Proverbs 21

Proverbs 21:2

2. The rich and poor meet together. &c.] The obvious meaning of this proverbial speech is, that the rich and poor are mingled, or rather associated together, as members of the same community; under very different circumstances indeed, as to their outward appearance the day of battle: but a || safety is of the LORD. # CHAP. XXII. a A GOOD name is rather to be chosen than great riches, and gold.

Proverbs 21:3

3. — foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself.] Foresees a calamity before it comes, and withdraws himself from the danger into a place of safety. Bp. Patrick.

Proverbs 21:4

4. — the plowing of the wicked.] The designs and contrivances of the wicked. Bp. Patrick.

5. — the plowing of the wicked.] The designs and contrivances of the wicked. Bp. Patrick.

Proverbs 21:5

5. — that is hasty.] Who hopes to get rich rapidly by improper means.

6. — that is hasty.] Who hopes to get rich rapidly by improper means.

7. — and strange.] Ahenated from God and goodness. Dr. Isham.

Proverbs 21:6

6. The getting of treasures &c.] Wealth acquired by falsehood and lying is altogether uncertain and unking: and his throne is upholden by mercy.

7. The getting of treasures &c.] Wealth acquired by ner of the housetop, than with † a brawling woman in † a wide house.

8. Train up a child &c.] In these words are contained, 1st, the duty of parents and instructors, “Train up a child in the way he should go;” that is, in the course of life which he ought to lead; instruct him carefully in the knowledge and practice of his whole duty to God and man, which he ought to perform and observe all the days of his life: 2nd, the fruit and benefit of good education, that, “when he is old, he will not depart from it.” This we must understand according to the moral probability of things, not as if this happy effect did always and infallibly follow upon the good education of a child, but that this very frequently is, and may probably be hoped and presumed to be, the fruit and effect of a pious and prudent education: though exceptions may occur, yet they are not sufficient to infringe the general truth of the assertion. Abp. Tillotson.

Proverbs 21:7

7. — and the borrower &c.] Loses his liberty, and depends on the will and pleasure of the lender. Bp. Patrick.

Proverbs 21:9

9. — in a corner of the housetop.] During the summer season it was usual to sleep on the tops of the houses, which were flat and properly guarded by a parapet wall; for which purpose little arbours were formed upon them. This, however pleasant in fine weather, must have been much otherwise in bad weather. Harmer.

10. He that hath a bountiful eye] He who freely gives, and delights to afford pleasure to others; opposed to him who has an evil eye. “Is thine eye evil, &c.” Matt. xx. 15. Calmet. “Good of eye,” as in the margin, denotes kindness

Proverbs 21:12

12. — but God overthroweth &c.] The word “God” is not in the Hebrew, and is inserted to make up the sense: still the meaning is sufficiently good without this insertion, if by the term “righteous man,” we understand not a private person, but a just and upright magistrate. The sense may then be, “A just judge makes a prudent but strict scrutiny into all the actions of a wicked man’s family, that he may so punish them for their rapine, violence, and extortion, as to deprive them of all power to do further mischief.” Bp. Patrick.

Proverbs 21:14

14. — a reward in the bosom.] See note at Ps. Lxxix. 12.

Proverbs 21:17

17. — that loveth wine and oil] That loveth eating and drinking.

Proverbs 21:18

18. The wicked shall be a ransom &c.] It frequently falls out, through the wise and just providence of God, Before CHRIST about 1000. woman of cont. of cost. house of society. favoured. g Chap. 19. 25. h Matt. 18. 30.

Proverbs 21:24

24. Proud and haughty scorner &c.] He that deals proudly in his anger, is worthy to be branded with the name of an insolent scorner. Bp. Hall.

Proverbs 21:25

25. The desire of the slothful killeth him.] The slothful man is consumed by vain longings. 27. — when he bringeth it with a wicked mind? When at the very time he is projecting some wicked design which he thinks to sanctify by his sacrifices. Bp. Patrick.

Proverbs 21:28

28. — but the man that heareth] The man who heard, that is, who testifies only to what he heard, “speaketh” convincingly, so as to carry his point. Bate. Parkhurst.

Proverbs 21:29

29. — hardeneth his face.] He hardens his face against shame, laughs at correction, and impudently defends the evil he has done. The upright, on the contrary, watches over his ways, and corrects them when he is made aware of his errors. Calmet. 30. There is no wisdom &c.—against the Lord. Wisdom, counsel, &c. avail nothing when they oppose the counsels and decrees of Heaven. Bp. Patrick. Chap. XXII. ver. 1. — and loving favour] The loving favour of good men. Dr. Wells.

Proverbs 21:30

30. The blueness of a wound &c.] The meaning seems to be, that a wicked man, who has received due discovering his most secret thoughts. Dr. Gray. Chap. XXI. ver. 1. The king’s heart is &c.] It is not what part of the ground he thinks good. Bp. Patrick.