THE
PROVERBS

Proverbs 19

Various observations of moral virtues and their contrary vices.


1BETTER is the poora that walketh 1in his integrity, than he that is 2perverse in his lips, and is a 3fool.

a Prov. 28:6.

1 That is, living in unfeigned integrity. See Prov. 2 on verse 7.

2 See Prov. 2 on verse 12.

3 See Prov. 1 on verse 22.

2Also, that the 4soul be 5without knowledge, it is 6not good; and he that 7hasteth with his feet sinneth.

4 That is, the desire and affection to do a thing, or to leave it undone. See Psalm 27 on verse 12. The prophet reproves two things: first, to be prone and inclined to a thing of which a man has no knowledge or understanding; second, if a man has understanding of it, yet to set upon and to peruse it rashly and unadvisedly.

5 That is, who does not understand what it should do or leave undone to please God and to walk circumspectly and profitably towards men.

6 That is, very bad and hurtful. Compare Prov. 17:26 and the annotation.

7 Namely, unto evil. Or understand it thus: he who runs on hastily with an unadvised mind, and with impelling affections, without first taking counsel, or being well-advised upon the matter he goes about. See Prov. 1 on verse 15.

3Theb foolishness of man perverteth 8his way: and his heart fretteth 9against the LORD.

b James 1:13, 14, 15.

8 That is, will miscarry, will not succeed and bring to ruin his proposal, commerce and affairs.

9 That is, shall murmur and vex itself with the feeling as if the guilt was with the Lord, and that all his intentions and actions shall be lost.

4Wealthc maketh many friends; but the poor is separated from his 10neighbour.

c Prov. 14:20.

10 Though he has but one friend, yet of him he is even often forsaken by him.

511Ad false witness shall 12not be unpunished, and he that speaketh 13lies shall not escape.

11 Hebr. a witness of falsehoods.

d Deut. 19:19; Prov. 21:28.

12 That is, shall not be guilty. See 1 Kings 2 on verse 9.

13 See the annotation also at Prov. 6 on verse 19.

6Many will intreat the 14favour of the 15prince: and every man is a friend to 16him that giveth gifts.

14 Or, the face, that is, the person. See of the Hebrew word taken in the same sense Job 11:19 and the annotation.

15 Or, of the liberal man. See of the Hebrew word nadib Job 12 on verse 21.

16 Hebr. to the man or of the man of gifts, that is, who is prone to give and to communicate liberally.

7Alle the 17brethren of the 18poor do 19hate him: how much more do 20his friends go far from him? 21he 22pursueth them with 23words, yet they are 24wanting to him.

e Prov. 14:20.

17 That is, who are of his kindred, though not affected to him with sincere and unfeigned love.

18 That is, of him who is impoverished and decreased in wealth.

19 That is, forsake him, even as if they hated him; or, they love him less now than they did before he became poor. See Gen. 29 on verse 31.

20 That is, his acquaintance and companions, but in show; for, what is an unfeigned friend see Prov. 17:17; 18:24.

21 Namely, the poor man.

22 Namely, after his brethren and friends.

23 Namely, whereby he calls unto them for help.

24 That is, of any force or value, forasmuch as they are not accepted, but despised and rejected. Or, but they, namely, his brethren and friends, are not the same, namely, that they pretend themselves to be, before the impoverished man, by reason of his poverty, ran after them. Other, he pursueth words, which are not, that is, he relies on promises, which they made unto him before he became poor, which are of no value.

8He that getteth 25wisdom loveth his own soul: he that keepeth 26understanding 27shall find good.

25 That is, he who endeavors to get understanding. Hebr. the heart; which word is often taken in Holy Scripture for wisdom and understanding. See Job 9 on verse 4.

26 See Prov. 1 on verse 3.

27 See Prov. 16 on verse 20.

928Af false witness shall not be unpunished, and he that speaketh lies shall perish.

28 Hebr. A witness of falsehoods. Also verse 5. See there the annotations.

f verse 5.

10Delight is not seemly for 29a fool; muchg less for a servant to have rule over princes.

29 The reason is: because he grows more foolish thereby, that is, more wanton and more willful.

g Prov. 30:22.

11The discretion of a man 30deferreth his anger; and it is 31his glory to pass over 32a transgression.

30 Hebr. lengtheneth or prolongeth, that is, delays his anger, puts it off, restrains or curbs it. Other, It is a man’s discretion to defer his anger. The same phrase is also used Isa. 48:9.

31 Namely, a man’s ornament.

32 That is, to pass by the wrong that is done to him by forgetting and forgiving it, so far as may stand with the glory of God and with the good of man.

12Theh king’s wrath is as the roaring of a 33lion; buti his 34favour is as 35dew upon the grass.

h Prov. 16:14; 20:2.

33 Called by the Hebrews chephir, which is very fierce and cruel, being older and bigger than a lion’s whelp, which they call gur. See Ezek. 19:2.

i Prov. 16:15.

34 That is, his favor and good will, which he bears to a man.

35 Whereby the herb (or grass) is moistened, refreshed and fed.

13 Aj foolish son is the 36calamity of his father: and thek contentions of a 37wife are a 38continual dropping.

j Prov. 10:1; 15:20; 17:25.

36 The Hebrew word used is in the plural number to express the greatness or abundance of misery and grief.

k Prov. 21:19; 27:15.

37 Understand a wife, who with scolding and brawling may occasion much sadness, trouble and hurt in the entire housekeeping, and set it out of order.

38 Namely, which decays the house, damages the household furniture, annoys the family members, yea, in the end drives them also out of the house.

14House and riches 39are the inheritance of fathers: andl a prudent wife 40is from the LORD.

39 That is, are inherited from their parents.

l Prov. 18:22.

40 Namely, as a peculiar and principal gift, which is not given to everyone, neither it comes by inheritance or succession. See Prov. 18:22.

1541Slothfulnessm casteth into a deep sleep; andn42an idle soul shall suffer hunger.

41 Slothfulness begets idleness; idleness causes sleepiness; from which issues unhealthiness, languishing of the members and dullness of the spirit; wherewith poverty is also wont to follow.

m Prov. 6:9; 20:13.

n Prov. 10:4.

42 Meaning: a man who will not work, and thereby seeks to get a livelihood by evil and wicked practices. Compare Prov. 10 on verse 4.

16He that keepeth theo43commandment keepeth his own soul; but he that despiseth 44his ways shall die.

o Prov. 3:21, 22; Luke 11:28.

43 That is, the commandments, namely, the commandments of God, and especially those which He enjoins and commands in the moral law. See Gen. 26 on verse 5.

44 That is, takes no heed to his life and conduct or to his intentions, purposes and actions, as to order and form them all according to the Word of God.

17He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto the LORD; and that which he hath given will 45he pay him again.

45 Namely, the Lord.

1846Chastenp thy son while there is 47hope, andq48let not thy soul 49spare for his crying.

46 Namely, with words and blows. See of the Hebrew word Prov. 9 on verse 7.

p Prov. 13:24; 23:13.

47 Namely, that he may be made better by instruction and by chastening.

q Eph. 6:4.

48 Or, lift not up thy soul; that is, break not out into anger, with an evil desire, to, etc. The lifting up of the soul signifies indeed sometimes a good and lawful motion or moving of the mind, united and conjoined with an eager desire and earnest longing, as Deut. 24:15; Psalm 25:1; Jer. 44:14, but it signifies also desire, and moving to that which is evil, as here, and Psalm 24:4; Hosea 4:8. Other, and let not thine heart pardon him to his destruction, or, lift not up thy soul for his roaring, that is, care not for it.

49 Namely, through want of punishment, or too much beating or other severity.

1950A man of great wrath shall suffer 51punishment: for if thou 52deliver him, yet thou must do it 53again.

50 Namely, the son, who is very willful and froward, or who, because of the punishment, roars mightily, and makes a loud noise.

51 That is, ought not to escape punishment, yea even for the immoderate noise and great ado that he makes.

52 Namely, from the punishment which he has deserved.

53 Namely, in punishing of him, because he, being freed from chastening, will grow worse and be the cause of much evil and mischief. Or, he shall pay a fine; for if thou ease him of it, that is, pay the fine for him, thou must do it more. Some take this proverb to mean in general of all grim and wrathful persons.

20Hear 54counsel, and receive 55instruction, that thou mayest be wise in thy 56latter end.

54 Namely, good and wise counsel.

55 That is, true instruction by words, or, also chastening by blows. See of the Hebrew word Prov. 7 on verse 22 and compare Prov. 9 on verse 7.

56 See of this word Psalm 37 on verse 37.

21There are many devices in a 57man’s 58heart; neverthelessr59the counsel of the LORD, that shall stand.

57 That is, of people. See Job 12 on verse 10.

58 Namely, which never in fact issue out of the heart, yea likewise neither into words; as this sense may be gathered from the opposition of the following clause of this verse.

r Job 23:13; Psalm 33:11; 115:3; Isa. 46:10.

59 That is, what God has determined. Also Psalm 33:11; Isa. 25:1; Acts 2:23.

22The desire 60of a man is 61his kindness: and a 62poor man is better than a 63liar.

60 Namely, who inclines to be rich that he might (as he says) do every man good, but yet notwithstanding when he is grown rich, he does it not. Other, Let the wish of a man be his kindness or bounty.

61 Namely, to be rich, that he might do good to the needy.

62 That is, he who has nothing to help others, neither makes a fair outward show by vain and empty promises.

63 Namely, who is able and promises to show kindness and liberality, but in fact does not do it.

23The fear of the LORD 64tendeth to life: andshe that hath it 65shall 66abide 67satisfied; he shall not be 68visited with 69evil.

64 That is, is profitable both for temporal and eternal life, 1 Tim. 4:8.

s Psalm 34:9.

65 Namely, when they have the true fear of the Lord.

66 That is, enjoy good rest. Compare Psalm 25:13. On the contrary see Psalm 59:14, 15.

67 Namely, with the benefits and blessings of God.

68 Namely, to their destruction. Of the word visited see Gen. 21 on verse 1.

69 Namely, the evil of punishment.

24 At slothful man hideth his hand 70in his bosom, and will not so much as bring it to his mouth again.

t Prov. 26:15.

70 That is, he will not lay hand on any work. Other, in the dish or platter, namely, to take food out of it. The meaning is: he is so idle and lazy that he will hardly take pains to eat. It is an hyperbole, or excessive manner of speech. Compare Prov. 26:15.

2571Smiteu a 72scorner, and the 73simple will beware: and 74reprove one that hath understanding, and he will understand knowledge.

71 Namely, to punish him for his scorning.

u Prov. 21:11.

72 See Psalm 1 on verse 1.

73 This word is here taken in a good sense for the ignorant and sincere, who are desirous to be taught and instructed. See Prov. 1 on verse 4.

74 Namely, with words. Also Gen. 21:25; Job 15:3; Prov. 9:8.

2675He that 76wasteth his father, and chaseth away his mother, is a son that causeth 77shame, and bringeth reproach.

75 Namely, his own father or mother.

76 That is, makes him destitute and penniless. See of the Hebrew word also Judges 5 on verse 27. Or, Whoso wasteth the father, chaseth away the mother, he is a son, etc.

77 See Prov. 10 on verse 5.

27Cease, 78my son, 79to hear the instruction that causeth to err from the words 80of knowledge.

78 See Prov. 1 on verse 8.

79 Other, Cease, my son, from hearing the instruction, tending to the erring from, etc. Namely, evil instruction, evil discipline. See Prov. 7:22; 16:22 and the annotations.

80 Namely, which produce knowledge.

28An 81ungodly witness 82scorneth judgment: and the mouth of the wicked 83devoureth iniquity.

81 Meaning: a wicked varlet, who will hearken to no man. See Deut. 13 on verse 13.

82 Forasmuch as he deceives the judge by his false testimony or evidence. Other, coloureth the cause, that is, he gives it a kind of luster or splendor with his fair words and seeming reasons. See Prov. 14 on verse 9.

83 As drunkards swallow down their liquor. Compare Job 15:16. Other, devoureth iniquity. That is, covers it or hides it under a fair show of words. For, what is devoured and swallowed down, is hidden and taken away from the sight of men.

2984Judgments are prepared for scorners, and stripes for the back of fools.

84 That is, punishments, both Divine and human, temporal and eternal. Also Psalm 119:120; Jer. 48:47; Luke 24:20; Rom. 13:2.