Proverbs 25

Ver. 2. It is the glory of God to conceal &c.] It is the peculiar glory of God, as being a prerogative justly due to his transcendent majesty, wisdom, goodness, and justice, “to conceal a thing;” that is, not to make known all the reasons of his providence, or of his decrees or judgments. Dr. Wells.

— like apples of gold in pictures of silver.] As oranges or citrons in curiously engraved work of silver. Parkhurst. It may be doubtful whether by “apples of gold” he meant “apples that look like gold,” or “apples made of gold.” “Like golden balls or beautiful apples presented in a silver network basket.” Bp. Patrick. Solomon probably alludes to the pomegranates and network in the temple, 1 Kings vii. 20.

Proverbs 25:3

3. The heaven for height, &c.] It is as impossible for vulgar minds to penetrate into the secrets of state, and understand the counsels and designs of wise princes, and the various ways and means whereby they project to effect their ends, as it is to know how far it is from hence to the highest heavens, or how far to the centre of the earth upon which we tread. Bp. Patrick, Dr. Durell.

4. — a bridle for the ass.] According to our English notions, we should rather say, A bridle for an horse, and a whip for an ass. It should be considered, however, that the Eastern asses, particularly those of the Arabian breed, are much larger, more beautiful, and better goers, than those in our cold northerly countries, and so, no doubt, they were anciently in Palestine, where, as we find from many passages, they were the beasts on which people usually rode. See Job xxxix. 7. Parkhurst.

5. A poor man &c.] A rich oppressor leaves a man poor, but a poor oppressor leaves to him nothing. Bp. Hall.

Proverbs 25:4

4. 5. Answer not a fool &c.] In the first of these verses, the meaning is, Enter not into context with a fool. In the second, Suffer not his folly to go unreproved: both to be determined by times and circumstances.

5. They that forsake the law praise the wicked.] They that willingly break and cast off the law of God, by so doing, give approbation and encouragement to wickedness. Bp. Hall.

Proverbs 25:5

5. — understand all things.] Understand their whole duty to God. Bp. Hall.

6. — spreadeth a net for his feet.] Is so far from being a true friend, as he imagines, that he is a traitor

Before CHRIST about 700. destroying. p Chap. 12. 10. q Deut. 15. 7. &c. ch. 22. 9. t Ver. 12. ch. 29. 2. man of reproofs. a Chap. 11. 10. & 28. 28. Eccles. 10. 5. increased. b Chap. 10. 1. & 15. 20. & 27. 11. c Chap. 5. 9. & 28. 7. Luke 15. 13. of oblivious.

Proverbs 25:6

6. Put not forth thyself &c.] He here admonishes subjects not to be vainly ambitious, nor bold and forward in thrusting themselves into offices that do not belong to them, but to be modest, and, according to our Saviour’s rule, Luke xiv. 8, to be invited to honour, rather than to seek it. Bp. Patrick.

7. He that sendeth a message &c.] He that sends a General observations of impiety CHAP. XXVII, XXVIII. and religious integrity.

Proverbs 25:8

8. — he shall gather it for him that will pity the poor.] According to this remarkable saying of the wise man, the reason why so many estates are blasted so soon, and brought to nothing, is, that men do not render to God the duty and tribute which He has charged upon their estates for Himself and the poor; and then it is no wonder if God in his providence turn them out of their possession, and give their estate to others, who will be better tenants, and more careful to pay the duties He requires. Bp. Beveridge.

Proverbs 25:9

9. Debate thy cause &c.] If there be a difference between thy neighbour and thee, take him aside, and in a friendly manner argue the matter with him alone, and discover not a secret unkindness to a third person, till thou seest no other way of reconciliation. Bp. Hall.

10. — from hearing the law.] That is, from obeying it. “Even his prayer shall be abomination;” however men of impious lives may trust to the forms of outward devotion, frequenting the church and service of God, and hearing his word and receiving his sacrament; let them not deceive themselves: God is not mocked. All this is so far from making amends for the impiety of their lives, that, on the contrary, the impiety of their lives spoils all the acceptance of their devotion. Abp. Tillotson.

If we live like Heathens or Infidels, our Christian prayers do but affront God’s majesty. Lord Clarendon.

Proverbs 25:11

11. A word fitly spoken &c.] The general design of this sentence is manifestly to express the value and gratefulness of a word of counsel, reproof, or comfort, delivered in due time and place. Bp. Patrick. The Hebrew, translated in its most literal form, is, “a word spoken on its wheels,” as the margin gives it; figuratively expressing a discourse which is grateful, which

12. — searcheth him out.] Discovers his weakness. Dr. Isham. N 2 General observations of impiety and religious integrity. Before CHRIST about 700. Or, sought for. Ps. 32. 5.

Proverbs 25:12

12. — an ornament of fine gold.] The Hebrew words seem to mean any costly ornament wrought with great labour and pains. Parkhurst.

13. — a man is hidden.] Good men are forced to hide themselves. Dr. Wells.

Proverbs 25:13

13. As the cold of snow in the time of harvest, &c.] As the mixing of snow with wine in the sultry time of harvest is pleasing and refreshing, so a successful messenger revives the spirit of his master who sent him, and who was ready to faint from an apprehension of his failure. The practice of cooling wines with snow was usual among the Eastern nations. It was derived from the Asiaticks and Greeks to the Romans. Plutarch describes the manner in which they preserved the snow by covering it with straw, and coarse cloths unshorn. In some hot countries it was often difficult to obtain it, and they were obliged to search into the hollow cliffs to collect it. Mount Hebron, which was always covered with snow, plentifully supplied the inhabitants of the country near it, from whence it was often carried to Tyre. Barry.

14. He that covereth his sins &c.] Here the blessing of God’s mercy is declared to sinners, on the condition of their confessing and forsaking their sins; and this condition contains the whole nature of that great and necessary duty of repentance, without which none can have a reasonable hope of the mercy of God. Abp. Tillotson.

Proverbs 25:14

14. Whoso boasteth himself &c.] He that makes bountiful and deluding promises of great gifts which will never be performed, is like a cloud that makes a shew of rain which it cannot yield. Bp. Hall.

15. — a soft tongue breaketh a bone. A gentle and submissive answer softens and renders supple the hardest and most inflexible heart. Bp. Horne.

16. — the man that feareth] That is, who is cautious always: “but he that hardeneth his heart,” that is, who is careless and negligent, shall fall into mischief. Dr. S. Clarke.

Proverbs 25:16

16. Hast thou found honey? &c.] Moderation is here recommended in our pursuits and enjoyments. Dr. Isham.

Before CHRIST about 700. c Matt. 5. 25. & 18. 15. Or, discover not the secret of another. + Heb. spoken upon his wheels. d Chap. 13. 17. + Heb. in a gift of falsehood. e Gen. 32. 4. &c.

Proverbs 25:17

17. — let no man stay him.] Or, “no man shall stay him.” Dr. Wells. He that murders a man shall never think himself safe, being pressed by his conscience, or pursued by the avenger of blood, and shall lead a restless life to his grave: all men shall refuse to succour him, and though they see him falling unawares into the pit, they shall not stop him. Bp. Patrick.

Proverbs 25:18

18. — is a manl.] Or hammer—to beat down a man’s fame, or break in pieces his estate. Bp. Patrick. Solomon very fully and elegantly expresses the destructive nature of this sin; he intimates that, among all the instruments of ruin and mischief which have been devised by mankind, none is of more pernicious consequence to human society than perjury and breach of faith. It is a pestilence that usually walketh in darkness, a secret stab and blow, against which frequently there is no possibility of defence. Abp. Tillotson.

Proverbs 25:20

20. As he that taketh away a garment &c.] He that offers musick to a man in deep heaviness does it as unseasonably as he that takes away a covering in extreme cold weather. Bp. Hall. — as vinegar upon nitre.] By the natron or nitre of the ancients is not meant what we now call nitre, or saltpetre, but the [mineral, alkali, called soda by chemists, which occasions a strong fermentation with all acids. Thus, in the passage before us, the unsuitableness of the singing of songs to a heavy heart is very finely compared to the opposition which subsists between vinegar and nitre. For the nitre of the ancients, see further, Jer. ii. 22. Dr. Shaw.

Proverbs 25:21

21. To have respect of persons &c.] For a judge to incline to consider the quality of the person, and not

Proverbs 25:22

22. — thou shalt heap coals of fire &c.] If he have the least spark of goodness in him, it will work a change in his mind, and make him throw off all his enmities; or, if it have the contrary effect, he shall have so much the sorer punishment, and thou shalt not lose thy reward, which the Lord Himself will give thee. Bp. Patrick.

23. — in a mortar among wheat] Before there were any publick mills, it was usual for those who could not afford the expense of a handmill in their houses to beat their corn with a pestle in a mortar. Calmet. The meaning is, So incurable is the folly and wickedness of some men, that though to reproofs and chidings you should add stripes and blows, they would not grow wiser or better. Bp. Patrick.

24. — hath an evil eye.] Hath a covetous eye and a base niggardly heart; and “considereth not,” &c. that is, knows not that through the just judgments of God this his immoderate eagerness will be punished with want and beggary. Bp. Holl.

Proverbs 25:23

23. The north wind driveth away rain &c.] It appears, from the version given in the margin, that these words admit of two opposite senses. Either, “as the north wind scatters clouds and drives away rain, so a severe countenance puts a stop to a slanderous tongue;” or, “as the north wind begetteth rain, so a backbiting

Proverbs 25:24

24. — and doth the crown endure] Even the crown itself will not continue to many generations, without due care to preserve its revenue. Bp. Patrick.

25. — is the companion of a destroyer.] Is, for the heinousness of his sin, in the next degree to a murderer. Bp. Holl.

Proverbs 25:25

25. The hay appeareth.] Rather, “the herbage.” See the note on Isa. xv. 6.

26. — shall he made fat.] Shall thrive and abound with plenty of all good things. Bp. Patrick.

Proverbs 25:26

26. — the goats are the price of the field.] “Are for the price of the field:” by selling thy goats, thou wilt pay for the cultivation of thy land, or purchase it for thyself. Calmet.

Chap. XXVIII. ver. 2. — many are the princes thereof.] The wickedness of a land is the cause of many changes in the princes and governours thereof, whereby both the people and princes, conspiring in evil, are punished. Bp. Hall. “Many are the princes;” that is, none reign long, or many reign together, opposing and thrusting out one another. Bp. Patrick.

Proverbs 25:27

27. — is not glory.] Proves at last not honourable, but reproachful to them. Bp. Patrick.

28. — he that hideth his eyes] He that regards not the miseries of others, and is not willing so much as to know them. Bp. Patrick.

Chap. XXIX. ver. 1. — hardeneth his neck.] Refuses to be guided by reproofs, and to submit to them. The expression is taken from oxen in the yoke. Bp. Patrick.

Proverbs 25:28

28. — that hath no rule over his own spirit] Or over his passions, is thereby exposed to innumerable dangers, like a city without walls. Dr. Wells. Chap. XXVI. ver. 2. As the bird by wandering, &c.] The meaning of this verse has been variously explained. Curses which fly out of men’s mouths causelessly, shall no more fall where they intend, than a swallow which wenders uncertainly, or a dove which flies away swiftly, will settle according to their direction. Bp. Patrick. The meaning may perhaps be, that evils, natural or moral, owe not their being to chance, like the accidental flight of birds in this or that direction, but are all directed by the will of an all-wise superintending Providence. Dr. Darell.