---
title: "Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible"
author: "Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset and David Brown"
languages: [en]
shelf: "Commentaries"
section: 261 of 927
url: https://scriptura.si/works/jamieson-fausset-brown-commentary-critical-and-explanatory-on-the-whole-bible/261/
cite: "Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset and David Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible, section 261. Scriptura (scriptura.si), https://scriptura.si/works/jamieson-fausset-brown-commentary-critical-and-explanatory-on-the-whole-bible/261/"
---

# Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

*Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset and David Brown*

The Victorian standard commentary, critical and practical, from Genesis to Revelation.

## 261. Proverbs · 11 of 27

Source: https://scriptura.si/works/jamieson-fausset-brown-commentary-critical-and-explanatory-on-the-whole-bible/261/ · cite a paragraph as https://scriptura.si/works/jamieson-fausset-brown-commentary-critical-and-explanatory-on-the-whole-bible/261/#p-N

[¶0] 17. A wicked--or, "unfaithful"

[¶1] messenger falleth into mischief--or, "by mischief," or "evil," and so his errand fails. Contrasted is the character of the faithful, whose faithfulness benefits others.

[¶2] 18. (Compare [Pr 10:17]; ).

[¶3] 19. Self-denial, which fools will not endure, is essential to success.

[¶4] 20. The benefits of good and evil of bad society are contrasted.

[¶5] 21. (Compare [Pr 11:31]).

[¶6] good ... repaid--or, "He (God) will repay good."

[¶7] 22. wealth ... just--While good men's estates remain in their families, God so orders that the gains of sinners enure to the just (compare [Pr 28:8]; [Psa 37:18], [22, 26], &c.).

[¶8] 23. The laboring poor prosper more than those who injudiciously or wickedly strive, by fraud and violence, to supersede the necessity of lawful labor.

[¶9] 24. spareth--or, "withholds."

[¶10] rod--of correction.

[¶11] hateth--or, acts as if he hated him (compare [Pr 3:12]; ).

[¶12] chasteneth ... betimes--or, "diligently seeks for him all useful discipline."

[¶13] 25. The comparative temporal prosperity of the righteous and wicked, rather than contentment and discontent, is noted.

### Chapter 14

[¶15] [Pr 14:1-35].

[¶16] 1. Every wise, &c.--literally, "The wisdoms" (compare [Pr 9:1]) "of women," plural, a distributive form of speech.

[¶17] buildeth ... house--increases wealth, which the foolish, by mismanagement, lessen.

[¶18] 2. uprightness--is the fruit of fearing God, as falsehood and ill-nature ([Pr 2:15]; 3:32) of despising Him and His law.

[¶19] 3. rod of pride--that is, the punishment of pride, which they evince by their words. The words of the wise procure good to them.

[¶20] 4. crib is clean--empty; so "cleanness of teeth" denotes want of food (compare [Am 4:6]). Men get the proper fruit of their doings ([Ga 6:7]).

[¶21] 5. A faithful witness, &c.--one tested to be such.

[¶22] utter lies--or, "breathe out lies"--that is, habitually lies ([Pr 6:19]; compare [Ac 9:1]). Or the sense is, that habitual truthfulness, or lying, will be evinced in witness-bearing.

[¶23] 6. An humble, teachable spirit succeeds in seeking ([Pr 8:9]; [Joh 7:17]; [Jas 1:5], ).

[¶24] 7. Avoid the society of those who cannot teach you.

[¶25] 8. Appearances deceive the thoughtless, but the prudent discriminate.

[¶26] 9. Fools make a mock at sin--or, "Sin deludes fools."

[¶27] righteous ... favour--that is, of God, instead of the punishment of sin.

[¶28] 10. Each one best knows his own sorrows or joys.

[¶29] 11. (Compare [Pr 12:7]). The contrast of the whole is enhanced by that of house and tabernacle, a permanent and a temporary dwelling.

[¶30] 12. end thereof--or, "reward," what results (compare [Pr 5:4]).

[¶31] ways of death--leading to it.

[¶32] 13. The preceding sentiment illustrated by the disappointments of a wicked or untimely joy.

[¶33] 14. filled ... ways--receive retribution ([Pr 1:31]).

[¶34] a good man ... himself--literally, "is away from such," will not associate with him.

[¶35] 15. The simple ... word--He is credulous, not from love, but heedlessness ([Pr 13:16]).

[¶36] 16. (Compare [Pr 3:7]; ).

[¶37] rageth--acts proudly and conceitedly.

[¶38] 17. He ... angry--literally, "short of anger" (compare [Pr 14:29], opposite idea).

[¶39] man ... hated--that is, the deliberate evildoer is more hated than the rash.

[¶40] 18. inherit--as a portion (compare [Pr 3:35]).

[¶41] are crowned--literally, "are surrounded with it," abound in it.

[¶42] 19. Describes the humbling of the wicked by the punishment their sins incur.

[¶43] 20. This sad but true picture of human nature is not given approvingly, but only as a fact.

[¶44] 21. For such contempt of the poor is contrasted as sinful with the virtuous compassion of the good.