Proverbs 2

Sundry promises of great use, for those that earnestly seek after, and obtain true wisdom: especially that they shall be directed and kept in the way of life, and be preserved from evil company, which walk in the way of destruction.

1. My son, if thou receives my sayings; [From the twenty second verse of the former Chapter unto this verse, Salomon related the words of Wisdom: Now he speaketh again in his own person, as may be gathered by comparing the tenth and fifteenth verses of the former chapter] and layest up my commandments with thee: [to wit as a treasure, and necessary commodity. See Job 23.on verse 12. Also below verse 7.]

2. To cause thine ears to attend unto wisdom, (if) thou inclinest thine heart unto understanding. [What understanding is, see above chap.1.on verse 2.]

3. Yea [The Hebrew particle is so taken, 2 Kings 18:34.] if thou cryest unto prudence, [That is, if thou sleekest with all diligence to get it. It is a similitude borrowed from him that having great need of another man, sleeketh by earnest and stedfast crying unto him, to get him near himself] and liftest up [Hebr. Givest, so ab.cha.1.20.] thy voice unto understanding.

4. If thou sleekest her as silver, and searchest after (her) as after hid treasure: [Compare Mat.13.44,45,46.]

5. Then shalt thou understand the fear of the LORD, and shalt find the knowledge of God,. [To wit, by Gods gracious enlightening, James 1:5. who letteth them find the thing that is good, who in the use of right and lawful means seek and endeavour after it, Mat.7.7. For this word finding, hath respect or relation to the word seeking, mentioned in the last foregoing verse. Compare below chap.3.13. and the annot.]

6. For the LORD giveth wisdom; [Compare James 1:5. 1 Kings 3:9.12.] out of his mouth, [that is, out of his holy Word: for the mouth of God in Scripture signifieth sometimes his good will and pleasure, Deut.8.3. sometimes the revelation thereof, Numb.9.18. Psalms 119:72.] (cometh) knowledge and understanding.

7. He layeth up for the righteous a durable being: [Or, a sure estate. The Hebrew word signifieth properly that which is essential, sure, and durable, or, permanent. Understand here, either the true wisdom, and sure or sound doctrine of truth, which is opposed to the vain and empty knowledge of this world, or the eternal, celestial good, which is opposed to the momentany and transitory things of this earth. See of the Hebrew word further, Job 5.on verse 12. And compare Psalm 37.on verse 3.] He [to wit, the LORD] is a buckler [see Gen.15.on verse 1. Others understand by this shield or buckler, the true and sound wisdom, and doctrine of salvation. Compare Psalms 91:4.] to them that walk unrightly: [that is, to them that live a true, unfeigned, godly life. See also 1 Kings 9:4. Psalms 26:11. below chap.10.9. and 20. 7. And 28.6, &c. Also Gen.20.on verse 5.]

8. That they may keep the paths of judgement: [That is, constantly follow the rule of Gods Word, which teacheth them what they are to believe, and how they ought to live. Compare Gen.18.on verse 19. These paths are also called, the paths of uprightness, below verse 13. The paths of life, below verse 19. The way of good men, and the paths of the righteous, below verse 20. The way of wisdom, and the footsteps of uprightness, below chap.4.11, &c. See further, 1 Kings 8.on verse 36.] and he shall preserve the way of his favourites: [Compare Psalm 1.on verse 6. See of the signification of the Hebrew word rendered here favourites, 2 Chron.6.on verse 41. And Psalms 4:4.]

9. Then shalt thou understand righteousness, and judgement, and equities: [See of these three words above chap.1.on verse 3.] (and) all (or every) good path. [Hebr. All (or every) footstep of good: that is, every way that leadeth unto that which is good. The Hebrew word signifieth properly the print, or, furrow of a cart-wheel, or, the track of a cart-wheel made in the ground: but is by way of similitude used, to signify the way of men; that is, of their dealing and converse, their doing and omitting. See Psalms 23:3. below verse 15. And ch.4.11. and 5.21. and Isa.26.7.]

10. When wisdom shall have entered into thine heart, and knowledge shall be pleasant unto thy soul;

11. Then shall discretion keep watch over thee, [That is, keep thee with singular diligence & carefulness; as the Hebrew phrase here importeth, and is also found, 1 Sam.26.16. and below chap.6.26.] understanding shall preserve thee.

12. To deliver thee from the evil way; [Understand all kind of false faith, and wicked works, opposite and repugnant to the rule Gods word, and leading to destruction: which is likewise so called, Psalms 119:101. and below chap.8.15. and 28.10. likewise the way of falsehood, Psalms 119:29. the way of sinners, Psalms 1:1. the way, that is not good, below ch.16.29. and here straightway verse 13. The way of darkness: also the wicked way, Ezek.3.18.] from the man that speaketh pervesevenesses: [that is, things that are contrary to truth of doctrine, and righteousness of life. So Deut.32.20. below verse 14. And chap.6.14. and 8.13. and 10.31,32, &c.]

13. (From those) that leave the paths of uprighteousness; [See above on verse 8. Compare 2 Chronicles chap.12.on verse 1.] to go in the ways of darkness. [that is, to live in unbelief, error, wilful sin, disquietness of mind, and misery. Thus the word darkness is taken for all kind of evil that is in the understanding, in the will, in the affections, in words and deeds, and in the whole course of mans life. Compare Eccle.2.14. Isaiah 9:1. Romans 2:19. Ezek.5.8.11.]

14. Who rejoice to do evil, delight themselves in the perversenesses of the wicked: [To wit, either person, or work.]

15. Whose paths [To wit, the paths of those that leave and forsake uprightness, &c. Of whom was spoken in the two foregoing verses] are perverse; [that is, crooked, and going awry, erring and going astray from the right and straight rule of faith and life] and declining in their steps: [to wit, from the right and good way: so chap.1.32. and 14.2.]

16. To deliver thee from the strange woman [That is, which is not thine own, but another mans wife: and besides by her infidelity, wicked life, and adulterous carriage, pertaineth not to the true people of God. Wherefore she is also called an outlandish, or unknown woman. So below chap.5.3. and 6.24. and 7.5. this verse dependeth on the foregoing eleventh verse] from the unknown (woman) (which) flattereth with her speechs: [or, (which) maketh her speechs trim and neat, or, uttereth, smooth, or intreating words, whereby she enticeth men in a woman and unchaste manner. Compare below chapter 5.3. and 6.24. 7.5.]

17. Which forsaketh the guide of her youth, [That is, her lawful husband, whom she married in her youth, and who is her head and governor] and forgetteth the covenant of her God. [that is, the promised conjugal fidelity; which is called the covenant of God, not onely because marriage was instituted and ordained by God; but also because God therein joineth man and wife together, and is a witness and beholder of that so near union and conjunction, as being made and done before him. See Mat.19.4,5,6, &c.]

18. For her house inclineth unto death [The meaning is, that the punishment of adultery is mans utter ruine and destruction, both in soul and body. ‘Tis a similitude borrowed from an inclining or bending wall, which is nigh to its ruine or fall] and her paths unto the dead: [The Hebrew word, which sometimes signifieth Giants, is taken here for men that are dead, deceased, or, departed out of this life. See Job chapter 26.on verse 5. This eighteeneth verse dependeth on the foregoing sixteenth verse. As if he had said, I have not shewed in vain, that wisdom will deliver thee from the strange woman: for this is an exceeding great benefit, because the strange woman leadeth men unto death.]

19. Whosoever go in unto her, [See Genesis 6.on verse 4.] shall not return; [to wit, from the way of death, which by the sin of adultery they have entered into] neither shall they hit the paths of life. [that is, which lead unto life. So below chap.5.6. and 6.23. and 15.24.]

20. That thou mayest walk in the way of good men, [This verse dependeth upon the foregoing eleventh verse, then shall discretion keep, &c. Or, on the sixteenth verse, to deliver thee from the, etc.] and keep the paths of the righteous. [that is, the example of godly ones, that knew and feared God aright. These are commended unto us in the Scripture for our imitation, and not those, who give up themselves unto uncleanness, and to other sins. These (to wit, the righteous) are every where in this Book opposed to wicked and ungodly men, that know not God, nor obey him.]

21. For the godly shall inhabit the earth, [Compare Psalms 37:9,11,22,29,34. And the Annotations on verse 29.] and the upright shall remain in it. [to wit, not onely in general, because there shall always remain a Church and people of God, but also in particular, because God will never leave any of those that are his, into what strait soever they come, but will continually follow them with his blessing even unto death.]

22. But the wicked shall be destroyed from the earth, [Their death is an apparent destruction, because they living in great prosperity and pleasure, are suddenly taken away thence, and reserved for everlasting destruction. Compare Psalms 37:2,9, &c. See also Job 18:17. Psalms 104:35.] and the faithless wilful injustice transgress and violate the duty, which they owe unto God, or their neighbour. Compare 1 Samuel 15:18. and Psalms 1:1. and the Annot.] shall be plucked out of it.