Proverbs 27

Presumption, verse 1. Self-commendation, 2. Wrath of fools, 3. Envy, 4. Faithful reproofs, and feigned love, 5,6,14. Satiety and hunger, 7. Pain and rash altering of a mans condition or calling, 8. Faithful friends and neighbours, 9,10. Wisdom and simplicity, 11,12. Suretiship, 13. Brawling wife, 15,16. Witty discourses, 17. Faithful servants, 18. Mens hearts against one another, 19. Insatiability of the eyes, 20. Trial by praise, 21. Obstinate fools, 22. Prudent house-keeping, 23,25,26,27. Temporal wealth, 24.

1. Boast not thy self of tomorrow: for thou knowest not what the day [To wit, not onely the time of tomorrow, or of the next day, but also of all future days, or days to come; as even the remaining part of this present day] will bring forth. [That is, bring to light, whereby thy future intentions and expectations may come to be hindered, and disappointed. Compare James 4:13,14, &c.]

2. Let a stranger praise thee, and not thine (own) mouth: an unknown (person), and not thine (own) lips.

3. A stone heavy, and the sand weighty: but a fools wrath is heavier then them both. [That is, is more intolerable; to wit, not onely because it is unequal, and unjust, but also immoderate, unbridled, and united or conjoined with cruelty. See the following phrase. Heb. There is heaviness of a stone, and weight of the sand.]

4. Wrath and excess of anger [To wit, when a man by reason of his unruly and raging passions poureth himself violently out like a flood] is cruelty: [that is, bringeth forth cruel deeds and works] but who shall stand before envy? [the meaning is, that envy is worse then anger, and wrath, because it is deeper rooted in the heart, and an hardening in wickedness is mixed therewith.]

5. Open reproof is better [That is, more profitable, and more to be desired] then secret love. [to wit, whereby a man indeed beareth good will unto his neighbour, and wisheth him all good success and happiness, but notwithstanding doth not reprove him, when need requireth, to manifest thereby his true and unfeigned love.]

6. The wounds [That is, the reproofs, that being done with sharp and smarting words, make as it were a wound in the soul] of the lover are faithful: [that is, they issue from a faithful and constant love, and tend to the well-being and safety or preservation of him that receiveth them. Compare Psalms 145:1.] but the kisses [meaning all manner of feigned demonstration of love] of the hater are to be deprecated. [that is, we ought by fervent and constant prayer to beg of God, that he would keep and preserve us from them, both because they would be hurtful to us, and also because they issue and proceed from a false heart. Oth. The kisses of the hater are various, or manifold.]

7. A satisfied soul [That is, a satisfied man, or person. So in the following words. See Gen.12.5. and the annot. Or understand the word soul of the desire and appetite that a man hath unto food, as Ezek.7.verse 19. See the annot.] treadeth upon [that is, despiseth, disdaineth, loatheth, abhorreth] the honey-comb: [understand under this name all pleasant, dainty, and delicate food. Compare above chapter 24.on verse 13.] but to an hungry soul all (or, every) bitter (thing) is sweet.

8. As a bird is, that wandereth from her nest: [To wit, subject to much danger, and in continual disquietness, until she hath gotten a new nest, which she oftentimes can hardly make or attain unto] so is a man, that wandereth from his place. [to wit, rashly, without necessity, and a lawful calling.]

9. Oil and frankincense rejoice the heart: [Compare above chapter 21.on verse 17.] so is the sweetness of a mans friendly discourse] in respect of the counsel of the soul [that is, by reason of the good counsel, or advice that he giveth him for his soul, or which cometh from a good heart that his friend beareth to him. Oth. More then the counsel of his own soul.]

10. Forsake not thine (own) friend, nor thy fathers friend; neither go into thy brothers [That is, thy kinsmans. See Genesis 24.on verse 27.] house in the day of thine adversity: better is a neighbour that is near then a brother that is far off. [the reason is, because a friend loveth at all times, above chapter 17. Verse 17. And especially in time of trouble: but oftentimes there is discord and dissention between brethren, above chapter 18. Verse 19.] especially in time of adversity, above chapter 19. Verse 7. Therefore a friend many times beareth stronger love and affection then a brother, above chapter 18.24. Some understand it thus, that a faithful neighbour ought to be highly esteemed of, because he is nigh at hand, whereas a brother may be at a great distance, a far off, and not so ready to help a man, as the other may be.]

11. My son, be wise, and make my heart glad, that I may have something [Hebr. a word] (wherewith) to answer my reproacher. [understand under this word reproacher, all those that are wont to upbraid Parents, Masters, or Teachers, that their children, or scholars, &c. Are not well tutored, and instructed, or, that they do not behave themselves well.]

12. The prudent man seeth the evil, (and) hideth himself: the simple go on (and) are punished. [See the exposition of this verse , above chap.22.on verse 3.]

13. When (a man) is become surety (for) a stranger, take his garment: and pawn it for an unknown (woman) [See the exposition of this verse, above cha.20.on verse 16. Compare also above chap.6.1,2. And 11.15. and 17.18.]

14. He that blesseth his friend [That is, saluteth him, wishing the blessing of God, and all happiness and good loud voice, [Heb. Great voice; that is, immediately, unbeseemingly, and unseasonably, as slatterers are wont to do] getting up betimes in the morning, it [to wit, such, blessing, or salutation] shall be counted a curse [to wit by God, who hateth flattering: Or, by the friend that is blessed, who will bear no good will to the flatterer, but will who hath so unseasonably blessed or saluted his friend in a publike flattering way to get something of him.]

15. A continual dropping in a day of a great shower rain; and a brawling wife [Hebr. A wife of brawling or, contentions; that is, a wife that is addicted to brawling and contention, or, that is brawling and contentious] are even alike. [that is, are to be compared, or likened together. The wife may be also rendered thus: a brawling, or, contentious wife is to be likened to a continual dropping in a day, &c. See a further exposition here of a above cha.19.on verse 13.]

16. Every one that hideth her, [To wit, the brawling or contentious woman] would hide the wind, [The meaning is, that if a man were able to hide, that is, to rule, and tame her, he were able to hide, and shut up the wind: intimating, that neither the one, nor the other is possible to be done] and the oil [meaning the oil or ointment, which casteth such a great smell, as that it cannot in any case be hid or concealed from men, whensoever it cometh before their noses] of his right hand [that is, wherewith he anointed his right hand. The right hand is here specially mentioned, because in all dealings and transactions of men, the same cometh first to light, or is first put forth, whence then the smell of the oil or ointment that is put upon it may be apprehended or perceived] (which) crieth. [that is, which bewrayeth or discovereth it self by its smell, which as it cannot be kept in and hid, so can neither the brawling or contention of bad wife.]

17. Iron is sharpeneth with iron: so a man sharpeneth the face of his neighbour. [Meaning the visage, or countenance, or behaviour of the face, that bent and composed to grief, fear, anger, &c. Which another man, according to the nature and quality of the thing, by discoursing with his friend, rouseth and stirreth up, when by his good instruction, comfort, and counsel, he setteth and strengtheneth the heart of his friend in a due manner. Others render the words thus: Iron maketh iron glad, (that is, maketh it bright, or shining) so doth a man make glad the face of his neighbour.]

18. He that keepeth the fig-tree, [Understand hereby all good and faithfully service, which servants do owe unto their masters] shall eat the fruit thereof: and he that heedeth his Lord, shall be honoured. [That is, shall receive recompense, and reward. Compare above chap.13.on verse 18.]

19. As (in) water face is against face: so is the heart of man against man. [That is, as the face or countenance of a man that looketh into the water, doth in a manner represent and shew it self there, though not fully and perfectly; so the heart of man doth in part discover and make known it self unto others by his gestures, words, and works, but not so, as that a man may certainly and infallibly judge of it, Jer.17.9. 1 Cor.2.11. This verse may also rendered thus: Faces are to faces (that is, men regard of their outward behaviour and countenance compared with other men) as waters: (to wit, that are very like one another, though they differ in colour, thickness, taste, &c.) so is the heart of man to man: (that is, so is man inwardly to be compared with this neighbour, because they have all one corrupt nature, and are subject to like infirmities.) Some take it thus: that as a mans face sheweth, or representeth it self in the water, so is one friend toward another.]

20. Hell, [Oth. The grave. See Job 26:6. and compare above chap.15.11.] and destruction are not satisfied: [to wit, because whatsoever cometh into it, is devoured and consumed] so the eyes of man [that is, the desires and lusts, which enter through the eyes into the heart of man] are not satisfied.

21. As (the melting cup is for silver, and the furnace for gold: [See above chap.17.on verse 3.] so is a man (to be tried) according to his praise. [that is, according to that report that goeth, or is spread abroad of him, concerning his words and actions: for according as men observe how taketh the report that goeth of him, so is he then judged what manner of man he is]

22. Though thou shouldest bray a fool in a mortar with a pestel in the midst of beaten grains; (yet) would not his foolishness depart from him. [This is an hyperbole, or excessive manner of seaking, intimating that some fools do persist so obstinately in their folly, that by no means whatsoever, they can possibly be brought from it]

23. Be diligently to know thou shalt know, [The word knowing is taken here for taking care, or heeding. See Gen.18.on ver.19.] the face of thy sheep: [that is, the state and condition of thy sheep. This word seemeth to import, that an householder, or a father of a family must by whiles look after his own flock, and not to leave others to have all the care alone] and set thine heart upon the flocks. [the meaning is, that every one should diligently mind the gaining, keeping, and governing of his own estate, which in old times consisted much in cattle, and Beasts. Compare the phrase with Job 1:8. and the annotate.]

24. For the treasure is not for ever: or shall the crown [That is, dignity, state, and honour, which are wont to accompany riches] be from generation to generation. [as if he should say, By no means. It is a question, which implieth a strong negation.]

25. When the grass appeareth, and the grass-plants are seen, let the herbs of the mountains be gathered. [To wit, for fodder and provision for thy cattle.]

26. The lambs [To wit, their skins and wool] shall be for clothing, and the be-goats (shall be) the price of the field. [that is, to buy, or pay therewith a field or meadow, or other necessaries.]

27. Besides, thou shalt (have) sufficiency of goats-milk for thy food, [Hebr. Bread. So in the following words. See Gen.3.on vers.19.] for the food of thy house, [that is, household. See Gen.7.on ver.1.] and (for) the livelihood [Hebr. Life; that is, whatsoever is requisite and necessary for the sustentation of this present life.] of thy maidens.