V1
Love will sweeten a dry morsel, but strife will sour and embitter a house full of sacrifices. A little of the leaven of malice will leaven all the enjoyments.
V2
True merit does not go by dignity. True dignity will go by merit.
Eliezer of Damascus, though Abram could not bear to think that he should be his heir, was a stay to the family, when he obtained a wife for Isaac; whereas Ishmael, a son, was a shame to it, when he mocked Isaac.
V3
As the fining-pot is for silver, both to prove it and to improve it so the Lord tries the hearts; he searches whether they are standard or no, and those that are he refines and makes purer, Jer. 17:10. God tries the heart by affliction (Ps. 66:10, 11), and often chooses his people in that furnace (Isa. 48:10) and makes them choice.
V4
Sinners will strengthen one another's hands; and those show that they are bad themselves who court the acquaintance and need the assistance of those that are bad.
V5
They reproach their Maker, put a great contempt and affront upon him, who allotted the poor to the condition they are in, owns them, and takes care of them, and can, when he pleases, reduce us to that condition. Let those that thus reproach their Maker know that they shall be called to an account for it, Mt. 25:40, 41; Prov. 14:31.
V6
It is an honour to parents when they are old to leave children, and children's children, growing up, that tread in the steps of their virtues, and are likely to maintain and advance the reputation of their families.
It is an honour to children to have wise and godly parents, and to have them continued to them even after they have themselves grown up and settled in the world. Those are unnatural children who reckon their aged parents a burden to them, and think they live too long; whereas, if the children be wise and good, it is as much their honour as can be that thereby they are comforts to their parents in the unpleasant days of their old age.
V7
Two things are here represented as very absurd:
1. That men of no repute should be dictators.
2. That men of great repute should be deceivers.
V8
The design of this observation is to show,
1. That those who have money in their hand think they can do any thing with it.
2. That those who have money in their eye, and set their hearts upon it, will do any thing for it.
V9
The best method of peace is by an amnesty or act of oblivion.
V10
David is softened with, Thou art the man; but Pharaoh remains hard under all the plagues of Egypt.
V11
There are some that are actuated by a spirit of opposition, that will contradict for contradiction-sake, that will go on frowardly in their wicked ways in spite of all restraint and check.
Because he will not be reclaimed by mild and gentle methods, a cruel messenger shall be sent against him, some dreadful judgment or other, as a messenger from God.
V12
Anger is temporary madness. One may more easily stop, escape, or guard against an enraged bear, than an outrageous angry man. Let us therefore watch over our own passions (lest they get head and do mischief) and so consult our own honour; and let us avoid the company of furious men, and get out of their way when they are in their fury, and so consult our own safety. Give place unto wrath.
V13
A malicious mischievous man is here represented,
1. As ungrateful to his friends.
2. As therein unkind to his family, for he entails a curse upon it.
The sword shall not depart from David's house because he rewarded Uriah with evil for his good services. The Jews stoned Christ for his good works; therefore is his blood upon them and upon their children.
V14
Dread the breaking of the ice, for, if once broken, it will break further; therefore leave it off, not only when you see the worst of it, for then it may be too late, but when you see the first of it.
V15
This shows what an offence it is to God,
1. When those that are entrusted with the administration of public justice, judges, juries, witnesses, prosecutors, counsel, do either acquit the guilty or condemn those that are not guilty, or in the least contribute to either; this defeats the end of government, which is to protect the good and punish the bad, Rom. 13:3, 4. It is equally provoking to God to justify the wicked, though it be in pity and to safe life, as to condemn the just.
2. When any private persons plead for sin and sinners, palliate and excuse wickedness, or argue against virtue and piety, and so pervert the right ways of the Lord and confound the eternal distinctions between good and evil.
V16
Two things are here spoken of with astonishment:-
1. God's great goodness to foolish man, in putting a price into his hand to get wisdom, to get knowledge and grace to fit him for both worlds.
2. Man's great wickedness, his neglect of God's favour and his own interest, which is very absurd and unaccountable: He has no heart to it, not to the wisdom that is to be got, nor to the price in the use of which it may be got.
V17
This intimates the strength of those bonds by which we are bound to each other and which we ought to be sensible of.
1. Friends must be constant to each other at all times.
2. Relations must in a special manner be careful and tender of one another in affliction.
V18
Though Solomon had commended friendship in adversity (v. 17), yet let not any, under pretence of being generous to their friends, be unjust to their families and wrong them; one part of our duty must be made to consist with another.
1. It is a piece of wisdom to keep out of debt as much as may be, especially to dread suretiship.
2. Those that are void of understanding are commonly taken in this snare, to the prejudice of their families, and therefore ought not to be trusted too far with their own affairs, but to be under direction.
V19
1. Those that are quarrelsome involve themselves in a great deal of guilt.
2. Those that are ambitious and aspiring expose themselves to a great deal of trouble, such as often ends in their ruin
V20
1. Framing ill designs will be of no advantage to us; there is nothing got by them.
2. Giving ill language will be a great disadvantage to us.
V21
This expresses that very emphatically which many wise and good men feel very sensibly, what a grievous vexatious thing it is to have a foolish wicked child.
1. How uncertain all our creature-comforts are, so that we are often not only disappointed in them, but that proves the greatest cross in which we promised ourselves most satisfaction
The name of Absalom signifies his father's peace, but he was his greatest trouble.
2. How unwise we are in suffering one affliction (and that of an untoward child as likely as any other) to drown the sense of a thousand mercies.
V22
1. It is healthful to be cheerful.
2. The sorrows of the mind often contribute very much to the sickliness of the body.
V23
1. What an evil thing bribery is: He is a wicked man that will take a gift to engage him to give a false testimony, verdict, or judgment; when he does it he is ashamed of it, for he takes it, with all the secresy imaginable, out of the bosom where he knows it is laid ready for him; it is industriously concealed, and so slyly that, if he could, he would hide it from his own conscience. A gift is taken out of the bosom of a wicked man (so some read it); for he is a bad man that gives bribes, as well as he that takes them.
2. What a powerful thing it is. It is of such force that it perverts the ways of judgment. The course of justice is not only obstructed, but turned into injustice; and the greatest wrongs are done under colour of doing right.
V24
1. He is to be reckoned an intelligent man that not only has wisdom, but has it ready when he has occasion for it.
2. He that has a giddy head, a roving rambling fancy, will never be fit for any solid business.
V25
1. Wicked children are an affliction to both their parents. They are an occasion of anger to the father (so the word signifies), because they contemn his authority, but of sorrow and bitterness to the mother, because they abuse her tenderness. The parents, being joint-sufferers, should therefore bring mutual comfort to bear them up under it, and strive to make it as easy as they can, the mother to mollify the father's anger, the father to alleviate the mother's grief.
V26
In differences that happen between magistrates and subjects, and such differences often arise,
1. Let magistrates see to it that they never punish the just, that they be in no case a terror to good works, for that is to abuse their power and betray that great trust which is reposed in them.
2. Let subjects see to it that they do not find fault with the government for doing its duty
V27
Two ways a man may show himself to be a wise man:-
1. By the good temper, the sweetness and the sedateness, of his mind. See how easy it is to gain men's good opinion and to impose upon them. But when a fool holds his peace God knows his heart, and the folly that is bound up there; thoughts are words to him, and therefore he cannot be deceived in his judgment of men. A cool head with a warm heart is an admirable composition.
2. By the good government of his tongue.
Love will sweeten a dry morsel, but strife will sour and embitter a house full of sacrifices. A little of the leaven of malice will leaven all the enjoyments.
V2
True merit does not go by dignity. True dignity will go by merit.
Eliezer of Damascus, though Abram could not bear to think that he should be his heir, was a stay to the family, when he obtained a wife for Isaac; whereas Ishmael, a son, was a shame to it, when he mocked Isaac.
V3
As the fining-pot is for silver, both to prove it and to improve it so the Lord tries the hearts; he searches whether they are standard or no, and those that are he refines and makes purer, Jer. 17:10. God tries the heart by affliction (Ps. 66:10, 11), and often chooses his people in that furnace (Isa. 48:10) and makes them choice.
V4
Sinners will strengthen one another's hands; and those show that they are bad themselves who court the acquaintance and need the assistance of those that are bad.
V5
They reproach their Maker, put a great contempt and affront upon him, who allotted the poor to the condition they are in, owns them, and takes care of them, and can, when he pleases, reduce us to that condition. Let those that thus reproach their Maker know that they shall be called to an account for it, Mt. 25:40, 41; Prov. 14:31.
V6
It is an honour to parents when they are old to leave children, and children's children, growing up, that tread in the steps of their virtues, and are likely to maintain and advance the reputation of their families.
It is an honour to children to have wise and godly parents, and to have them continued to them even after they have themselves grown up and settled in the world. Those are unnatural children who reckon their aged parents a burden to them, and think they live too long; whereas, if the children be wise and good, it is as much their honour as can be that thereby they are comforts to their parents in the unpleasant days of their old age.
V7
Two things are here represented as very absurd:
1. That men of no repute should be dictators.
2. That men of great repute should be deceivers.
V8
The design of this observation is to show,
1. That those who have money in their hand think they can do any thing with it.
2. That those who have money in their eye, and set their hearts upon it, will do any thing for it.
V9
The best method of peace is by an amnesty or act of oblivion.
V10
David is softened with, Thou art the man; but Pharaoh remains hard under all the plagues of Egypt.
V11
There are some that are actuated by a spirit of opposition, that will contradict for contradiction-sake, that will go on frowardly in their wicked ways in spite of all restraint and check.
Because he will not be reclaimed by mild and gentle methods, a cruel messenger shall be sent against him, some dreadful judgment or other, as a messenger from God.
V12
Anger is temporary madness. One may more easily stop, escape, or guard against an enraged bear, than an outrageous angry man. Let us therefore watch over our own passions (lest they get head and do mischief) and so consult our own honour; and let us avoid the company of furious men, and get out of their way when they are in their fury, and so consult our own safety. Give place unto wrath.
V13
A malicious mischievous man is here represented,
1. As ungrateful to his friends.
2. As therein unkind to his family, for he entails a curse upon it.
The sword shall not depart from David's house because he rewarded Uriah with evil for his good services. The Jews stoned Christ for his good works; therefore is his blood upon them and upon their children.
V14
Dread the breaking of the ice, for, if once broken, it will break further; therefore leave it off, not only when you see the worst of it, for then it may be too late, but when you see the first of it.
V15
This shows what an offence it is to God,
1. When those that are entrusted with the administration of public justice, judges, juries, witnesses, prosecutors, counsel, do either acquit the guilty or condemn those that are not guilty, or in the least contribute to either; this defeats the end of government, which is to protect the good and punish the bad, Rom. 13:3, 4. It is equally provoking to God to justify the wicked, though it be in pity and to safe life, as to condemn the just.
2. When any private persons plead for sin and sinners, palliate and excuse wickedness, or argue against virtue and piety, and so pervert the right ways of the Lord and confound the eternal distinctions between good and evil.
V16
Two things are here spoken of with astonishment:-
1. God's great goodness to foolish man, in putting a price into his hand to get wisdom, to get knowledge and grace to fit him for both worlds.
2. Man's great wickedness, his neglect of God's favour and his own interest, which is very absurd and unaccountable: He has no heart to it, not to the wisdom that is to be got, nor to the price in the use of which it may be got.
V17
This intimates the strength of those bonds by which we are bound to each other and which we ought to be sensible of.
1. Friends must be constant to each other at all times.
2. Relations must in a special manner be careful and tender of one another in affliction.
V18
Though Solomon had commended friendship in adversity (v. 17), yet let not any, under pretence of being generous to their friends, be unjust to their families and wrong them; one part of our duty must be made to consist with another.
1. It is a piece of wisdom to keep out of debt as much as may be, especially to dread suretiship.
2. Those that are void of understanding are commonly taken in this snare, to the prejudice of their families, and therefore ought not to be trusted too far with their own affairs, but to be under direction.
V19
1. Those that are quarrelsome involve themselves in a great deal of guilt.
2. Those that are ambitious and aspiring expose themselves to a great deal of trouble, such as often ends in their ruin
V20
1. Framing ill designs will be of no advantage to us; there is nothing got by them.
2. Giving ill language will be a great disadvantage to us.
V21
This expresses that very emphatically which many wise and good men feel very sensibly, what a grievous vexatious thing it is to have a foolish wicked child.
1. How uncertain all our creature-comforts are, so that we are often not only disappointed in them, but that proves the greatest cross in which we promised ourselves most satisfaction
The name of Absalom signifies his father's peace, but he was his greatest trouble.
2. How unwise we are in suffering one affliction (and that of an untoward child as likely as any other) to drown the sense of a thousand mercies.
V22
1. It is healthful to be cheerful.
2. The sorrows of the mind often contribute very much to the sickliness of the body.
V23
1. What an evil thing bribery is: He is a wicked man that will take a gift to engage him to give a false testimony, verdict, or judgment; when he does it he is ashamed of it, for he takes it, with all the secresy imaginable, out of the bosom where he knows it is laid ready for him; it is industriously concealed, and so slyly that, if he could, he would hide it from his own conscience. A gift is taken out of the bosom of a wicked man (so some read it); for he is a bad man that gives bribes, as well as he that takes them.
2. What a powerful thing it is. It is of such force that it perverts the ways of judgment. The course of justice is not only obstructed, but turned into injustice; and the greatest wrongs are done under colour of doing right.
V24
1. He is to be reckoned an intelligent man that not only has wisdom, but has it ready when he has occasion for it.
2. He that has a giddy head, a roving rambling fancy, will never be fit for any solid business.
V25
1. Wicked children are an affliction to both their parents. They are an occasion of anger to the father (so the word signifies), because they contemn his authority, but of sorrow and bitterness to the mother, because they abuse her tenderness. The parents, being joint-sufferers, should therefore bring mutual comfort to bear them up under it, and strive to make it as easy as they can, the mother to mollify the father's anger, the father to alleviate the mother's grief.
V26
In differences that happen between magistrates and subjects, and such differences often arise,
1. Let magistrates see to it that they never punish the just, that they be in no case a terror to good works, for that is to abuse their power and betray that great trust which is reposed in them.
2. Let subjects see to it that they do not find fault with the government for doing its duty
V27
Two ways a man may show himself to be a wise man:-
1. By the good temper, the sweetness and the sedateness, of his mind. See how easy it is to gain men's good opinion and to impose upon them. But when a fool holds his peace God knows his heart, and the folly that is bound up there; thoughts are words to him, and therefore he cannot be deceived in his judgment of men. A cool head with a warm heart is an admirable composition.
2. By the good government of his tongue.
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