Various observations of moral virtues and their contrary vices.
1A WISE son heareth his father's instruction: but a scorner heareth not 1rebuke.
1 Or, reproof, as verse 8.
2 A 2mana shall 3eat good by the fruit of his mouth: but the soul of the transgressors shall eat 4violence.
2 Hebr. by the fruit of a man’s mouth shall he eat good; that is, by his wise and godly speeches. Compare Prov. 12 on verse 14.
a Prov. 12:14.
3 That is, use and enjoy. See Job 21 on verse 25.
4 That is, shall receive and obtain such punishment as they have deserved for offering violence to others.
3He that keepeth his mouth keepeth 5his life: but he that openeth wide 6his lips shall have destruction.
5 That is, himself. See 1 Kings 19 on verse 4. The meaning is: that he keeps himself not only from sin, Prov. 10:19, but also from much trouble and disquiet.
6 That is, who to a great extent speaks rashly, boldly and impudently.
4The soul of the sluggardb desireth, and hath 7nothing: but the soul of the diligent shall be made 8fat.
b habitually idle or lazy person*
7 That is, there is nothing for him whether he desires wisdom or riches, because he will not take pains to get them.
8 That is, shall have plenty or abundance. Compare the annotation at Prov. 11 on verse 25.
5A righteous man hateth 9lying: but a wicked man 10is loathsome, and cometh to shame.
9 Hebr. the word of lying or of falsehood.
10 Or, maketh himself stinking; namely, before the hearers through his lies. See of this phrase Gen. 34 on verse 30.
6Righteousnessc keepeth him that is 11upright in the way: but wickedness overthroweth 12the sinner.
c Prov. 10:29; 11:3, 5, 6.
11 See Prov. 11 on verse 20.
12 Hebr. the sin. See Job 35 on verse 13.
713Thered is that maketh himself rich, yet hath nothing: there is that maketh himself poor, yet hath great riches.
13 That is, men are found who pretend they are rich or make a show before men as if they had a great estate, whereas indeed they are exceeding poor and bare; there are others who are exceeding rich and yet resigned themselves to be very poor.
d Prov. 12:9.
8The ransom of a man’s 14life are his riches: but the poor heareth not 15rebuke.
14 Or, soul; that is, of the temporal and corporal life, namely, when a rich man is fallen into the hands of his enemies. See Gen. 19 on verse 17.
15 Namely, which might occur against him by reason of some riches, to make his ransom accordingly, or by accusing him of getting some riches by ill-disposed means. Or, he is not subject to such hatred, envy and talking about him, as rich men are, and he is oftentimes released and discharged because of his poverty.
916Thee light of the righteous 17rejoiceth: butf the lamp of the wicked shall be put out.
16 That is, the prosperity, happiness and joy of the godly. See Job 18 on verse 5.
e Prov. 4:18.
17 That is, increases and waxes still greater and greater, as the light of the sun which ascends still higher and higher till it comes to noontide or midday. Compare Prov. 4:18, 19; 29:6.
f Job 18:5, 6; 21:17.
10Only by 18pride 19cometh contention: but 20with the well advised is wisdom.
18 The meaning is: that pride is good for nothing but to cause strife and contention; as a proud man will not yield a jot to any man.
19 Hebr. giveth.
20 The reason is, because they do not through pride rely upon their own wisdom, but permit themselves to be instructed and persuaded by the counsel and advice of others; by which contention is removed and peace made and obtained. Compare James 3:16, 17, 18.
11Wealth gotten 21by vanity shallg be diminished: but he that gathereth by 22labour 23shall increase.
21 That is, gotten by evil and unjust means, called before a slack hand, Prov. 10:4; 12:24.
g Prov. 10:2; 20:21.
22 That is, by the honest labor of the body or of the mind; which is called the hand of the diligent, Prov. 10:4; 12:24.
23 Namely, his wealth. Also Prov. 28:8.
1224Hopeh deferred maketh the heart sick: but when the 25desire cometh, it is 26a tree of life.
24 Or, the hope that is delayed; that is, the good thing that one hopes for, but obtains not, save after long putting off or delay of time. Hope for the thing hoped for, Isa. 28:15; Rom. 8:24.
h verse 19.
25 That is, the good which one desires. See Prov. 10 on verse 24.
26 That is, a matter which is very dear and pleasant to a man; it revives him very much and does much good. Compare Prov. 3 on verse 18.
13Whoso despiseth the 27word 28shall be destroyed: but he that feareth the commandment 29shall be rewarded.
27 That is, the Word of God and the instruction taken from it and agreeing therewith.
28 Hebr. shall be corrupted unto himself, that is, to his own sorrow, shame and hurt. Or, therefore, namely, for despising the Word.
29 Namely, by a good God with a gracious reward. See of the Hebrew word Job 21 on verse 19.
14Thei law of the wise is a 30fountain of life, to depart from the 31snares of death.
i Prov. 10:11; 14:27.
30 That is, a fountain springing unto life. Understand not only this present life, but especially the life that is to come.
31 That is, which bring with them both temporal and eternal death. Compare 2 Sam. 22:6; Psalm 18:5; Prov. 14:27.
15Good understanding giveth favour: but the 32way of transgressors is 33hard.
32 That is, the acting or the manner of acting, or manner of dealing. See Prov. 6 on verse 6.
33 That is, unpleasant, rough, rigid and austere, insomuch that no man desires to have any dealings with them.
16Every prudent man dealeth with 34knowledge: but a foolj35layeth open his 36folly.
34 That is, with understanding, judgment and prudence.
j Prov. 12:23; 15:2.
35 That is, brings it to the open unashamedly in such a way, that he exposes it to everyone.
36 See Prov. 12 on verse 23.
17 A 37wicked messenger falleth into mischief: but a faithful 38ambassador 39is health.
37 Namely, who does not faithfully execute his charge laid upon him by God or people.
38 Hebr. an ambassador of faithfulness. So is the Hebrew word zir also taken Prov. 25:13; Isa. 18:2; 57:9; Jer. 49:14; Obadiah verse 1.
39 That is, does good to himself and to those who send him.
18Poverty and shame shall be to him that 40refuseth 41instruction: but he that regardeth 42reproof shall be 43honoured.
40 See of this word Prov. 1 on verse 25.
41 That is, good discipline, which a man needs to attain unto true wisdom. See Prov. 1 on verse 2.
42 Namely, which is done with words of doctrine and instruction.
43 That is, he shall receive good both of God and of godly men. See 1 Sam. 2:30; Prov. 4:8; 8:18; 21:21.
19The 44desire 45accomplished is sweet to the soul: but it is abomination to 46fools to depart from evil.
44 Namely, of the godly; as may be gathered from the contrast.
45 That is, which is performed. The meaning is: that when a godly man gets the thing which he desires, it does his soul good and is exceeding delightful to his soul. Now his desire is to shun and avoid evil and to cleave and adhere unto that which is good, which the wicked loathes and abhors, much less delights therein.
46 Hebr. an abomination of fools.
20He that walketh with wise men shall be wise: but a 47companion of fools 48shall be destroyed.
47 Or, who is nourishment or sustenance of fools. Hebr. feeder of fools. See the same phrase Prov. 28:7; 29:3.
48 That is, be quite undone and destroyed or come to nothing; namely, because by the company of fools he shall grow more foolish, and shall be punished of God for his foolishness.
2149Evil pursueth sinners: but to the righteous 50good shall be repayed.
49 By evil here is meant: the evil of punishment, whereof see Gen. 19 on verse 19 and compare Prov. 5:22, 23. Others understand the evil of guilt; that is, sin, whereby the wicked are chased and pursued until they fall into punishment and so perish.
50 Or, good shall be recompensed. Meaning: the good of this present life and of the life that is to come, 1 Tim. 4:8.
22A good man 51leaveth an inheritance to his children's children: and the wealth ofk the 52sinner is 53laid upl for the just.
51 Namely, his means.
k Job 15:29.
52 That is, of the gross and abominable sinner. See 1 Sam. 15 on verse 18; Psalm 1 on verse 1.
53 It occurs that sinners do not enjoy their riches themselves, much less their children or grandchildren; and that by God’s Providence their goods shall fall to the share of the godly.
l Job 27:17.
23Muchm food is in 54the tillagen of the poor: buto55there is that is 56destroyed 57for want of judgment.
m Prov. 12:11.
54 That is, the labor which the poor apply with diligence to till the land. Other, There is much food in the plowed land of the poor.
n cultivation*
o Prov. 18:9.
55 That is, a sort of people.
56 Or, that consumeth, destroyeth or ruineth himself, wanting food.
57 Hebr. in or for not judgment or justice; that is, because he has no skill in tillage, or keeps no good rule at it, or is careless and negligent in it, or does ill improve his profit and increase; or because he uses deceit, and unjust dealing.
24He that spareth his rodp58hateth his son: but he that loveth him chasteneth him 59betimes.
p Prov. 23:13.
58 That is, he does that whereby he brings him to ruin and destruction. To destroy a man is to hate him. See Prov. 8 on verse 36.
59 That is, from his youth, while he is yet able to be ruled.
2560The righteous 61eateth to theq satisfying 62of his soul: but the belly of the wicked shall want.
60 That is, he, who in the fear of God, seeks by honest labor and upright dealing to pass through this world.
61 That is, he has, by the blessing of God, as much as he needs.
q Psalm 34:10; 37:3.
62 That is, of his life.