasure and luxury (Proverbs 21:17; 28:19), a propensity to talk instead of getting down to work (Proverbs 14:23), wickedness in general (Proverbs 13:25), and meanness (Proverbs 11:24). This proverb points to a more fundamental problem, namely, the refusal, like that of the horse and mule (Psalm 32:9), to listen to the instructions that correct these flaws.”

ii. “Poverty due to moral failure brings disgrace, but poverty with virtue (Proverbs 17:1; 19:1), such as from injustice (Proverbs 13:23), is not disgraceful.” (Waltke)

iii. “Proverbs takes a balanced position; it neither dehumanizes the poor on the grounds that they are to blame for all their troubles nor absolves the individual of personal responsibility.” (Garrett)

b. He who regards a rebuke will be honored: A rebuke never feels good, but when we properly regard it and learn from it, we will not repeat the same mistakes over and over. This leads to honor in this life and the life to come.

i. Regards a rebuke: “That considers it seriously, receiveth it kindly, and reformeth himself by it, shall be honoured, and enriched…Or if he do not always gain riches, he shall certainly have honour both from God and men.” (Poole)

Proverbs 13:19

A desire accomplished is sweet to the soul,
But it is an abomination to fools to depart from evil.

a. A desire accomplished is sweet to the soul: When our desires are fulfilled – especially when they are accomplished through hard work, discipline, and sacrifice – this is sweet to the soul and brings great life satisfaction.

b. It is an abomination to fools to depart from evil: The fool is so in love with his or her evil that they regard it as a terrible thing (an abomination) to depart from that evil. This shows that evil and folly are not surface problems; they are bound up deep within a person’s being.

i. “Men will not pay the price of departing from evil, and so fail of the sweetness of fulfilled desire.” (Morgan)

ii. “A person’s life depends on finding his drives and appetites satisfied. The frustrated fool goes from failure to failure, but the gratified righteous go from strength to strength.” (Waltke)

iii. “Holiness makes heaven; sin makes hell. So which place are the ungodly suited for? Hating holiness means that you are fit for hell.” (Bridges)

Proverbs 13:20

He who walks with wise men will be wise,
But the companion of fools will be destroyed.

a. He who walks with wise men will be wise: Good companions bring much good and wisdom to life. When we choose to associate ourselves with wise men and women, we will grow in wisdom.

b. The companion of fools will be destroyed: It is taken for granted that the companion of fools is a fool and will remain rooted in their folly. Their choice of companions proves their folly and shows their destiny: destruction.

i. Kidner quoted John Knox’s translation of the Latin Vulgate: Fool he ends that fool befriends.

Proverbs 13:21

Evil pursues sinners,
But to the righteous, good shall be repaid.

a. Evil pursues sinners: By their very nature, sinners will pursue evil. Yet it is also true that evil pursues sinners. The power of evil and the evil one desire to keep sinners in their grasp.

b. To the righteous, good shall be repaid: The “reward” of sinners is for evil to chase after them. God’s righteous men and women have a much better destiny. Good shall be granted to them as they reap what they have sowed (Galatians 6:7).

i. We remember the promise Jesus made: So Jesus answered and said, “Assuredly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for My sake and the gospel’s, who shall not receive a hundredfold now in this time—houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions—and in the age to come, eternal life.” (Mark 10:29-30)

ii. “God shall repay good. Now he is a liberal paymaster, and all his retributions are more than bountiful. Never did any yet do or suffer aught for God, that complained of a hard bargain. God will recompense your losses.” (Trapp)

iii. We also remember another of Jesus’ promises: Whoever gives one of these little ones only a cup of cold water in the name of a disciple, assuredly, I say to you, he shall by no means lose his reward. (Matthew 10:42)

Proverbs 13:22

A good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children,
But the wealth of the sinner is stored up for the righteous.

a. A good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children: The blessing on the life of a good man is great enough that, upon his death, he has enough to give an inheritance not only to his children but to his grandchildren. This also shows the generosity of the good man.

i. More importantly, the good man passes an inheritance to his children and grandchildren greater than material wealth. He gives something money can’t buy: the gift of a good parent and grandparent, and the example of goodness and all that goodness entails.

ii. “He files many a prayer in heaven in their behalf, and his good example and advices are remembered and quoted from generation to generation.” (Clarke)

b. The wealth of the sinner is stored up for the righteous: The sinner may have wealth, and this may be a discouragement to the righteous. Yet confident in the judgments of God, the righteous know that all things are theirs and God can, if He wishes, transfer the wealth of the sinner to the righteous.

Proverbs 13:23

Much food is in the fallow ground of the poor,
And for lack of justice there is waste.

a. Much food is in the fallow ground of the poor: Most commentators understand this as a proverb in sympathy with the poor in both its first and second lines. In this thinking, the fallow ground of the poor exists because of the lack of justice mentioned in the second line.

i. “This is the declaration of an abiding truth that there is sustenance in the land, but men are excluded from it by injustice.” (Morgan) “According to this proverb, the lack of food for the hard-working poor is due to tyranny, not the environment.” (Waltke)

ii. Yet it is possible that the first line of this proverb rebukes those who are poor because of their lack of work or initiative. A wise man or woman might look at a piece of fallow ground and see much food that can be gained with hard work. Others may only see the hard work as a disruption to a lazy life.

iii. Adam Clarke understood this as a rebuke of the lazy poor: “O, how much of the poverty of the poor arises from their own want of management! They have little or no economy, and no foresight. When they get any thing, they speedily spend it; and a feast and a famine make the chief varieties of their life.”

b. For lack of justice there is waste: The second line of this proverb speaks clearly of things that are wasted because justice does not prevail. When hard work is justly rewarded, and laziness is allowed its natural penalty there will be much less waste.

Proverbs 13:24

He who spares his rod hates his son,
But he who loves him disciplines him promptly.

a. He who spares his rod hates his son: The rod is a figure of correction (as previously in Proverbs 10:13), here including but not limited to the appropriate physical discipline of children. The one who refuses to discipline his child may feel they avoid it out of compassion for the child, but they are mistaken. The harm is potentially so great that it could be said that he hates his son.

i. Hates his son: “His fond affection is as pernicious to him as his or another man’s hatred could be.” (Poole)

ii. “It is as if one should be so tender over a child as not to suffer the wind to blow upon it, and therefore hold the hand before the mouth of it, but so hard as he strangles the child.” (Trapp)

b. He who loves him disciplines him promptly: Proper discipline for a child comes from both wisdom and love. Such correction will be done promptly, reinforcing the connection between the correction and error of the child.

i. “Ephesians 6:4 warns against undue severity; but the obligation remains. Proverbs itself exalts the place of tenderness, constructiveness and example, in this relationship: see, e.g., Proverbs 4:3-4, Proverbs 4:11.” (Kidner)

ii. “The proverb is based on several assumptions. First, that the home is the basic social unit for transmitting values (cf. Exodus 20:12). Second, that parents have absolute values, not merely valuations. Third, that folly is bound up in the heart of the child (Proverbs 22:15; cf. Genesis 8:21). Fourth, ‘that it will take more than just words to dislodge it.’ (Waltke)

Proverbs 13:25

The righteous eats to the satisfying of his soul,
But the stomach of the wicked shall be in want.

a. The righteous eats to the satisfying of his soul: This principle was even more treasured in ancient times when only the relatively wealthy were able to eat as much as they pleased at a meal. God’s blessing on the righteous man or woman is often so great that they have material abundance that does them good.

i. It also speaks to having a soul that can be satisfied. “His desires are all moderate; he is contented with his circumstances, and is pleased with the lot which God is pleased to send.” (Clarke)

ii. “Although the word is used literally, in this gnomic proverb it can also be used metaphorically for the satisfying of the spiritual appetite.” (Waltke)

b. The stomach of the wicked shall be in want: This may be because of the judgment of God upon the wicked, but it is also true that the wicked and foolish life creates its own scarcity.

i. “Elijah was fed, first by ravens, afterwards by a widow, while the wicked country of Israel went hungry.” (Bridges)

ii. “The wicked, though he use all shifts and expedients to acquire earthly good, not sticking even at rapine and wrong, is frequently in real want, and always dissatisfied with his portion. A contented mind is a continual feast. At such feasts he eats not.” (Clarke)

iii. This principle was especially true according to the terms of the old covenant. “Abundance of food indicates a right relationship to the Lord and the community, but a lack of it signifies a failed relationship (cf. Proverbs 10:3; Deuteronomy 28:48, 57; Jeremiah 44:18; Ezekiel 4:17).” (Waltke)

Proverbs 12

July 21, 2017/in Old Testament, Proverbs/by David Guzik

Proverbs 12 –Words, Deeds, and Destiny

Proverbs 12:1

Whoever loves instruction loves knowledge,
But he who hates correction is stupid.

a. Whoever loves instruction: Wisdom tells us to keep learning and to love instruction and knowledge. A humble willingness to be taught (instruction) shows a true love of knowledge.

i. “If we find that we are upset when our faults are pointed out to us, that shows we lack not only grace but understanding. We are behaving as if we were stupid…. Oh, for a teachable spirit to sit at the feet of our divine Master and learn from him.” (Bridges)

b. He who hates correction is stupid: The proud man or woman who is unwilling to receive correction reveals his or her own rejection of knowledge.

i. Hates correction: “That sapless fellow Nabal would hear nothing; there was no talking to him, no dealing with him; but as [the] horse and mule that have no understanding. [Psalms 32:9].” (Trapp)

ii. Is stupid: “Discovereth himself to be a most foolish and stupid creature, because he is an enemy to himself and to his own happiness.” (Poole)

Proverbs 12:2

A good man obtains favor from the LORD,
But a man of wicked intentions He will condemn.

a. A good man obtains favor from the LORD: Obedience to God leads to deeper relationship with Him (1 John 1:6-7). This principle was especially true under the old covenant, with its promises of blessings for obedience and curses for disobedience (Deuteronomy 27-28).

i. John Trapp on Proverbs 12:2, regarding Martin Luther: “And on a time praying for the recovery of a godly useful man, among other passages, he let fall this transcendent rapture of a daring faith, Fiat mea voluntas, ‘Let my will be done’; and then falls off sweetly, Mea voluntas, Domine, quia tua; ‘My will, Lord, because thy will!’”

b. A man of wicked intentions He will condemn: God sees the heart and sees wicked intentions before they result in action, and even if they never result in action.

Proverbs 12:3

A man is not established by wickedness,
But the root of the righteous cannot be moved.

a. A man is not established by wickedness: Many men seek to advance and establish themselves through treating others badly. Lying, cheating, and deception are common when someone seeks to advance or establish himself. This is never God’s way and can never enjoy His blessing.

i. “Evil is always variable: it has no fixed principle, except the root that is in the human heart; and even that is ever assuming new forms. Nothing is permanent but goodness; and that is unchangeable, because it comes from GOD.” (Clarke)

b. The root of the righteous cannot be moved: God establishes His righteous ones in a firm, permanent way. Their root goes down deep and holds strong.

i. Cannot be moved: This idea is repeated many times in the Scriptures. “‘God is my rock, I shall not be greatly moved.’ [Psalms 62:2] Nay, ‘I shall not be moved at all.’ [Proverbs 12:3] ‘The gates of hell cannot do it.’ [Matthew 16:18] ‘None can pluck them out of God’s hands,’ [John 10:28] for he ‘hath laid help upon one that is mighty.’ [Psalms 89:19]” (Trapp)

Proverbs 12:4

An excellent wife is the crown of her husband,
But she who causes shame is like rottenness in his bones.

a. An excellent wife is the crown of her husband: A man may achieve success in many areas of life, but unless there is happiness in the home, all other achievements are empty. To have an excellent wife and all the home happiness that she brings is a true crown of success.

i. “The modern sense of virtuous (King James Version, Revised Version) [excellent] does no justice to the Hebrew term’s root idea of strength and worth…. The modern phrase, ‘she has a lot in her’, expresses something of the meaning.” (Kidner)

b. She who causes shame is like rottenness: A wife that brings shame to the husband and the family seems to take away life and happiness instead of bringing it.

i. “The ignoble wife invisibly saps his strength and vitality and deconstructs him from within.” (Waltke)

ii. “A ‘crown’ is a symbol of honor and renown; but the negative side, using the figure of ‘decay in his bones,’ is that the disgrace will eat away her husband’s strength and destroy his happiness.” (Ross)

Proverbs 12:5

The thoughts of the righteous are right,
But the counsels of the wicked are deceitful.

a. The thoughts of the righteous are right: The righteous man or woman is not only right in their actions, but even in their thoughts. They know something of what it means to be transformed by the renewing of the mind (Romans 12:1-2).

b. The counsels of the wicked are deceitful: As for the wicked, it is more than their actions that are deceitful; their counsels (thinking, thoughts) are also full of deception and error.

i. The counsels of the wicked: “Not their rash thoughts only, but also their deliberate ones are how to circumvent others, or to cloak their own wickedness.” (Trapp)

Proverbs 12:6

The words of the wicked are, “Lie in wait for blood,”
But the mouth of the upright will deliver them.

a. Lie in wait for blood: The wicked plot violence and are ready to ambush others for their own unrighteous gain.

i. “The vivid picture of ‘lying in wait for blood’ conveys that the wicked make a trap by their false accusations.” (Ross)

b. The mouth of the upright: The upright man or woman will find their rescue in the good and wise words that they speak.

Proverbs 12:7

The wicked are overthrown and are no more,
But the house of the righteous will stand.

a. The wicked are overthrown: Having no root in righteousness, the wicked cannot and will not stand. They will one day be overthrown and simply perish.

b. The house of the righteous will stand: God will preserve His own righteous men and women. They and their house will endure that which would overthrow the house of the wicked.

Proverbs 12:8

A man will be commended according to his wisdom,
But he who is of a perverse heart will be despised.

a. Will be commended according to his wisdom: Wise men and women will be recognized and honored for their wisdom. The more wisdom, the greater the commendation. This is often true in this world, but always true in the world to come.

b. Will be despised: The one with a crooked or twisted heart will not receive praise, but instead will be despised. This present age often shows this to be true, and the coming age will certainly show it so.

Proverbs 12:9

Better is the one who is slighted but has a servant,
Than he who honors himself but lacks bread.

a. Better is the one who is slighted but has a servant: To receive an insult or be slighted is never pleasant, but wisdom sees that if one has enough in this world to have a servant, they shouldn’t be so proud as to despair over an insult.

i. Has a servant: “Hath but one servant. Or rather, is servant to himself; hath none to wait upon him or work for him but himself, that getteth bread by his own labours.” (Poole)

b. Than he who honors himself but lacks bread: The proud man who promotes his own honor can’t eat his self-exaltation. Honoring self isn’t the way to either prosperity or happiness.

i. “Nothing is so despicable as to be proud when there is nothing to be proud about.” (Bridges)

ii. Kidner suggested an alternative translation: “But the Revised Standard Version, following the Septuagint, [and the] Syriac, reads the same Hebrew consonants to mean: Better is a man of humble standing who works for himself than one who plays the great man but lacks bread. This is stronger, and gives more content to the word ‘better’.”

Proverbs 12:10

A righteous man regards the life of his animal,
But the tender mercies of the wicked are cruel.

a. A righteous man regards the life of his animal: God cares for the animals (Matthew 10:29, Psalm 104:27). The righteous or godly man will also show care and compassion to his animal. There is a true sense in which the animal is his, and God gives him authority over the animal; but he is to exercise that authority with care and compassion.

i. “Proverbs 12:10 teaches that a good man cares for those who provide for him, even if they are only animals. The wicked only exploit.” (Garrett)

ii. “I once in my travels met with the Hebrew of this clause on the sign board of a public inn: yodea tsaddik nephesh behemto. ‘A righteous man considereth the life of his beast;’ which, being very appropriate, reminded me that I should feed my horse.” (Clarke)

b. The tender mercies of the wicked are cruel: Even the supposed mercies of the wicked have their own cruel self-interest in mind. The righteous man is kind even to his animals; the wicked man can be cruel even in his kindness.

i. “The wicked, influenced by Satan, can show no other disposition than what is in their master. If they appear at any time merciful, it is a cloak which they use to cover purposes of cruelty.” (Clarke)

Proverbs 12:11

He who tills his land will be satisfied with bread,
But he who follows frivolity is devoid of understanding.

a. He who tills his land: The one who does the hard work of farming will be satisfied with bread. Under God’s blessing, they will enjoy the result of their labor.

b. He who follows frivolity: The one who lives for the vain and superficial things of life lacks something worse than bread; he is devoid of understanding.

i. “The proud person is Satan’s throne, and the idle man his pillow. He sits in the former and sleeps quietly on the latter.” (Swinnock, cited in Bridges)

Proverbs 12:12

The wicked covet the catch of evil men,
But the root of the righteous yields fruit.

a. The wicked covet the catch of evil men: It is in the nature of the wicked to covet what others have, even if it is the catch of evil men. In this they sin in the covetousness and the longing for what has been gained by evil men.

b. The root of the righteous yields fruit: God’s righteous men and women don’t need to covet the catch of evil men, because they are like fruit-bearing trees. Fruit comes from their very root, from who they are.

Proverbs 12:13

The wicked is ensnared by the transgression of his lips,
But the righteous will come through trouble.

a. The wicked is ensnared: What a wicked man says (the transgression of his lips) will eventually get him into trouble. It will become a snare he is trapped in.

i. “A man who deals in lies and false oaths will sooner or later be found out to his own ruin. There is another proverb as true as this: A liar had need of a good memory; for as the truth is not in him, he says and unsays, and often contradicts himself.” (Clarke)

b. The righteous will come through trouble: The righteous man or woman will certainly experience trouble but will come through it. As Jesus said, in the world you will have tribulation, but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world (John 16:33).

Proverbs 12:14

A man will be satisfied with good by the fruit of his mouth,
And the recompense of a man’s hands will be rendered to him.

a. A man will be satisfied with good: A righteous man finds blessing comes to his life by what he says (the fruit of his mouth). His good, kind, and encouraging words will bring life to himself and others.

b. The recompense of a man’s hands will be rendered to him: A man will receive what he has worked for, whether it be for good or evil. God’s judgments are true and fitting.

Proverbs 12:15

The way of a fool is right in his own eyes,
But he who heeds counsel is wise.

a. The way of a fool is right in his own eyes: The fool almost always thinks they are on the right path. It is difficult for them to think carefully and accurately about the path of their life.

b. He who heeds counsel is wise: The wise man or woman understands the value of counsel and does not look only to what is right in his own eyes. The wise person understands that it is helpful to get another set of “eyes” on one’s way.

Proverbs 12:16

A fool’s wrath is known at once,
But a prudent man covers shame.

a. A fool’s wrath is known at once: The fool does not have the self-control to wait and let the immediate anger pass before making a response. The fool does most things out of impulse without thought.

b. A prudent man covers shame: The wise and prudent man knows that there are many times when the right thing to do is to cover shame. They thoughtfully respond to situations instead of making an immediate, impulsive response.

i. “It is not so much that the wise man represses anger or feelings but that he is more shrewd in dealing with it.” (Ross)

Proverbs 12:17

He who speaks truth declares righteousness,
But a false witness, deceit.

a. He who speaks truth declares righteousness: The words of the wise are filled with truth and therefore reflect God’s righteousness.

b. But a false witness, deceit: The false witness doesn’t speak the truth, and promotes deceit instead of righteousness.

Proverbs 12:18

There is one who speaks like the piercings of a sword,
But the tongue of the wise promotes health.

a. There is one who speaks like the piercings of a sword: Some people have the terrible ability to speak in a manner that stabs and slices others. Their words are like the slashing and piercings of a sword, bringing hurt instead of healing.

i. “How keenly have the servants of God suffered from this sword! Many will speak daggers without compunction who would be afraid to use them.” (Bridges)

b. The tongue of the wise promotes health: Wise men and women are able to bring health and healing by the words they speak.

Proverbs 12:19

The truthful lip shall be established forever,
But a lying tongue is but for a moment.

a. The truthful lip shall be established forever: God looks after those who love the truth and speak the truth. Under His blessing, they will be established forever.

b. The lying tongue is but for a moment: It often seems that the lying tongue wins the day and is stronger than the truthful lip. The judgments of the God of truth will show how temporary the success of the lying tongue is.

i. But for a moment: “The lying tongue may continue to utter its falsehood for long years by the calendars of men, but when you place those years by the side of the ages of God, they are as a moment, as the winking of the eye, as nothing.” (Morgan)

ii. “Truth stands for ever; because its foundation is indestructible: but falsehood may soon be detected; and, though it gain credit for a while, it had that credit because it was supposed to be truth.” (Clarke)

iii. “It is truth which abides. A lie must perish. In a world still largely mastered by lies, it is difficult at times to believe this. Yet to review the history of the race is to have evidence of it. Lies are always perishing.” (Morgan)

Proverbs 12:20

Deceit is in the heart of those who devise evil,
But counselors of peace have joy.

a. Deceit is in the heart: Those who devise evil and practice it have deceit in their heart before it is ever evident in their actions. There is something corrupt in their core that finds expression outwardly.

b. Counselors of peace have joy: There is a happiness and contentment (joy) that comes to those who speak words of peace. This shalom is within the counselors of peace, and so they are able to give it to others.

i. “Significantly, Proverbs always represents counselors as in a group (Proverbs 11:14; 15:22; 24:6).” (Waltke)

Proverbs 12:21

No grave trouble will overtake the righteous,
But the wicked shall be filled with evil.

a. No grave trouble will overtake the righteous: God’s righteous men and women will certainly experience trouble. Yet God promised to manage the degree of trouble, the duration of trouble, and the depth of the trouble. Especially seen in the light of eternity, no grave trouble will overtake the righteous.

b. The wicked shall be filled with evil: In contrast, the wicked will receive the result of their wickedness. They will not be rescued from their trouble; because they pursued evil, they will be filled with evil.

Proverbs 12:22

Lying lips are an abomination to the LORD,
But those who deal truthfully are His delight.

a. Lying lips are an abomination: The God of truth loves the truth and regards the lips that spread lies as offensive, an abomination.

b. Those who deal truthfully are His delight: The same God who regards lies as an abomination takes delight in those who value and tell the truth. Wisdom’s lesson is plain: stop lying and start telling the truth.

Proverbs 12:23

A prudent man conceals knowledge,
But the heart of fools proclaims foolishness.

a. A prudent man conceals knowledge: It is a mark of wisdom and prudence to not reveal all that we know, especially if it may harm or disgrace others.

i. “Someone who is careful in what he says will be equally careful about whom he confides in.” (Garrett)

b. The heart of fools proclaims foolishness: The wise man or woman knows restraint, but the fool does not. It is in the nature of fools to proclaim their foolishness. What is in the heart will eventually be revealed.

i. “Fools, however, proclaim their folly everywhere. They are dogmatic in arguments when wiser men are cautious. They teach when they should be learning.” (Bridges)

Proverbs 12:24

The hand of the diligent will rule,
But the lazy man will be put to forced labor.

a. The hand of the diligent will rule: This is both according to the blessing of God (who rewards the diligent) and the nature of the world and society. Hard working people achieve and come to places of leadership.

i. “So, Christian, be diligent. Spend and be spent in Christ’s service. Your privileges will be enlarged. Your God will be honored. Your crown will be secure.” (Bridges)

b. The lazy man will be put to forced labor: Because he is unfit to rule over others or even himself, the lazy man will be ruled over by others.

i. “Diligence at work determines success and advancement. To put it bluntly, the diligent rise to the top and the lazy sink to the bottom.” (Ross)

ii. The lazy man: “Hebrew, the deceitful. So he calls the slothful, because deceit and idleness are commonly companions, and such men seek to gain by fraud what they either cannot or will not get by honest labour.” (Poole)

Proverbs 12:25

Anxiety in the heart of man causes depression,
But a good word makes it glad.

a. Anxiety in the heart of man causes depression: Solomon considered an inward cause of depression. It may come from fear and anxiety within a man or woman’s heart. This is why God so often tells us to be anxious for nothing (Philippians 4:6) and pray about everything.

b. But a good word makes it glad: An anxious heart can be helped by a simple good word. Encouragement costs little from the one who gives it, but can do enormous good for the one who receives it.

i. “The ‘kind word’ probably includes encouragement, kindness, and insight—saying that which the person needs to gain the proper perspective and renew hope and confidence.” (Ross)

ii. Think of the many times Jesus spoke a simple good word and made others glad:

· Son, be of good cheer; your sins are forgiven you (Matthew 9:2).

· Your sins are forgiven (Luke 7:48).

· Daughter, be of good cheer; your faith has made you well (Luke 8:48).

· Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more (John 8:11).

iii. Our simple words of encouragement can encourage and guide beyond all our imagining. “A single good or favourable word will remove despondency.” (Clarke)

Proverbs 12:26

The righteous should choose his friends carefully,
For the way of the wicked leads them astray.

a. The righteous should choose his friends carefully: This is good advice for both the righteous and those who have the wisdom to seek after righteousness. It has been rightly said, show me your friends and I will show you your future.

b. For the way of the wicked leads them astray: Bad friends can have a significant impact for evil and many people have been led astray towards the way of the wicked because of unwise and undiscerning friendships. The power of friendship can also work for good, and good friends can help one on the way of wisdom.

Proverbs 12:27

The lazy man does not roast what he took in hunting,
But diligence is man’s precious possession.

a. The lazy man does not roast what he took in hunting: Using a somewhat humorous illustration, Solomon showed that the lazy man does not finish the job. He went to all the trouble of hunting and capturing the prey, but will never enjoy the fruit of his work because he is too lazy to do it.

i. “Just as one who might hunt but never cook what he finds, so the lazy person never completes a project.” (Ross)

b. Diligence is man’s precious possession: There are many precious things a man or woman can have, but diligence is near the top of the list. Many great things are accomplished with little talent but great diligence.

Proverbs 12:28

In the way of righteousness is life,
And in its pathway there is no death.

a. In the way of righteousness is life: It is a common belief that the way of righteousness is boring or unpleasant. This is a deception of the world, the flesh, and the devil. The truth is that in the way of righteousness is life.

b. In its pathway there is no death: The life righteousness brings is not only for the present but also for eternity. Those who walk in the way of righteousness will receive and know eternal life, beginning now into eternity.

i. “The practice of justice and godliness, though it expose a man to some dangers and inconveniences in the world, yet it will certainly lead him to life and happiness, whereas the end of all wicked courses is death and destruction.” (Poole)