1 A name is chosen rather than much wealth, Than silver and than gold -- good grace.
2 Rich and poor have met together, The Maker of them all `is' Jehovah.
3 The prudent hath seen the evil, and is hidden, And the simple have passed on, and are punished.
4 The end of humility `is' the fear of Jehovah, Riches, and honour, and life.
5 Thorns -- snares `are' in the way of the perverse, Whoso is keeping his soul is far from them.
6 Give instruction to a youth about his way, Even when he is old he turneth not from it.
7 The rich over the poor ruleth, And a servant `is' the borrower to the lender.
8 Whoso is sowing perverseness reapeth sorrow, And the rod of his anger weareth out.
9 The good of eye -- he is blessed, For he hath given of his bread to the poor.
10 Cast out a scorner -- and contention goeth out, And strife and shame cease.
11 Whoso is loving cleanness of heart, Grace `are' his lips, a king `is' his friend.
12 The eyes of Jehovah have kept knowledge, And He overthroweth the words of the treacherous.
13 The slothful hath said, `A lion `is' without, In the midst of the broad places I am slain.'
14 A deep pit `is' the mouth of strange women, The abhorred of Jehovah falleth there.
15 Folly is bound up in the heart of a youth, The rod of chastisement putteth it far from him.
16 He is oppressing the poor to multiply to him, He is giving to the rich -- only to want.
17 Incline thine ear, and hear words of the wise, And thy heart set to my knowledge,
18 For they are pleasant when thou dost keep them in thy heart, They are prepared together for thy lips.
19 That thy trust may be in Jehovah, I caused thee to know to-day, even thou.
20 Have I not written to thee three times With counsels and knowledge?
21 To cause thee to know the certainty of sayings of truth, To return sayings of truth to those sending thee.
22 Rob not the poor because he `is' poor, And bruise not the afflicted in the gate.
23 For Jehovah pleadeth their cause, And hath spoiled the soul of their spoilers.
24 Shew not thyself friendly with an angry man, And with a man of fury go not in,
25 Lest thou learn his paths, And have received a snare to thy soul.
26 Be not thou among those striking hands, Among sureties `for' burdens.
27 If thou hast nothing to pay, Why doth he take thy bed from under thee?
28 Remove not a border of olden times, That thy fathers have made.
29 Hast thou seen a man speedy in his business? Before kings he doth station himself, He stations not himself before obscure men!
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on Proverbs 22
Commentary on Proverbs 22 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
CHAPTER 22
Pr 22:1-29.
1. A good name—(Job 30:8, Hebrew); "good" is supplied here from Ec 7:1.
loving favour—kind regard, that is, of the wise and good.
2. Before God all are on the same footing (Pr 14:31; 17:5).
3. are punished—that is, for their temerity; for the evil is not necessarily punitive, as the prudent might otherwise be its objects.
4. humility and the fear of the Lord—are in apposition; one produces the other. On the results, compare Pr 3:16; 8:18.
5. he that … them—Those who properly watch over their own souls are thus preserved from the dangers which attend the way of perverse men (Pr 16:17).
6. Train—initiate, or early instruct.
the way—literally, "his way," that selected for him in which he should go; for early training secures habitual walking in it.
7. The influence of wealth sets aside moral distinctions is implied, and, of course, disapproved (compare Pr 19:6; 21:14, &c.).
8. (Compare Pr 11:18; Ps 109:16-20; Ga 6:7, 8).
the rod … fail—His power to do evil will be destroyed.
9. a bountiful eye—that is, a beneficent disposition.
for he giveth … poor—His acts prove it.
10. Cast out—or drive away. Scorners foster strife by taunts and revilings.
11. (Compare Margin).
pureness of heart—and gentle, kind words win favor, even from kings.
12. preserve—or guard.
knowledge—its principles and possessors.
overthroweth—utterly confounds and destroys the wicked.
13. Frivolous excuses satisfy the indolent man's conscience.
14. The mouth—or flattering speeches (Pr 5:3; 7:5) ensnare man, as pits, beasts. God makes their own sin their punishment.
15. is bound—or firmly fixed. Chastisement deters from crime and so leads to reformation of principle.
16. These two vices pertain to the same selfish feeling. Both are deservedly odious to God and incur punishment.
17. Here begins another division of the book, marked by those encouragements to the pursuit of wisdom, which are found in the earlier chapters. It will be observed that at Pr 22:22-24:12, the proverbs are generally expressed in two verses instead of one (see Introduction).
18. These lessons must be laid up in the mind, and
fitted—or better, "fixed" in the lips so as to be ever ready.
19. That … Lord—This is the design of the instruction.
20. excellent things—or probably of former times.
counsels and knowledge—both advice and instruction.
21. Specially he desires to secure accuracy, so that his pupil may teach others.
22, 23. Here follow ten precepts of two verses each. Though men fail to defend the poor, God will (Pr 17:5; Ps 12:5).
in the gate—place of public gathering (Job 5:4; Ps 69:12).
24, 25. (Compare Pr 2:12-15; 4:14).
25. a snare … soul—The unsuspecting are often misled by bad company.
26, 27. (Compare Pr 6:1; 17:18).
27. should he take, &c.—that is, the creditor.
28. (Compare Pr 23:10). Do not entrench on others (De 19:14; 27:17).
29. Success rewards diligence (Pr 10:4; 21:5).