Proverbs 22

A good name Heb. name put for good name, as Eccl. 7. 2. the word good being easily understood out of the next clause, in which it is expressed in the Hebrew text. A good reputation amongst wise and good men. is rather to be chosen than great riches Partly because it is a most special blessing from God being appropriated to worthy persons, whereas God commonly throws away Riches upon the basest of men: partly because it gives a man that tranquillity and satisfaction of mind, and that content and comfort in his condition, which no Riches can purchase: and partly because as it is commonly an evidence of a mans Virtue and Piety, so it is accompanied with Gods Love and Favour, whereas Riches are oft given by God in wrath, and to the hurt of the owner., and loving favour Or, good Grace or Favour, a good Report among men, especially among good men, and that hearty Love and Kindness which attends upon it. rather than silver and gold.

The rich and poor meet together Either 1. In a way of hostility or opposition, as this word is somtimes used, the rich contemning and oppressing the poor, and the poor envying and purloining from the rich; and so the following words are a reason why that hostility should cease. Or 2. In the way of mutual converse, they live together, and need one another.: the LORD is the maker of them all Not only as they are men, but also as they are poor or rich, which difference comes wholly from Gods Providence. They have one common Creator, and Lord, and Judg, and the one cannot despise nor grudge at the other without a reflection upon God..

A prudent man foreseeth the evil The Calamity or Judgment of God threatned, and approaching., and hideth himself Retireth to his strong Tower, mentioned Prov. 18. 10. by Prayer and Repentance, putteth himself under the Protection of the Almighty. Compare Isa. 26. 20.: but the simple pass on In their former road and course of sin, carelesly and securely, as Travellers do in a road where they apprehend no danger., and are punished.

By humility Or, because of humility: or, as many others render it, the reward of humility, that reward which God has graciously promised, and will give to Humility; which is a grace of great price in Gods Eyes. See Isa. 57. 15. Iam. 4. 6., and the fear of the LORD By which he distinguisheth true and Christian Humility from counterfeit and moral humility, because that ariseth from a deep sense of Gods greatness, and purity, and perfection, compared with our own meanness, and filthiness, and manifold imperfections, whereas this is quit... of another nature, and from other grounds., are riches, and honour, and life The comforts of this life, and the happiness of the next, both which are promised to Godliness, 1 Tim. 4. 8..

Thorns and snares are in the way of the froward The wicked by their evil courses expose themselves to many dangers and occasions both of sin and mischief.: he that does keep his soul That taketh heed to himself, and to his actions, and to the saving of his Life and Soul. shall be far from them Either 1. Will avoid the society of such froward persons. Or 2. Shall by that circumspection preserve himself from those thorns, &c. with which the Pronoun, them, agrees in number..

Train up Or, initiate or instruct. a child in the way he should go Heb. to his way, i. e. either 1. according to his capacity. 2. In that course or manner of life which thou would him choose and follow. Or, as one learned man renders it, in the beginning of his way, i. e. in his tender years, as soon as he is capable of instruction. Heb. in the mouth, &c. The mouth is oft put for the beginning or entrance of any place, as Gen. 29. 2. Ios. 10. 18. Prov. 8. 3. Dan. 6. 17.: and when he is old, he will not depart from it To wit, not easily and ordinarily. The impressions made in childish years will remain, as has been observed by all sorts of learned Writers. But this, as other Proverbs of like nature, are not to be understood as if this were universally and necessarily true, which Experience confutes, but because it is so for the most part, except some extraordinary cause hinder it..

The rich ruleth over the poor To wit, with rigor and Tyranny, taking advantage of his necessities., and the borrower is servant to the lender Is at his mercy, and therefore forced to comply with his pleasure. The design of the Proverb is partly to correct this miscarriage of the rich, and partly to oblige all men to diligence, whereby they may deliver themselves from this servitude..

He that soweth iniquity Or, unrighteousness, whose common practice it is to wrong or oppress others. shall reap vanity Or trouble or misery, as this word is commonly used, and as divers here render it. The mischief which he has done to others shall be returned to him by Gods righteous sentence.: and the rod of his anger shall fail That power which he used with fury and cruelty shall be taken away from him..

He that has a bountiful eye Heb. A good eye. He who looks upon the wants and miseries of others with compassion and kindness, as this Phrase is used, Mat. 20. 15. as an evil eye is put for one that beholds others with envy and unmercifulness, Deut. 15. 9. Prov. 23. 6. & 28. 22., shall be blessed Both by God and Men.: for he giveth of his bread to the poor.

Cast out Out of your society, avoid conversation with him. the scorner Who neither fears God, nor reverenceth Man, but scorns all admonitions, and minds only the pleasing of himself, and the gratifying of his own Lusts, which is the chief cause of most contentions., and contention shall go out; yea, strife and reproach Wherewith he loads those that either oppose or admonish him. shall cease.

He that loveth pureness of heart Who is plain hearted or sincere, and abhors dissimulation., for the grace of his lips From those gracious speeches which naturally and commonly flow from a pure heart. Or, and (understand, loveth, out of the former clause) grace of his lips. Whose discourse is gracious and sincere., the king shall be his friend The greatest men will, or should, desire, and highly prize the acquaintance and advice of such persons, rather than of Dissemblers and Flatterers, wherewith they are most commonly pestered..

The eyes of the LORD preserve God by the watchful Eye of his Providence maintains and defends. knowledg To wit, men of knowledge, the abstract being put for the concrete, as Pride is put for a proud man, Psal. 36. 11. Deceit for the deceitful, as Prov. 12 17. So here Knowledge for knowing and good men, such as the last verse spoke of, whose hearts are pure, and speeches gracious, not only the King shall be their friend, as he said there, but God also, which he adds here., and he overthroweth the words Their false and flattering speeches, whereby they designed and expected to gain the favour and friendship of great men, which are opposed to the sincere and gracious speeches of good men, implied in the first clause of this verse, and expressed in the foregoing verse, Or, as others render it, and the word is very commonly used, the matters, all his Counsels, Hopes, Enterprizes, and Concerns. of the transgressor.

The slothful man says Alledgeth as his excuse to them who upbraid him with idleness, or persuade him to diligence., There is a lion without There are extream dangers and invincible difficulties in my way.: I shall be slain By that Lion, or some other way. in the streets Which is added to show the ridiculousness of his excuse; for Lions abide in the woods or fields, nor in the streets of Towns or Cities..

The mouth Her fair and flattering speeches wherewith she enticeth him to gross filthiness, as it is noted, Prov. 7. 21. of strange women is a deep pit Into which it is easie to fall, but hard, if not impossible, to get out of it. It is a rare thing for any person, once entred into the course of Whoredom, sincerely to repent of it, and turn from it. See Prov. 2. 19.: he that is abhorred of the LORD To wit, in an high and singular manner, who by his former impieties, and contempt of God and of his Grace, has provoked God to leave and loth him, and to punish one sin with another: for otherwise all sinners, as such, are abhorred by God. shall fall therein.

Foolishness is bound Is fixed and setled there, as being born with him, and rooted in his very nature, and not plucked up without great difficulty and diligence. in the heart of a child, but the rod of correction shall drive it far from him The smart of punishment makes him weary of his sin, and watchful against it..

He that oppresseth the poor to encrease his riches, and he that giveth to the rich That vainly and prodigally casts away his estate upon those who do not need it, or gives it to them with evil design, as that they may assist him in oppressing the poor, or at least not hinder him in it., shall surely come to want.

Bow down thine ear, and hear the words of the wise Of wise and holy men of God., and apply thine heart Thirst after it, and give up thy self to the diligent study of it. unto my knowledg The knowledge of God, and of thy several duties, which I am here delivering to thee..

For it is a pleasant thing if thou keep them The words of the wise. within thee Heb. in thy belly, i. e. in thine heart, which implies receiving them in Love, and retaining them in mind and memory. they shall withal be fitted Be fitly expressed: or, be disposed or ordered. The sense is, when thou hast got them into thine heart thou wilt be able and ready to discourse pertinently and profitably of them. in thy lips.

That thy trust may be in the LORD That knowing God, and his word, and Promises, thou maist chearfully and confidently trust in him, which is the only way to thy safety and happiness., I have made known to thee this day, even to thee.

Have not I written to thee excellent things Or, princely things, as they are called, Prov. 8. 6. the great things of Gods law, as Hos. 8 12. in counsels and knowledg Consisting of Counsels to direct thy practice, and Knowledg to inform and enrich thy mind. Or, by that known Figure Hendiadis, in counsels of knowledg, i. e. in good counsels which proceed from sound knowledge, and make a man knowing and wise, which are opposed to the counsels of the wicked, Prov. 12. 5. which are without knowledg.:

That I may make thee know the certainty of the words of truth That I may teach thee, not false, or vain, or uncertain things, as the Teachers of the Heathen Nations do, but the true and infallible Oracles of God.; that thou mightest answer the words of truth That being instructed by me, thou maist be able to give true, and solid, and satisfactory answers. to them that send unto thee To wit, for thine advice in great and difficult matters. Or, to those that send thee, i. e. that employ thee in any business of moment, whereof they expect an account from thee.?

Rob not the poor, because he is poor This may be mentioned, either 1. As a motive to this Robbery, because he was unable to resist him, or to revenge himself upon him: Do not take advantage of his Poverty. Or 2. As an Argument against it, because he is a fitter object for thy pity and Charity, than for thy Injustice or Cruelty. It is base and inhumane to crush such a person. neither oppress the afflicted in the gate In the place of Judgment, or under pretence of Justice, and much less in other ways where there is no colour of Justice..

For the LORD will plead their cause Which he has in a peculiar manner undertaken to do., and spoil the soul Take away not only their goods but their Lives too So fully will he recompence their wickedness to them. of those that spoiled them.

Make no friendship with an angry man, and with a furious man thou shalt not go Into his company: not converse frequently and familiarly with him, as friends use to do.

Lest thou learn his ways Lest thou be instructed or provoked by his passion to return the like to him., and get a snare Either 1. A mischief, which is oft the effect of unbridled rage. Or 2. An occasion of sin, either by drawing thee to an imitation or requital of his rage; or by tempting thee to unfaithfulness in performing the great office of a Friend, to wit, Admonition or reproof, which, by reason of his furious temper, thou either canst not, or wiltst not do. to thy soul.

Be not thou one of them that strike hands, or of them that are sureties for debts To wit, rashly, or unnecessarily..

If thou hast nothing to pay, why should he take away thy bed from under thee Why wiltst thou put thy self into the hands of such a man, who will exact the debt from thee without any compassion? For though God did not allow this practice, covetous Creditors would frequently do it.?

Remove not the ancient land-mark Whereby the Lands of several possessors were distinguished and divided. Do not enrich thy self with the injury of other men: Do not invade the rights of others. which thy fathers have set.

Seest thou a man diligent Or, expeditious, as the word properly signifies, one of quick dispatch, vigorous and speedy in executing what has been well and wisely contrived. in his business? he shall stand before kings He is fit to be employed in the affairs of the greatest Princes., he shall not stand before mean men.